New Mod Added, Springs, LCA'S, Adjustable Panhard

[Wild White Pony]

Well I installed some Roush rear lowering springs, BMR lower control arms and a BMR Adjustable Panhard this morning. Took it out for a spin this afternoon and couldn't be happier.

The back ends dropped about an inch, getting better traction and good handling. Thought I might have some trouble since I put a Aluminum 1 Piece drive shaft in a month ago and didn't go with an adjustable upper yet, but no problems showed so yippie yi aaaa. Oh, I did need that adjustable panhard to correct alignment. :box2:

[mot250]

Since the FORD panhard bar is non-adjustable, make sure any alignment shops do not touch it.

I took my car in to a local alignment, brake and tire place after installing adjustable lowers, adjustable upper and adjustable panhard bar as well as lowered springs, struts and shocks all the way around and asked them to confirm the the rear was square to the car along with doing the front alignment. Since Ford doesn't list real specs and adjustment instructions for rear alignment (nothing in the rear is adjustable from the factory) the shop didn't really know what to do so they monkeyed with a bunch of the parts and reset the panhard to stock length, throwing everything out of whack. I didn't notice until I got home, called and spoke to a manager and he told me to bring it back in again, which for my schedule meant a week later. In them mean time, I reset all the rear parts to where I wanted them using triangulated measurements to key fixed locations on the undercaraige and centered in the wheel well openings ( to top as well as front to rear). Then the shop re-did the front alignment (which was initally done after they had screwed with my rear parts) and finally reported the existing settings for the front and the measurements for the rear.

They didn't charge for the second visit but it was still a hassle for me to redo everthign and take it in a second time.

[Wild White Pony]

Since the FORD panhard bar is non-adjustable, make sure any alignment shops do not touch it.

I took my car in to a local alignment, brake and tire place after installing adjustable lowers, adjustable upper and adjustable panhard bar as well as lowered springs, struts and shocks all the way around and asked them to confirm the the rear was square to the car along with doing the front alignment. Since Ford doesn't list real specs and adjustment instructions for rear alignment (nothing in the rear is adjustable from the factory) the shop didn't really know what to do so they monkeyed with a bunch of the parts and reset the panhard to stock length, throwing everything out of whack. I didn't notice until I got home, called and spoke to a manager and he told me to bring it back in again, which for my schedule meant a week later. In them mean time, I reset all the rear parts to where I wanted them using triangulated measurements to key fixed locations on the undercaraige and centered in the wheel well openings ( to top as well as front to rear). Then the shop re-did the front alignment (which was initally done after they had screwed with my rear parts) and finally reported the existing settings for the front and the measurements for the rear.

They didn't charge for the second visit but it was still a hassle for me to redo everthign and take it in a second time.

Sounds like I would drive by and think, what a nice place to build a new Sonics burger resturant.
I can't believe that an alignment shop would put the panhard back to stock and not notice the big tire sticking out the side of the car. I know after I finished lowering the back end and the car was at ride height, my axle shifted towards the driver side about a half inch. Took about 10 minutes to align it back again since you can reach the turnbuckle on the panhard bar with ease.

I'll do the upper only when I'm able to use a 4 post lift, I have a friend in Crystal Lake that has one and should be able to get access to it on Saturday's. With this it will be easy to set the pinion angle since the car will be on all four wheels and at ride height. I'm not messin with ramps and jacks for that part.

[Fstford05]

Blackdog Racing in Lincolnshire will do a 4 wheel alignment. They set up suspensions for the cars that race at the Joilet Autobahn race club. Ask for Toby if you go there. There shop is unbelievable. You will see cars that will make you say WOW.

[mot250]

Blackdog Racing in Lincolnshire will do a 4 wheel alignment. They set up suspensions for the cars that race at the Joilet Autobahn race club. Ask for Toby if you go there. There shop is unbelievable. You will see cars that will make you say WOW.

Sweet! Thanks for the tip!

[Ambenz]

A friend of ours just did this to his GO Mustang and did a nice "How to write up".
You can see his post at my sister site....

http://www.grabberorange.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11509&highlight=

Interesting, when he changed the front springs, he found the stock strut bearing mount bracket kinda cheap so he used the KR500 strut mount....

GT stock mount...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r31/Ottclan/BMR%20Intall%20Apr%2011/100_0438.jpg


...I actually found a ball bearing on the floor in the garage and wondered where it came from..
..now I know.
..but having a couple friends stangs in the garage in the last 30 days...which one did it come off of????

KR Mount...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r31/Ottclan/BMR%20Intall%20Apr%2011/100_0408.jpg

All you S197 owners might wanna check the garage for ball bearings rolling around the floor IF your hearing that "clunk" in your front end.

[SonicGT]

If you have an 05 there is a TSB for the top mounts making a popping sound. I had mine replaced back in 2005 under the TSB, but if its a grabber then its not he 05 so obviously maybe still had issues after that

[Wild White Pony]

That’s good information Andy and very accurate of how this is done. Similar to SuperSonic05 and Taco Bills write ups. A few notes for anyone that’s wants to do this is clean the frame where the control arms will slide into and grease them up. Only grease the bushing with a couple pumps and smear some grease on the outside of the bushing, you will final grease after installation. Some people say they have a hard time fitting these parts in, mine went in very easy, if put too much grease in the bushing they won’t fit in. At this point all you need to do is remove the grease fitting, put a rag over the bushing and step on it. The grease will exit the bushing fitting hole and return the bushing to proper size, now it will install easy.
As far as the Panhard bar I took the old panhard installed the bolts and placed flat on the ground with the bolts facing up. I then took the new adjustable Panhard and slid it over the bolts, then locking down the turnbuckle nuts just snug enough to hold. Do the same greasing as on the control arms, clean the frame mounts and smear some grease
This gives you the proper stock size and now will fit in with ease.
This link might already be known and may be in an existing thread but I use it alot to get tork specs. http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=0