If you're wanting to close up that wheelwell gap, without sacrificing ride quality, a product like the
Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set would be a great solution. You'll see a mild drop in the 1.0" - 1.5" range which will improve the stance and handling while maintaining a near factory ride.
Are you ready to hit the track while wanting a wide range of adjustments (including your Ford shocks) for your vehicle? It may be time to explore a coil-over kit. Again, Eibach steps up to the plate offering drops adjustable between 1.0" and
2.4". The
Multi-Pro Coil-Over (shown above) features a 10-way independently adjustable compression and rebound which allows for combinations that are near limitless to dial your car in perfectly.
Options are available for most years and models of the fifth-generation Mustang (2005 and up).
Whether you're looking to buy shocks online or purchase a coil-over kit,
shop by vehicle to find the right suspension products for your vehicle.
The late model Ford Mustang is fast becoming an extremely popular vehicle for both customizers and enthusiasts. This is partly due to the volume of aftermarket parts available and the demand from consumers to set their Mustang apart from the crowd and show off their personal style.
In addition to custom paint jobs and
aftermarket wheels (rims), many Mustang owners are opting to
lower their cars for more aggressive handling and appearance. Due to the flexibility of the late model Mustang chassis, there are several ride height and stiffness options available.
Depending on the version of Mustang, there are several options for lowering from standard
non-adjustable springs to fully adjustable
coil-over kits. Coil-over kits offer the height and dampening adjustability that is not possible with a spring-only application.
It's important to note that when changing a vehicle's ride height,
alignment adjustments will be needed for your vehicle. For lowering, this typically includes reduction in camber to counter the camber increase caused by shorter springs. For the newer Mustang, a set of
camber bolts will do the trick for the front and an
adjustable panhard bar or trailing arm for the rear.
When you're looking for Mustang shocks, springs, coil-over kits or other suspension parts for your ride, be sure to
shop by vehicle to find the parts that are a great fit.
The most popular upgrade for cars and trucks is new custom wheels and tires. After that, suspension upgrades are very common on both late model and older vehicles. Typically, drivers will want to simply raise or lower their car or truck for aesthetic reasons, but there are often performance reasons for suspension upgrades, as well.
Raising, often referred to as lifting, is most common on trucks and jeeps. In addition to creating a taller ride height, this is regularly done for performance reasons such as allowing for larger wheels and tires than what the factory (O.E.) suspension will allow.
There are two primary ways for lowering a vehicle: lowering springs or an adjustable coil-over suspension kit. Both of these options will give the car a lower center of gravity and stiffen the car's chassis, which will allow for less body roll in corners and improved handling and cornering. Coil-overs give the added advantage of ride-height adjustability and with certain models, dampening adjustability for fine tuning the balance of ride quality and handling.
Whether you're looking for performance shocks, gas shocks or other products to upgrade your suspension, it's important to consult with an expert. Changing a car's suspension will require alignment adjustments and may create fitment challenges with your custom rims (wheels) and tires.
Did you kn
ow that
Tire Rack has
gift certificates available for purchase?
They're a great gift idea for that person you can't quite decide what to give. You can purchase
gift certificates in any denomination from $25.00-$5,000.00 and have them sent via U.S. mail (3-5 days) or if you're a last minute shopper, the certificate can be emailed directly to the lucky recipient in as little as 24 hours. You can even include a personal message. Unlike many gift certificates, Tire Rack's certificates don't expire for five years, so your recipient can really take his or her time deciding just how to spend it.
If you can't decide if your friend or family member is looking to replace brake rotors, buy adjustable shocks or purchase a set of affordable tires, our gift certificates allow them to purchase what they need for their vehicle!
Have you ever felt that your car bounces more after you go over a bump? It just doesn't feel as connected to the road as it did when it was new? Shock absorbers are an expendable item that has a big effect on your ride quality. When it comes time to replace shocks, you're going to have access to your springs. This is a great time to add
lowering springs. Not every shock is designed for all driving circumstances. There are two major categories for aftermarket shocks: performance and touring.
- Performance shocks give the firmer ride, and help reduce body roll. They are often combined with lowering springs for the ultimate handling combination.
- Touring shocks are more focused on a soft, compliant and comfortable ride. Touring shocks add to that supple, luxurious ride by soaking up more impacts and road imperfections.
Listed below are a few terms that will help you better understand the characteristics of a shock adjustment:
- Compression - The collapsing stroke of a shock, directly correlated to the movement of your axle.
- Rebound - The return stroke of a shock, directly tied to vehicle pitch and ride quality. To learn more about shocks check out, "Damper Dynamics."
Take a look at a few of the
shocks available at Tire Rack:
- KYB Gas-A-Just: An Original Equipment replacement shock.These are your excellent-value option, as they are self adjusting.
- KYB Monomax: Increased load control, and a firm planted feel for your light truck or SUV. These shocks have been known to offer a firmer ride, but the trade off is better control. These shocks are self adjusting. They completely transformed my Chevy Blazer back to the consistent like-new handling I missed.
- Koni STR-T: A cost-effective performance shock, designed to offer better handling, without a harsh ride.
- Bilstein 5100 : Designed with the lifted truck or SUV in mind. These are ideal for your Jeep or pickup truck with mild body and suspension lifts. The articulation in off-road circumstances is superb.
Shop by vehicle to find the suspension components that work best for your vehicle.
Coil-over suspension kits represent the top end of the suspension market, giving the driver the most flexibility in adjusting both the ride height and "firmness" of the shock absorbers to fine tune the handling of their vehicle. Sounds like a great option to have right? Well, the answer lies in how and where you drive your vehicle.
The first thing to remember is that any component that lowers the ride height of your vehicle will affect ride comfort (see a previous blog post titled
"What Should I Expect from Lowering Springs?"). Even the most modest lowering spring (
1.0" of drop or less) will affect ride comfort, but any coil-over setup will have a much more aggressive spring rate which translates to a firmer ride. In my mind, the coil-over suspension is intended for a driver that wants to maximize the handling of the vehicle in "track" conditions and also have the flexibility to adjust ride height (and damping rates) to suit track conditions. If local road conditions are poor, coil-overs will make a rough ride even rougher!
The Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-Over R2 and the KW Variant 1 have the least "aggressive" spring rates, which will minimize the change to ride comfort but still improve handling and allow you to adjust your ride height for the perfect stance.
The Bilstein PSS Coil-Over Kit and KW Variant 3 represent the elite in coil-over systems and provide the greatest range of adjustability for ride and ride height.
Check out our full line of
coil-over systems!
Has your chariot lost some of that new car handling and ride? Do you feel like you're on a trampoline after hitting a bump? It might be time to get new shocks and struts (dampers) for your car, truck or SUV.
Tire Rack offers a wide range of options from Original Equipment style replacements to performance upgrades. The
KYB GR-2 line will firm up the ride 5-10% over factory new. KONI and
Bilstein offer higher performance options — some with adjustability to give you that "on rails" feeling.
Look to the professionals at Tire Rack for all of your suspension needs. View specs, shock absorber reviews, and pricing
for your specific vehicle.
I recently installed a great set of coil-over shock and springs in an effort to improve handling and my car's look. While the decrease in gap from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender lip looked great, I found after inspection that my rear tires were very close to rubbing the fender lip in the back.
What to do? ROLL THAT FENDER !
Tire Rack sells a great tool that when used with an industrial heat gun (and patience), got me out of the jam I was in.
The fender lip rolling tool features an adjustable arm and a non marring roller that will slowly bend the fender lip up and out of the way for additional clearance. It is essential to use a heat gun to keep the paint flexible enough to avoid cracking as the metal is worked.
You can see detailed instructions on the tool in the
User's Guide. (PDF)
If you've recently installed bigger wheels and tires, or lowered your car like I did then you may want to consider picking this tool up!
A complete
coil over system is one solution to improve your vehicle’s performance.
The system combines springs, shocks and bump stop into one assembly. The coil-over set-up is similar to a race set-up in that it allows tuning of the vehicle through ride height adjustment. Coil overs often use an adjustable spring perch that allows for different vehicle ride heights without changing the springs.
Springs encompass the shock and bump stop, working to minimize bounce that occurs during driving. Shocks help control suspension movement while bump stops keep your vehicle suspension parts from coming in contact with the vehicle’s frame.
More information on suspension terminology can be found here:
“Understanding Basic Suspension Terminology”
Are you looking to improve the suspension on your vehicle? With options available from companies such as
H&R,
Eibach and
Koni, Tire Rack has the products to improve your vehicle's appearance and handling.
An entry-level introduction to improving your vehicle's appearance and handling is to purchase a set of
lowering springs and
performance dampers.
If you are looking for more control over adjustability then consider a
coil-over or
cup kit.
Anti-roll bars are also a great addition to improve handling and help remove body roll around corners.
Lowering will change the ride characteristics of the vehicle, therefore give some thought to the balance you want to maintain between handling, looks and ride comfort. If you have upgraded your wheels and tires to a larger-than-original size, you will also want to check clearance before you decide on the kit you want.
Coil-Over: an automotive suspension device which refers to a spring or "coil" mounted over the damper (shock or strut).
There are advantages to the coil-over versus a conventional spring and damper system that include ease of installation and simplified height and stiffness adjustment. Many coil-overs offer easy fine-tuning that's not available from conventional suspension systems.
Coil-Over Kits are available for many German vehicles such as Porsche, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. There are also many domestic and Japanese fitments for cars such as Corvette, Mazda Miata and RX7, Nissan GT-R, 350/370Z, and many others.
Do you already have lowering spring or are planning to get them and are confused about what shock absorbers to get? This
can be confusing with so may choices out there. I recommend the KONI Sport Shocks.
1.
KONI Sport Shocks are adjustable. You can adjust the damper for the amount of rebounding damping that you want. This allows you to change the handling characteristics of the car for your driving preference. Just about every aftermarket spring company uses a different spring rate. With the KONI adjustables you are able to set the dampers to work best with your aftermarket springs. Dampening of a shock/strut decreases with tens of thousands of miles and with the adjustability KONI offers you can continue to increase the dampening over time.
2. KONI's are designed to improve the handling of the car from the moment they are installed and I can personally attest that they do. I like the fact I can set them softer for the street and then if I am doing a track/autocross event I can firm them up for better handling.
3. KONIs are built for a lifetime. They have a limited lifetime warranty for the original purchase
r. These will be the last shock/struts you will ever need to buy. My original shocks and struts for my car started to leak at around 38,000 miles. I now have over 109,000 miles and my KONIs are going strong. Here is a picture of my 04 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon lowered on
H & R Sport Springs with KONI Sport dampers.
Are
you looking to increase the way your car handles but you don't want to spend a small fortune doing it? Consider the
KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks. With an externally adjustable valve rate you can fine tune your vehicle’s ride to suit your specific needs. Take your car to the track or conquer the streets with this simple upgrade. The
KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks are made in hundreds of fitments for vehicles ranging from the
Honda Civics to
Chevy Camaros. Check out what other customers are saying about the
KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks on our
survey page.
How to improve the handling of your sports car. Hotchkis and Tire Rack can help.
There are some common ways to improve the handling of your sports car. Wheels and tires, upgraded shocks and springs, performance alignment and proper air pressure all play an important role in your car’s handling performance.
This is one of my favorite modifications to improve the handling of my Subaru WRX.
The product I am referring to is the
Hotchkis Competition Anti-Roll Bars bars (also called sway bars). Hotchkis Competition Anti-Roll Bars are designed for the highly competitive road course and autocross competitor that is looking to improve handling and reduce body roll. In the picture below, you can see the red Hotchkis roll bar vs. a smaller diameter OEM bar.
You will notice that the Hotchkis bar has three holes so you can adjust the stiffness of the roll bar to tweak your set up. The outside hole has the softest setting, the middle hole stiffer and the inside hole the stiffest. Typically, kits include greasable polyurethane bushing and stronger brackets as well as a 90-degree zerk fitting for easy lubrication. I lubricate mine at each oil cha
nge interval. They are also CNC-formed with forged ends for strength.
The benefits of the larger roll bar include less roll and a car that handles flatter through corners.
Shock absorbers can be complicated if you're not precisely sure about your individual needs. There are a variety of shock options, and each option directly affects ride comfort and stability—even safety. Take a look at the following force velocity graph:
The red portion of the graph represents KONI Special shocks and the yellow portion represents KONI Sport shocks. Any crossover in performance is indicated by the color pink. In essence, the graph is a visual representation of the adjustment range. The column marked "A" represents damper speeds that result from braking, accelerating and rolling. Column "B" represents road hazards like bumps and railroad tracks.
Based on the chart, you can see that KONI Special shocks compromise the most in terms of road handling and comfort. Sport shocks, on the other hand, are made for aggressive driving. Read "
Comparing KONI Special vs. KONI Sport" in our library of
Suspension Tech articles and then
shop by vehicle for a specific list of components that are right for yours.
KW Suspensions offers 3 different models of their Variant coilover suspensions utilizing "inox-line" stainless technology. Enthusiasts are able to select from the V1,V2 & V3. Coilover suspension kits combine springs and shocks tuned to compliment one another so you see greater performance gains than with separate shocks and springs.
Variant 1 - Spirited and balanced with KW factory pre-set shock absorber dampening.
These are designed for the customer who wants adjustable lowering springs on their car, but does not want to have to worry about adjusting the shock absorber rebound and compression. These come from KW preset for optimum performance for a sporty yet comfortable ride.
Variant 2 - Sporty and compliant with adjustable rebound dampening.
These are for the experienced driver who wishes to not only determine the individual lowering of their vehicle, but adjust the damper settings to fine tune the system to their needs. The adjustable rebound damper is infinitely adjustable and allows adjustment of the pitch and roll behavior of the vehicle, adapting to ones own driving preferences.
Variant 3- Race technology for the road with adjustable compression & rebound dampening.
The Variant 3 coilover suspension is state of the art technology for the skilled and experienced driver. These allow for full adjustment of the ride height, damping and 14 levels of compression damping. They come preset for a good staring point from KW for you to work from to meet your specific needs.
All of the KW coilovers are TUV tested and use High-quality components for long life. Below is a picture of the KW variant 3 installed on a Mazda Miata.
Take a look at the BMW Shock Absorber and overall suspension upgrade I did on my 1999 BMW M Roadster before I traded it a couple years back. I do miss it, and was verry happy with the suspension upgrade I did on the car.
First I installed the
KONI Sport Shocks. They offered great performance and rebound adjustability so the ride didn't suffer any more then I wanted. At the same time, I lowered the vehicle with some
H&R Sport Springs with a very mild drop of 1.3 inches. Here is a picture of the finished product!
No matter how detailed your race vehicle is, there's only one thing your performance truly depends on—a good racing battery. And
Braille Auto Development knows exactly how to make one. As you know, braille is a form of communication that utilizes touch. Applying this idea to every battery they create, Braille is able to offer drivers performance they can truly feel on the track.
Braille studies every aspect of a race car as it runs the track and the result is a battery that provides a competitive advantage—it's much more lightweight than any other battery on the market. And on the track, the lighter you are, the faster you'll go.
Tire Rack offers a variety of different Braille racing batteries and mounting kits. And not only is every Braille battery extremely lightweight, it also features heavy-duty vibration resistant power posts that resist cracking and other forms of deterioration. Shop the selection to find a racing battery you won't be disappointed in.
"I installed the Braille Lightweight Racing Battery (15 lbs.) into my daily drive. I searched the Internet and found these had really good reviews. When I received the battery I was shocked how little it was! The mounting bracket took a minute to figure out but once it was adjusted for the battery it mounted right were my factory battery was with the hooks provided. Overall, I saved about 16 pounds which is awesome. The auto posts included were a nice touch and everything seemed thought out pretty well." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, AK
Specific vehicles like 1999-2006 Chevrolet/GMC trucks have 
Caster is affected mostly when a vehicle has a large front to back difference in ride height. This may also be because of heavy loading in the rear of the vehicle or "negative frame angle". The frame angle will directly affect the caster in a one to one relationship. That means for each degree of frame angle change the caster will change one degree. Positive frame angle will be added to the caster reading whereas negative frame angle would be subtracted from the caster reading.
Truxxx Lift and Level Kits 
