strut/shock and spring combo vs. coilovers???

PzeroGT14 · 02-12-2007, 08:53 PM

what are some of you guys running? i have an 03 gt

im new to suspension mods so what do you guys reccomend?

*03gtmustang* · 02-13-2007, 10:50 AM

For what, drag racing, autocross????

I had coil overs, but they are too much for me, I dont need them, the car is my DD and I was tired of the extra noise. So I switched to a tubular k member, stock a arms, and 4 cyl. fox front springs. IMO this is perfect for a street/ strip car.

r3dn3ck · 02-13-2007, 12:09 PM

Coil overs can be the cats meow or a bane to your existance.

I drive an 03GT with a full Maximum Motorsports bilstein coil over kit, tubular arms and torque arm and panhard bar. I can't think of driving any other combo after going to this one.

Your intended use case is critical to giving you the right advice (read the stickies). Let us know what you plan to do with it, how tolerant you are of reduced ride quality, how much money you have to spend (doing it right can be anywhere from a grand to 10 grand... mine is closer to to the top of that range). Doing it wrong or cheaping out and buying Granatelli style cheap azz junk will cost you 3x as much down the road, so don't cheap out.

PzeroGT14 · 02-14-2007, 12:18 PM

hey ya im looking to only spend like $500 my car is a daily driver and weekend strip car. would just a set of good lowering springs by H&R be good enough?

r3dn3ck · 02-14-2007, 12:25 PM

Not really... you'll tear up your shocks and struts pretty quickly by lowering the car and increasing the spring rate (required to lower it without bottoming out).

Still, for 500 bones you can get all the parts you'll need. I'd recommend you check out the bullit suspension kit (several usually on ebay). It'll lower the car .75" and replace the shocks/struts with fords OEM'd Tokico HP's. I'd also really recommend a set of Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates so you don't get stuck with a tire frying alignment. Not all cars have the alignment problem after lowering but most will.

Also... simple lowering with raised rate springs will have a slight negative effect on your 1/4 mile times. Nothing a set of drag radials won't fix.

*03gtmustang* · 02-14-2007, 01:11 PM

MM full length subframes, Tokico 5 way drag struts, and Strange 10 way shocks. Stock rear GT, Bullitt, or Mach 1 springs are good for racing. The Bullitt's and Mach 1's will lower the car a little. You could go with Bullitts or Mach 1's all around, or get some 4 cyl. fox body springs for the front and cut them 1.5- 1 coil.

This will be a better set up for the track then going with the Bullitt suspension kit. You dont need the sway bars, infact you remove the front one at the track.

Just because you dont have enough money for a good set up now, doesnt mean you should buy subpar parts now. Save up and do it right the first time. You could do subframes, and spring set up now for $500 easy.

MM subframes- $150 or less shipped, $100- $200 for install
Used Mach 1 rear springs- $20- $50
Used 4 cyl. fox body front springs- $20- $50, or new for ~$80

$350 (MM) + $50 (rear springs) + $80 (front springs)= $480. Thats a great start for a good street/ strip set up.

GT_Stang_04 · 02-14-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r3dn3ck

Coil overs can be the cats meow or a bane to your existance.

I drive an 03GT with a full Maximum Motorsports bilstein coil over kit, tubular arms and torque arm and panhard bar. I can't think of driving any other combo after going to this one.

Your intended use case is critical to giving you the right advice (read the stickies). Let us know what you plan to do with it, how tolerant you are of reduced ride quality, how much money you have to spend (doing it right can be anywhere from a grand to 10 grand... mine is closer to to the top of that range). Doing it wrong or cheaping out and buying Granatelli style cheap azz junk will cost you 3x as much down the road, so don't cheap out.

Hey r3dn3ck i was looking into getting MM coil-overs, mainly cause you can adjust the ride hight as low or high as you want. but how is the ride quality? my car is a weekand driver and where i live is mostly smooth roads. i'm not afraid of the ride being a little rough but i don't want it to be crapy either. is MM a good invesment? also which shocks/struts are better to get, the bilstein or tokico?

*03gtmustang* · 02-14-2007, 06:40 PM

MM is the top when it comes to suspension. I highly recommend it for autocrossing. For drag racing, I wouldnt recommend it simply because of the price. I also wouldnt recommend rear coil overs for drag racing, unless its an all out track car.

02-12-2007, 08:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
PzeroGT14 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kirkville, NY Posts: 55	strut/shock and spring combo vs. coilovers??? what are some of you guys running? i have an 03 gt im new to suspension mods so what do you guys reccomend? __________________ 2003 Black Mustang GT -SLP Loudmouth II Exhaust -BBK Cold Air Intake -SCT Eliminator Performance Chip -18X10 Chrome Bullitt Deep dish rims (rear) -18X9 Chrome Bullitt Deep dish rims (front) -alpine head unit- and 2 sony 12" subs -Streetglow gold series (red)

02-13-2007, 10:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
03gtmustang Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 3,245	For what, drag racing, autocross???? I had coil overs, but they are too much for me, I dont need them, the car is my DD and I was tired of the extra noise. So I switched to a tubular k member, stock a arms, and 4 cyl. fox front springs. IMO this is perfect for a street/ strip car. __________________ D&D Auto Detailing -Dan

02-14-2007, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
PzeroGT14 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kirkville, NY Posts: 55	hey ya im looking to only spend like $500 my car is a daily driver and weekend strip car. would just a set of good lowering springs by H&R be good enough? __________________ 2003 Black Mustang GT -SLP Loudmouth II Exhaust -BBK Cold Air Intake -SCT Eliminator Performance Chip -18X10 Chrome Bullitt Deep dish rims (rear) -18X9 Chrome Bullitt Deep dish rims (front) -alpine head unit- and 2 sony 12" subs -Streetglow gold series (red)

02-14-2007, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
03gtmustang Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 3,245	MM full length subframes, Tokico 5 way drag struts, and Strange 10 way shocks. Stock rear GT, Bullitt, or Mach 1 springs are good for racing. The Bullitt's and Mach 1's will lower the car a little. You could go with Bullitts or Mach 1's all around, or get some 4 cyl. fox body springs for the front and cut them 1.5- 1 coil. This will be a better set up for the track then going with the Bullitt suspension kit. You dont need the sway bars, infact you remove the front one at the track. Just because you dont have enough money for a good set up now, doesnt mean you should buy subpar parts now. Save up and do it right the first time. You could do subframes, and spring set up now for $500 easy. MM subframes- $150 or less shipped, $100- $200 for install Used Mach 1 rear springs- $20- $50 Used 4 cyl. fox body front springs- $20- $50, or new for ~$80 $350 (MM) + $50 (rear springs) + $80 (front springs)= $480. Thats a great start for a good street/ strip set up. __________________ D&D Auto Detailing -Dan

02-14-2007, 06:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
03gtmustang Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 3,245	MM is the top when it comes to suspension. I highly recommend it for autocrossing. For drag racing, I wouldnt recommend it simply because of the price. I also wouldnt recommend rear coil overs for drag racing, unless its an all out track car. __________________ D&D Auto Detailing -Dan

02-13-2007, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
r3dn3ck Wowbagger hates me too! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Magrathea/California Posts: 7,014	Coil overs can be the cats meow or a bane to your existance. I drive an 03GT with a full Maximum Motorsports bilstein coil over kit, tubular arms and torque arm and panhard bar. I can't think of driving any other combo after going to this one. Your intended use case is critical to giving you the right advice (read the stickies). Let us know what you plan to do with it, how tolerant you are of reduced ride quality, how much money you have to spend (doing it right can be anywhere from a grand to 10 grand... mine is closer to to the top of that range). Doing it wrong or cheaping out and buying Granatelli style cheap azz junk will cost you 3x as much down the road, so don't cheap out.

02-14-2007, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
r3dn3ck Wowbagger hates me too! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Magrathea/California Posts: 7,014	Not really... you'll tear up your shocks and struts pretty quickly by lowering the car and increasing the spring rate (required to lower it without bottoming out). Still, for 500 bones you can get all the parts you'll need. I'd recommend you check out the bullit suspension kit (several usually on ebay). It'll lower the car .75" and replace the shocks/struts with fords OEM'd Tokico HP's. I'd also really recommend a set of Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates so you don't get stuck with a tire frying alignment. Not all cars have the alignment problem after lowering but most will. Also... simple lowering with raised rate springs will have a slight negative effect on your 1/4 mile times. Nothing a set of drag radials won't fix.

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