Installing a new 1966 ford mustang suspension kit is probably the individual best thing you can do when you're tired associated with your classic car wandering across the particular lane every time a person hit a pebble. Let's be sincere for a second: as much because we like the appearance of these first-generation ponies, the factory handling was in no way exactly "precision-engineered" by modern standards. Once you combine sixty-year-old geometry with decades associated with wear and rip, you end upward using a driving encounter that feels even more like captaining the barge than traveling a sports vehicle.
If you've invested any moment behind the wheel of a stock '66, a person know the feeling. A person turn the wheel, wait a 2nd for that body to lean, and then—eventually—the car decides in order to change direction. It's charming in the classic sort of way, but it's also exhausting on a long drive. Updating the suspension isn't nearly going faster around corners; it's about making the car predictable, secure, and actually fun to drive on a Sunday afternoon.
Why Your Factory Setup Comes across as being Like a Rowboat
Back in 1966, Ford made the Mustang in order to be affordable. To keep costs lower, they borrowed heavily from the Falcon's parts bin. The front end uses a high-mount coils spring design that puts a great deal of stress upon the shock podiums, and the back depends on simple leaf springs. It worked well fine for commuting within the mid-sixties, yet today's roads are different, and today's drivers expect more.
With time, those original rubber bushing dry out plus crack. The spring suspensions sag, leaving the vehicle sitting unevenly. The particular shocks lose their particular damping ability, this is why your Mustang might continue to bounce 3 or 4 times right after hitting a rate bump. When you look at a modern 1966 ford mustang suspension kit, you aren't just changing old parts along with new versions from the same thing. You're often looking from improved geometry that fixes the natural flaws Ford had to live along with back in the day.
Deciding Which Kit Actually Fits Your Style
Just before you pull the trigger on the kit, you possess to ask yourself what you actually need to do with the car. Are you building a dedicated monitor monster, or do you would like to generate to the regional car meet with out your kidneys hurting? There's a substantial spectrum of choices available, and selecting the incorrect one can turn ideal car into a nightmare.
For many guys, a "street performance" kit will be the sweet place. These usually include slightly stiffer springs, better shocks, plus thicker sway bars. It keeps the particular car level in the turns but doesn't feel like you're riding on a wooden plank. Upon the other hand, if you're searching to get in to autocross, you'll possibly wish to look with a 1966 ford mustang suspension kit that features coilovers. Coilovers give a person the capability to adjust your ride elevation and damping instantly, though they definitely cost a little bit more and need more effort to install.
Wearing down the Front End Components
The front end is where most of the magic—and the headache—happens. A comprehensive kit is going in order to replace several important players. First upward are the control arms. The initial stamped steel arms are susceptible to flexing under load. Modern substitutes are often made of tubular metal, which is considerably stronger and frequently lighter. Some products even "drop" the upper control left arm mounting point (often called the Shelby Drop), which significantly improves the camber curve and keeps your tires smooth on the pavement throughout a turn.
Then you have the shocks. Don't sacrifice quality here. The in between a cheap parts-store shock and the quality gas-charged unit is night and day. A great 1966 ford mustang suspension kit can usually pair the particular shocks with particular spring rates so the front finish feels planted. In case you've ever felt that "floaty" feeling at 60 advise, it's usually because the shocks and springs aren't working in harmony.
Dealing with the Rear Leaf Springs
The particular rear from the '66 Mustang is incredibly simple. It's a great axle held in position simply by two long leaf springs. It's the durable design, yet it's susceptible to "wheel hop" when you have any kind of decent amount of horsepower. When you're shopping for a kit, search for leaf suspension systems that are rated intended for your specific engine weight. A big block car requires a different setup than the usual straight-six or a 289.
Many modern kits also include "mid-eye" or "reverse-eye" leaf springs. This particular is a clever way to lower the trunk of the particular car about a good inch or two without needing lowering blocks. It gives the Mustang the much meaner position while actually improving the center of gravity. Just create sure the kit includes new U-bolts and shackles, your own old ones are usually almost certainly rusted solid and will probably have to be reduce off with the torch anyway.
The little Details That will Make a Big Difference
It's simple to get excited about gleaming new springs and shocks, but the real secret in order to a tight-handling Mustang is in the bushings and the particular sway bars. Most kits will exchange out the old, soft rubber bushings regarding polyurethane. Polyurethane is very much stiffer , which means your alignment stays true even when you're pushing the vehicle hard. The drawback? They can squeak when you don't grease them properly during installation.
The sway bar (or anti-roll bar) will be another huge element. Most stock '66 Mustangs came along with a tiny front sway bar that looks like a coating hanger. Upgrading to a 1-inch or even 1. 125-inch pub will flat-out change how the car feels in the corner. It decreases body roll significantly without making the particular ride harsh. A few kits even consist of a rear swing bar, though there's a bit of a debate within the Mustang community regarding whether you actually need one. For a pure street car, a good front side bar is usually a lot.
Rolling Up Your Sleeves: The particular Installation Reality
Can you install a 1966 ford mustang suspension kit in your entrance? Absolutely. Is this likely to be the "quick weekend project"? That depends on just how much the car likes you. In case you're working upon a car that's spent its living in a dry climate, you may have an easy time. If you're dealing with a rusty survivor, expect in order to spend a lot of your time with the breaker bar and some penetrating oil.
The biggest safety concern will be the front coil springs. Those items are under an incredible amount of pressure. You must use a proper internal spring compressor. Don't try in order to get creative right here; a flying coil spring can perform some serious harm to the vehicle or to you. Once you have the stuff out, the newest parts usually bolt right in. Remember not to perform the final tightening up on the bushing bolts until the particular car is sitting down on its own weight upon the ground. If you tighten them while the car is up on jack holders, you'll "clock" the particular bushings, and they'll fail prematurely.
Final Thoughts on the Drive
As soon as you get your 1966 ford mustang suspension kit installed so you take it to a go shopping for a professional alignment, the is going to shock you. The very first time you turn into a corner and the particular car just goes there with no the drama, you'll realize it had been worthy of every penny plus every bruised knuckle.
The vehicle can feel smaller, lighter, and much more modern. You'll discover yourself taking the long way home just to hit the few extra figure. It's the greatest way to maintain these classics appropriate in a planet of modern sports cars. You can keep that will iconic 1966 silhouette, but you finally obtain the performance to match the appearance. Just be prepared—once you fix the suspension, you'll possibly realize your steerage box and brakes would be the next items within the list. That's only the way the particular hobby goes!