I'm Installing My Torque Arm
 

I started to tear into the car today. Everything has gone well except I'm having a heck of a time trying to remove the rear upper control arms. I didn't have any short 18mm sockets or wrenches so I had to go get some. I'm having a friend weld on the cross member brackets, but I'm just test fitting right now and marking where to weld them so that I don't spend forever over there trying to get it all done. Just weld and go, and install it on my own time. I may leave the upper control arms in for now, since I'd have to drive it over there. I hope I don't run into any exhaust clearance issues. The exhaust is stock, with the mufflers cut out, so nothing should be too bad.

Wish me luck.

BAMF

Good Luck! Just remember if it dont fight back a little then something is wrong:D
I only kinow one person with a torque arm setup on an 03 Cobra and his car doesnt spin any. Are you doing a Panhard Bar also?

I've had a panhard bar on it for a while, bought it from a member on here actually. But yeah, I'm really looking forward to see how it is going to improve the car. I've never been around or in a mustang with a torque arm but I always read that they make a world of difference. I just hope that I set it up correctly to get the most out of it.

i have the mm hd ta on my car along with the maximum grip box.by far the best upgrade so far

Good to hear. I've never heard a bad word said about the torque arm, doubt I'll be the first.

Sidetrack Edit: Something I was thinking about last night; I was wondering what makes me want to modify my car the way I do. It's because I think about all the porsches, corvettes, BMWs, even other Mustangs on that race track that are trying to go faster than me. I have a competition in me, I want no other man to have success. [There Will Be Blood quote]. I want to be the fastest on the track, passed by no one.

Boom.

Quoting this.

I'm pretty close to having everything on. Except, I'll have to take it all off to take the car over to my friend's house for the tabs to be welded on. I had to give Maximum Motorsports a call at one point, but everything is on track. Just fights me every step of the way. I'll be glad when this thing is on for good. and I don't have to mess with it. I need to make sure the H-pipe and exhaust flanges have clearance, and I'll be good to take it apart. I'll wait to set the pinion angle after everything is welded. I'll try to take and post some pictures.

Some pictures.


I got everything fitted up good. I need to do some adjusting for proper clearance but nothing big. The tabs are getting welded this afternoon and I might stay over there and finish the install depending on how long everything takes.

Lookin' Good!

IT'S DONE!!!

After he welded the tabs on, since he has a lift, I stayed over and installed everything. Only took two hours to install, fairly easy. It was only a couple of mile drive back to my house but I took a curvy road to get a first impression. I was taking it easy but the car feels like the back end is much better planted all around, much smoother in transition, and better capable of managing acceleration and braking forces. Only one turn I took with some speed and I was no where near the limit. It's going to take me a bit to trust that the grip is really there. I'll have to drive it a bit more to get a good idea of everything the Tq. Arm did.

um maybe i am seeing things but you dont have any mufflers do you lol

You sir, are correct. Yeah, bought it that way, sounds pretty good to me. I've been complimented on the sound of the exhaust several times, so it must not sound bad. It's loud as crap though. I think it's mostly due to the naturaly good sounding over head cam engines.

looks awesome. Take some time in a parking lot or back road and really get used to it. The traction lets go very very progressively but that means you need to get more in tune with the handling so you know when you're just beginning to approach the limit. It won't slip all suddenly anymore. It'll be smooth and start slipping and then if you play with the gas you can rotate the rear around the turn. DO NOTget out of the gas suddenly. You'll spin.

is the interior noise pretty bad? i was thinking about doing something like that

Thanks R3d, I am still getting used to it. It feels so much smoother and the back end feels stuck to the road. I think it rides better, smother over bumps and not jarring. I do need to experiment and see where the limit is becuase I haven't seen it yet.

The interior noise is bad. Let's just say I don't bother listening to the radio unless im stopped at a light, and I don't bother answering a cell phone call. I'm sure a lot of people couldn't handle it being so loud. It doesn't bother me. I like to hear the car, and the cars around me. I have to be able to 'feel' the car to drive well. I'm pretty sure SLP Loudmouth 1s are not as loud as my car.

haha yeah i know what you mean man, i always have my windows down for that reason but i usually have the music on so i can't hear my rattles! LOL.

No cats either? lol geez man.

damnit i just read your original post..now i feel stupid for not seeing that you said the mufflers were cut out. doh! noob move lol

I've got the original cats, it's all stock except for the mufflers being cut out.

oh yeah for sure i have heard that that setup sounds damn good.

any clearance issues yet with the trq arm being so close to the ground?

it'll never be a problem unless you go over a speed bump at an extreme angle.

I haven't ran into any clearance issues yet. The lowest point is right under the differential. Unless you side-straddle a speed bump there shouldn't be any problems. I think the lowest point on my car is the mid-pipe though. I had about half a coke can height of ground clearance there. If the midpipe doesn't hit the TA isn't going to hit in my case.