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New to S550, looking for starter tips

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Hey guys!

So, I'll be picking up my 2018 GT Premium in about a month. Didn't order any of the performance packs... Wanted PP2, but didn't have quite the coin for it.

I just want to know, where should I start with suspension? Plan is to run some 19x11 square wrapped in RE-71s, swap to PP brembos, pads/fluid, and brake ducts because I know the factory brakes and tires will disintegrate from one track day. I need to keep my mods somewhat budget, as my main priority is paying off the car. On my 3v mustang, I had a Wilwood big brake kit, H&R Race springs, Eibach pro dampers, brake ducts, MM CC plates, and MM panhard bar. I'm thinking I want to go in a similar direction with the new car, because I really liked that setup as a quality budget build. However, I'm new to the whole IRS, and I'm wondering what you guys think would be the most effective budget setup for this chassis. What kinds of parts am I not thinking of that I should consider (bushings, bump-steer kit, anything like that)?

Thanks!
 
501
550
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Snowy North
Welcome Jake,

So much information and so many solid resources on this forum.

Look into the Ford Performance track suspension kit for a very streetable yet track-biased solution.

Contact Tim at OP Mustang for braking and some bushing needs.

Try Lenny at Motorsport Tech for the spacers that you’ll need to permit using 11” fronts.

Consider Vorshlag or Maximum Motorsports for camber plates.

GRANT: Help me help him spend his Euros!
 
Your initial planned mods are a good place to start. Next up will be either the FP track suspension kit or other dampers as you'll blow through the stock damping rather quickly. The kit RES_22 mentioned comes with adjustable sway bars so that will help you balance the car with all the grip you'll have from the RE 71R's.
 
I was looking at the FP Track kit, but wasn't sure quite how good it would be... I do like how budget friendly it is though! Luckily, the car doesn't have to be TOO streetable, because it's not my daily driver, just a fun car. I eventually plan to go all out with some extensive aero, some Cortex 2-way coilovers, a set of slicks to put on some track-only wheels, and some AP brakes, but that'll be down the road after the car is paid off because that's some serious coin to be spending. I've never done HPDE in the states before, but I've had plenty of track experience over here in Europe, so I'm sure I'll be able to adjust pretty quickly.

I'll be spending USD, since I'm moving back to the states in about a month or so! haha
 
One of the first suspension mods I can recommend would be the CB005 cradle bushing lockout kit by BMR. This will tighten up the movement of the rear cradle for the IRS and completely change the way the rear handles (for the good!). There is just too much movement and deflection without this part.

https://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=1543&superpro=0

Good stuff, that's the kind of random stuff I'm looking for. I totally would have missed that!
 
One of the first suspension mods I can recommend would be the CB005 cradle bushing lockout kit by BMR. This will tighten up the movement of the rear cradle for the IRS and completely change the way the rear handles (for the good!). There is just too much movement and deflection without this part.

https://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=1543&superpro=0

The marketing on BMR's website suggests this likely reduces wheelhop and suitable for 'stangs used at the strip. I can't help but wonder in a roadrace environment will the mod lead to reducing laptimes or if it's largely just dead weight and a preception or confidence enhancer (ie: can whatever this fixes just be driven around when @ 10/10's....?)
 
The marketing on BMR's website suggests this likely reduces wheelhop and suitable for 'stangs used at the strip. I can't help but wonder in a roadrace environment will the mod lead to reducing laptimes or if it's largely just dead weight and a preception or confidence enhancer (ie: can whatever this fixes just be driven around when @ 10/10's....?)

Yeah, after I looked into it, that's sort of the impression I'm getting. Plus, now that I think about it, wouldn't you want as much free range of motion of the rear end as possible to increase mechanical grip?
 
215
210
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
Under 3 Years
SoCal
Yeah, after I looked into it, that's sort of the impression I'm getting. Plus, now that I think about it, wouldn't you want as much free range of motion of the rear end as possible to increase mechanical grip?

No. You want the free range of motion in the control arms of the suspension, not the cradle (or bushings for that matter). Movement of the cradle while cornering, accelerating, or braking will change alignment settings and upset handling. The CB005 locks in and centers the cradle to prevent movement. This allows the control arms to move about in the factory designed arcs as intended.

This part is also much lighter and less expensive to Steeda's answer to the same problem. If you are unsure, I suggest you give BMR a call and ask to speak with Kelly Aiken. He is extremely knowledgeable regarding the Mustang S550 and likes to speak with his customers. He has two of his own. One is used for road course testing while the other is for drag racing.

Yes, the part is more well known for drag racing purposes because it works extremely well for that also. More people tend to street race or drag race their vehicles than go to a road course, so it obviously gets marketed more for that.
 
No. You want the free range of motion in the control arms of the suspension, not the cradle (or bushings for that matter). Movement of the cradle while cornering, accelerating, or braking will change alignment settings and upset handling. The CB005 locks in and centers the cradle to prevent movement. This allows the control arms to move about in the factory designed arcs as intended.

This part is also much lighter and less expensive to Steeda's answer to the same problem. If you are unsure, I suggest you give BMR a call and ask to speak with Kelly Aiken. He is extremely knowledgeable regarding the Mustang S550 and likes to speak with his customers. He has two of his own. One is used for road course testing while the other is for drag racing.

Yes, the part is more well known for drag racing purposes because it works extremely well for that also. More people tend to street race or drag race their vehicles than go to a road course, so it obviously gets marketed more for that.

Ahh, okay, that makes sense! I guess I was just misunderstanding something haha
 
215
210
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
Under 3 Years
SoCal
Haha... no worries. It took me a while to figure out how this IRS works as well. I think it's less confusing than the S197 guys with their Watts linkages and measuring their UCA and LCA. Heck you need a degree from UCLA just to figure it out... :p
 
501
550
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Snowy North
I have several BMR bits (check their excellent k-member brace CB006)... but Steeda has a very robust solution for IRS cradle support 555-5754. It triangulates (in 3D) the unit body, the IRS sub-frame and the rear mount of the LCA/toe link.

Hard to beat.
 
I'd skip the Ford Racing packages that most people like and grab the BMR Handling springs, Koni Yellows and BMR front and rear sway bars.

If you go Steeda, I'd get the competition springs, their pro action adjustables (made by koni) and their bars.

With either, I'd grab the steeda rear shock mounts.

I'm running a hodge podge of both brands and gotta say, it is bad ass. BMR handling springs, BMR camber bolts, BMR CB005, Koni Yellows, steeda sway bars, steed rear shock mounts, steeda rear lower control arm bushings and Ford Racing toe bearings. You won't be disappointed with any of the mods above.

For pads, a budget route is power stop track day pads, medium duty is Glock R12 to 18 and heavy duty is something like a Ferodo DS1.11.

Some other things to note, the 4 piston stock brakes on non Performance package cars have the cooling vanes on the OUTSIDE of the rotor, look around for Terry Fair from Vorshlag's thread about how dumb that is.

I'm rambling now, good luck.
 

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