I have the front lowered 1.5' and the back is stock height, but lower like an inch because of the stereo. I am trying to get my car to handle nice. Anyone know what type of setups are good. What makes a car ride good. In the front i have 285-40-17's and in the back i'm using 315-35-17's. Does this affect my ride quality. I am just comparing the quality to lets say a Cobra. What makes them ride so nice and I feel like my car rides fine strait but when it comes to turning rough, it worries me. What setups are you guys using that has made a huge difference in ride quality and what shocks are you guys using. I'm still using the stock biltstiens that Speed INC. put in.....

Anyhelp in this matter would be apreciated. I am looking to make a difference in the way my car handles and rides. I need someone to help me make that first step in building either a whole new suspension package, or seeing what the hell I can remove or add to help it out. Thanks for your help.....

 

First things first...and most people can't stress this enough. Get subframe connectors. These cars have a decent amount of flex without them. I just had mine (BMR Boxed Weld-in SFCs) put in and I love them.

Second, I don't think (assuming you're running 17x9 rims all around) going with wider tires is such a good idea. Too much tire on the rim will hurt the performance or handling characteristics of your car. Personally, I say stick with the 275/40/17's that are supposed to go on the rims. If you're worried about traction, go with a stickier tire...not a wider one. Also, having wider tires up front will cause the car to, in a sense, steer itself. Because the roads aren't perfectly flat (i.e. dual trenches have been created from traffic constantly using the roads), a wider tire will tend to pull the car left or right because they don't ride right in those small trenches. Look at the C5's. They run 245's up front and they handle damn well if you ask me. So, my suggestions are pretty much:
1) GET SFC's!
2) Don't run anything wider than a 275
3) If you have traction problems, get stickier tires.
After that, you could look into better suspension parts like LCA's, sway bars, etc.

 

I should of mentioned I had those already welden on, but yeah that's a good point. I am thinking I might throw the 17.9 rims back on, right now I'm running with the 17x11's in the back. What's the thinnest tire you can throw on a 17x9 RIM? Anyone know? Also what is the widest recommended tire to put on? What about shocks and springs? Traction I have no problem with, it's just the ride quality....

 

Get rid of the big stereo and lower the rear end as much as the front. Jacked up cars don't handle well.

 

The bigger the wheels and the lower the car the worse it's going to ride.

 

if you go with a smaller sidewalled tire that will also make it ride rougher because there is less give in the tire.

 

A Cobra has IRS so you cant really compare the two. A lot of people have complained about the Cobra's IRS, but as far as ride quality goes, its still better than a live axel.

 

Well, your car will probably never ride as nice(if comfortable is your meaning of nice) as a new mustang will. You have added weight and different springs front and back. Maybe you need some v6 springs or some softsports, front and back with new bilsteins or konis and new bushings. Oh and some SFC's

 

Shocks, shocks, and shocks should be the first thing. SFC's do not make the car ride better, and shocks will do more for handling performance than SFC's ever will.

 

they way i saw it happen on my car was...the better the handling, the worst the ride quality turned out to be. without my SFC and my LCAs, the ride was pleasant, but i guess you gotta give up one or the other....sorry, but in my opinion, you cant have both!!

 

I'd say the SFC actually DECREASE ride quality. They make the ride seem bumpy!!! well, at least the Cross-bracing style like the double D or the SLP bolt on/weld on did for my car.. I can feel the road in my seat now, and i never did before.. my ride quality sucks now, but i can fly around the corners like i'm on rails.

 

So Chris...
Tell us more about your current suspension.
Do you have factory springs? If not, whatcha got?
Same question with shocks, swaybars.
Are you a 1/4 man, or rr/autox?
You can't have both, setups are different.
How many miles does you'r car have?
Depending on how serious you get, ride quality could improve/diminish depending on your opinion.

I had a 93Z28, it had SFC's, Eibach pro springs, Bilstein shocks in the front, 35mm front swaybar, 25mm rear swaybar, adjustable panhard rod, in higher speed turns that thing felt like it was running on railroad tracks, it was SUPER stable, very responsive! However, in lower speeds, or in city driving, you know, 35mph or lower, the ride was bumpy. I was VERY okay with that, I didn't want a "soft" suspension, I wanted a car that handled like a true sports car. If I wanted soft I'd have bought a Cadillac.

I currently have a 2001 SS, basically the suspension below the SLP setup, it has a verrrrry plush ride, and boy, when I get into it in the twisties, the suspension feels real spongy and the car is very squirrely, I would bet that it could bottom out if I push it too hard. I actually feel scared with what I have right now compared to the old 93.

Great shocks will dramatically improve your ride, springs will help as well, and, BOTH choices will be different if you set up your car for 1/4 drags or road-race/autocross.

Carlos.