I'm probably the millionth one to ask, but does anyone have a logical sequence of modifications to improve the ride of my 2013 GT Convertible? I've looked at general listings at Steeda and American Muscle, and it's not real clear. The convertible appears to also present some special circumstances with the chassis. I'd like to stiffen the ride and eliminate the roll and bouncing.

Also, any advice as to a shop in the Phoenix, AZ area that can assist with installation? I'm reasonably mechanical, but very limited on proper tools for major work.

Thanks much,

 

Needed: Springs, Struts, shocks, gt500 upper strut mounts, adjustable pan hard bar. Heavily recommended: non adjustable lower control arms, relocation brackets, adjustable upper control arm and mount. Lots of people mix and match vendors. I stuck with the same vendor for all my parts (BMR). Not saying either choice is right or wrong. If you are doing a mild drop, less than 2 inches. You don't need the $300+ caster camber plates. The gt500 heavy duty upper strut mounts work just fine. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

 

Excellent, thank you!

 

Extreme Performance Tuning
560 N Bullard Ave Ste 56
Goodyear, AZ
(623) 925-1696

Family owned shop and the owner has a nice 4.6 with a twin turbo setup in stealth mode that sounds quiet but throaty at idle but really barks on throttle. They specialize in Mustangs but work on all American made muscle cars.

 

Make sure before purchasing GT500 upper shock mounts to get shocks that are 05-10 specific otherwise the GT500 shocks wont fit.

 

. Forgot to mention that part. Ty

 

I had read everywhere that they were suggested/required only to find out they would not fit my stock shocks, good thing I kept them for when I upgrade to new shocks.

 

I went with Steeda Sport Springs (the linear ones, not the progressive), Koni STR.T struts with Gt500 convertible front strut mounts, Koni STR.T shocks, Gt500 lower control arms, and Steeda adjustable panhard rod. Ride is very firm, but tolerable. The car handles like it's on rails, even with the stock tires. It seems to ride about the same as a friend's Boss 302.

 

I simply replaced my stock GT convertibles springs with Eibach pro kit springs. Has greatly reduced nose dive, sway and firmed up the ride a ton. I will be looking at additional enhancements gradually, but for the now the difference is night and day.
Just need an adjustable phb.

 

Let us know if we can help you out on some of the details. What are your goals and what do want in your suspension? I guess that's sort of the same question just a different way to ask it, lol. We offer plenty of suspension kits that work well with one another that won't break the bank and last for as long as you have the car.

 

Not to hate on the previous suggestions, but it sounds like the OP is looking for chassis modifications, not suspension modifications. None of those will make the car ride better, in fact they will make it ride stiffer and noisier.








OP, I think you should start with something like the Kenny Brown Extreme Matrix System (http://store.kennybrown.com/product/...d-shelby-gt500), which is basically a set of subframe connectors. They fit convertibles though, which is rare! These will improve your ride quality significantly.
















The other chassis improvements are not as big of a deal for ride quality, but some strut tower bars and a lower control arm brace will help reduce the chassis/suspension flex, which does make it ride better.

 

The matrix brace stuff is awesome but you have to have a shop weld it all in for you and then make sure that they don't leave anything bare metal under there afterward. You don't want the underside of your car to rust through.

 

Not to poo poo your idea, but I don't think chassis bracing well help with body roll and bouncing. I doubt to that OP's car's chassis is flexing or I would hope not since these aren't old school unibodies. Also if you match a spring to a shock/strut combo that can work well with each other I don't see how the ride would be worse, yes it may be stiffer but they still shouldn't jar you when going over bumps and things in the road.

 

That's correct Brandon.

 

Yeah, his post is kinda talking about both, I didn't see the "rolling and bouncing" part there at the end. I was focusing on the part where he was talking about the convertible presenting issues with chassis tuning, so I was showing him the subframe connectors because they will address that issue.


The subframe connectors will also help the ride out as far as bouncing goes, though. I have to drive over railroad tracks and sectioned concrete a fair amount, and after the subframe connectors went in the car didn't bounce nearly as much over the bumps.

 

Extreme performance is good. Marty the owner is a great guy. I've been there many times just to hang out. The only negative thing there is that shop is very disorganized. **** is everywhere! Lol they're still new to tuning the new mustangs so don't go there for a tune. My buddy ski works there and is one of the mechanics that installs parts for people. He also tunes older fox bodies.

 

Depending on how you feel about noise a UCA and mount is a great improvement, makes the car feel like an entire unit instead of a front and back that feel disconnected.

 

+1

I made this mistake just a week ago.. had to choose either return my 2011+ specific eibach parts for pre-2011 parts, or just reuse my stock mounts/get caster plates. Ended up just reusing the stock mounts. It is a '13 @ 4500mi, so all my parts are new anyways. And now driving, the im not sure what difference the gt500 mounts would have made anyways, the car seems great. What are the GT500 mounts for again?

PS. I'm selling brand new unused gt500 mounts

 

Give it a couple of weeks, you'll notice the noise from your OEM mounts.