New Mustang GT owner checking in! And a question about IRS..

New Mustang GT owner checking in! And a question about IRS..

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Discussion

Mike_C

Original Poster:

984 posts

229 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
I've been a bit absent from the PH forums for a while, but thought I'd duck back in to introduce my recent car purchase - a lovely S550 5.0 V8 Mustang GT, to replace my previous weekend toy, a Caterham 7 R300 Roadsport SV.

A one owner car with just 8,000 miles, it comes with a few subtle but pleasing upgrades including a full cat-back Magnaflow exhaust system (sounds epic!), Ford Perfomance/Eibach 25mm lowering springs and a Coyote front grill:



I needed four seats to get our son in the back as the Caterham wasn't being used, and really pleased with my purchase. Having been through an extensive list of option (M3 V8 felt gutless, C63 AMG too common, 996/997 C4S or Turbo not enough rear seat room and eye watering repair/maintenance bills, etc.) I have to say I'm over the moon with my choice of V8 muscle!

It's not perfect of course, far from it - the interior layout is somewhat compromised in the switch to RHD, the exterior mirrors also. The gearbox is good but the rest of the drivetrain isn't particularly refined, and the ride quality isn't brilliant. I thought it might be the lowering springs, but having now driven a standard car it's really no better.

To that end, I've been looking at fitting one of the 'IRS lockout' kits available, to try and stabilise the rear suspension a bit, which seems to be the main issue. The two options I've found are the Steeda IRS kit (subframe support braces, etc.) and the BMR CB500 lockout kit - does anyone on here have any experience with either? The BMR is cheaper and seems to do the job of several of the more expensive Steeda parts put together, so looks a good option...

Thanks in advance! smile

Mike_C

Original Poster:

984 posts

229 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Oh, couple of other things I'd appreciate the collective's advice on:

- My puddle lights look less Mustang stallion and more fat donkey. The car is out of warranty now, anyone know if Ford are likely to fix (what I understand to be) this common issue as goodwill? And if not, any idea how much it will cost to fix? Local Ford dealer just quoted me £94 + VAT just to diagnose the issue, before putting a goodwill claim into Ford!!

- I've bought a Steeda heel/toe throttle pedal cover, as the standard setup is nigh-on impossible to heel & toe and it's sacrilege not the throttle blip the V8 into roundabouts smile Anyone fitted these before? I've snapped two TiN drill bits so far trying to drill through the rubber/plastic OE pedal in order to screw the Steeda item securely to it! smile

CraigJ

603 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
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It looks good, welcome to the club.

I have the Steeda IRS base pack on mine
https://www.motorsportandperformance.com/collectio...

Seems to keep the rear end in check and i'm at almost 750bhp now. I don't try to drive it like a sports car though because it isn't. You can spend a fair bit though and get it handling quite well but i have a Westfield for that so keep the Mustang as the family car.

The puddle lights are a common issue and are about £30/40 each if i remember right. Mine were both replaced under warranty.

If you haven't already join up to Mustang6G forums, theres a good UK sub forum too. Plenty of info on there.

CraigJ

603 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
quotequote all
Also it looks like you still have factory fit P Zeros on there, get them binned off and fit a decent set of tyres and you will notice a vast improvement especially when it gets cold. Even Ford have stopped fitting them in favor or Michelin tyres.


Barrie c 66

208 posts

89 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
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Have recently fitted new wheels and Michelin tyres, seems to have improved the ride no end.

swooshiain

377 posts

104 months

Thursday 29th August 2019
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Agree about the tyres, Michelins transformed the way the car felt for me.

CaptainSensib1e

1,451 posts

228 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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I have the BMR lockout kit and it really tightens up the back end. Bang for buck it's a great mod.

Centurion07

10,395 posts

254 months

Friday 6th September 2019
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Mike_C said:
- I've bought a Steeda heel/toe throttle pedal cover, as the standard setup is nigh-on impossible to heel & toe and it's sacrilege not the throttle blip the V8 into roundabouts smile Anyone fitted these before? I've snapped two TiN drill bits so far trying to drill through the rubber/plastic OE pedal in order to screw the Steeda item securely to it! smile
It doesn't get much better.

I had to fit about an inch worth's of spacers under the throttle pedal to get it high enough to blip during road use. Proper braking on track would make it easier.

Didn't have any problems drilling through though...?

David Beer

3,982 posts

274 months

Friday 6th September 2019
quotequote all
[quote=Mike_C]Oh, couple of other things I'd appreciate the collective's advice on:

- My puddle lights look less Mustang stallion and more fat donkey. The car is out of warranty now, anyone know if Ford are likely to fix (what I understand to be) this common issue as goodwill? And if not, any idea how much it will cost to fix? Local Ford dealer just quoted me £94 + VAT just to diagnose the issue, before putting a goodwill claim into Ford!!

My puddle lights were replaced under warranty, they just pop out and push back in. Good luck with good will. I extended my original warranty for £25 a month, no exclusions , seems good value.