The chassis is new from the ground
up, with MacPherson-strut front suspension using reverse "L" lower control
arms, which deliver both comfort and control.
For 2005, Mustang’s rear suspension has new three-link
architecture with a lightweight, tubular Panhard rod that provides precise
control of the rear axle. This technology stabilizes the rear axle as the
wheels move, particularly during hard cornering.
The standard four-wheel disc brakes have the biggest
rotors and stiffest calipers ever fitted to a mainstream Mustang.
Twin-piston aluminum calipers clamp down on 12.4-inch ventilated front
brake discs on GT models – an increase of more than 15 percent in rotor
size. The V-6 Mustangs get 11.4-inch ventilated rotors that also are 30 mm
thick. In the rear, the brake
rotors are 11.8 inches in diameter – more than 12 percent larger than on
the 2004 model. Rear rotors are vented on the GT and solid on the V-6.
An optional four-channel anti-lock braking system is
available for a greater degree of brake control. It uses electronic
sensors to constantly monitor road conditions and feed the information to
a dedicated control computer capable of determining, within milliseconds,
whether the vehicle is on dry pavement or negotiating a slippery surface.
When traction control isn’t desired – like when a smoky burnout at the
drag strip is in order – drivers can deactivate the system with a simple
button on the instrument panel. |