So I recently bought a 2006 Mustang GT convertible. PO had installed Eibach Sportline springs on stock shocks. Looks great but I'm finding that it's too low and not very well controlled. Parking lot speed bumps scrape way too easily. Can't even get a low profile jack under the car. Probably doesn't help that the car has a bit over 100k on it...
I thought about doing better shocks like Bilsteins and different springs but many of the spring options seem to lower about the same or similar amount so I'm considering coilovers so I don't wind up with a collection of springs that doesn't get me the ride height I want.
Seems like the cheapest options on brands that I recognize are the ST at ~$1.2k, KW at $1.6k. There are also other brands that I either don't recognize or don't know anything about the quality of the shock used: H&R, Steeda, BC, Pedders, Eibach.
Anyone have any experience or input on these coilover options?
I'm looking for something with a stiff enough spring rate and decent shock valving at the lower end of the cost spectrum. It's just going to be used on the street and occasional canyon runs.
You're best option would be the Ford Racing kit. The shocks and springs were designed to work together and it won't make it too low.
https://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-shockstrut-0514gtv6.html
This was my '07 with the Ford Racing K springs vs stock springs.
Thanks for the pic. That is higher than I would have expected. I've read about the various different FR springs and was picturing that the car would sit lower. Your setup is higher than id like. :) Was hoping to do coilovers so I could get the ride height where I want it.
Steeda has done Ford stuff for a long time, probably should be able to search reviews.
Redshift (I think?) Motorsports does BC related stuff, and a couple guys on here swear by them.
Additional data points...
Thanks. The Steeda coilovers were a wee bit more than I'd like to spend at $1.8k.
I haven't heard much about BC other than drift stuff. Good to hear some good feedback. Thanks
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) said:
Thanks for the pic. That is higher than I would have expected. I've read about the various different FR springs and was picturing that the car would sit lower. Your setup is higher than id like. :) Was hoping to do coilovers so I could get the ride height where I want it.
For reference that is with 315/30-18's which are pretty short. With a taller tire it looks much better.
This is with a 275/40-18.
Eibach/Konis on my wife's . . . looks to be about a 1.25 inch drop. It's what Maximum Motorsports sells.
The Peddars kit was enticing, but unknown so I avoided it.
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) said:
Thanks. The Steeda coilovers were a wee bit more than I'd like to spend at $1.8k.
I haven't heard much about BC other than drift stuff. Good to hear some good feedback. Thanks
I was about to ask your budget.
Stay away from BC and any other Taiwanese garbage. Probably the cheapest I would ever go would be a Ground Control setup. I've run them on 3 different vehicles and was happy with them, two E30s and my old BRZ.
But now that I've seen the light, I would spend more if you want it to handle well and not ride like crap. My last Miata track rat had 949 Racing XIDAs, and the NC Miata I just sold had MCS Double-Adjustables.
In reply to z31maniac :
Very good point. I re-discovered ground control in one of the Mustang forums yesterday. Will probably go that route and pair their co setup with some Bilsteins.
thanks!
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to z31maniac :
Very good point. I re-discovered ground control in one of the Mustang forums yesterday. Will probably go that route and pair their co setup with some Bilsteins.
thanks!
I'd probably take the Koni's over the Bilsteins.
z31maniac said:
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to z31maniac :
Very good point. I re-discovered ground control in one of the Mustang forums yesterday. Will probably go that route and pair their co setup with some Bilsteins.
thanks!
I'd probably take the Koni's over the Bilsteins.
I've had both on various cars. I tend to prefer the valving of the Bilstein HD to the Koni Sport but ymmv
I had Steeda springs and Koni shocks on my 2012. It lowered it an inch in the front and over an inch in the rear I think. Pretty decent set up
I did Tokico Blues and Ford Racing K-Springs on my 05 GT for track use. Worked well but wish i had gone with Steeda Sport Springs for the linear rate over the progressive rate of the K springs.
The Tokicos were beyond stiff. Nearly too stiff for the K-springs. But they worked at the limit and were predictable.
z31maniac said:
Stay away from BC and any other Taiwanese garbage.
Once they've been re-valved and re-built to function like the high end stuff, what's the problem with them?
https://store.redshiftmotorsports.com/RedShiftCompCoilovers-s/147.htm
I went with Steeda Competition spring, sway bar, C-C plates and koni Yellow dampers. This Lowers it a bit but not too much, my car came with some Eibach lowering springs that were just bad in every way.
Rear springs are just standard coilover springs.
S197 chassis cars already have springs around the dampers up front and springs directly above the axle in the rear so coil-overs are not as big of an upgrade as they are on a fox chassis car. What you gain is adjustability.
If you have access, the first season of Hotrod Garage has a show on putting a suspension on one of those.
