Holy cow, my car handles!!!

[malc350]

While I was out buying Roush springs it seemed rude not to but anti-roll bars, shocks & struts, especially as so many of those components have to be removed anyway, so why not replace them with new ones?! While I was at it I also replaced the rear lower control arms with Roush billet items.

This amounted to the full Roush handling kit plus the trailing arms...

Took longer to fit than I expected for what is a straight forward job though I was extra slow (cautious) using spring compressors as I had never used them before. In fact the worst (really annoying) part was that the spring compressors kept slipping off the Roush springs. I don't know whether this was down to the shiny blue paint or that it was hard to find coils that were parallel enough to put the tools on? Who cares it's done now!

And what a transformation! The old Mussie handles like a car should do: I took it a bit easy at first then tried cornering sharper and faster and the car took it without a squeal. I actually prefer the ride to stock: it's perfectly controlled, smooth (ish) and the car goes exactly where it's pointed. It really is serious handling car now.

Car sits lower and the wheels look a bit lost in those big arches so I'll have to address that...

Thanks to Charles at 51st state who I ordered most of the bits from though I went down to Roush UK to pick them up as I wanted to get the job done this weekend. They had everything in stock and were very helpful, especially a guy there called Anthony who was very knowledgable on Mustangs!

Definitely worth doing!

[malc350]

swerni said:

Is the difference that big?

I have only driven one Stang, and that has the full Roush handling kit. I have no idea how a stock one performs and handles.
Guess I should take one out for a spin

I was severely disappointed with how my car drove after I had owned it for a few days. Basically it rode OK but was too easily upset by bumps which would knock it off line without even trying and it had quite a lot of understeer.

It also felt generally a bit "loose" though my car has a few miles and I think there was some general wear to some bushes, although when I removed the stock components all the rubber bushes looked OK except the bottom shock rubbers which were cracking. The old shocks weren't leaking but I suspect they had some wear or they may just be that soft as stock.

When stock components need replacing the cost of replacing with aftermarket quality parts like Roush isn't so expensive. I don't know if I should replace any other parts like the upper rear control arm or any other bushes but it does drive tight now.

What I can't believe is that I actualy prefer the ride too! It's firm but isn't bone jarring.