The best suspension gear for your 1987 to 2004 Mustang
The best suspension gear for your 1987 to 2004 Mustang.
We'll give you the bad news first: the suspension systems of older third and fourth generation Mustangs was pretty terrible from the factory and have to be close to falling apart by now. The good news: the 1987 to 1993 Fox Body Mustangs' suspension systems have a very similar design to the later Fox-4 Mustangs from 1994 through 2004, giving you a wide range of suspension options that greatly enhance both generations' handling characteristics and cornering performance. Looking at the huge market for suspension gear is kind of daunting, but there are two basic ways to go about upgrading your Foxy or SN95. First, you could go the relatively simple and cheap way and just pick up a set of lowering springs that not only give your Mustang an aggressive look, but help reduce body roll. Your second option is go with a full suspension kit for either your 1987 to 1993 Fox Mustang or 1994 to 2004 SN95. Which one is the ''correct'' choice is a matter of debate and really depends on how much you're willing to spend and if you're able to do the work yourself.
Lowering springs are pretty much the go-to suspension upgrade for just about anyone who has ever owned a car with poor handling from the factory. They do their job, come at pretty low prices, and aren't all that difficult to install giving them universal demand. All lowering springs provide slightly better handling and cornering performance by bringing down the Mustang's center of gravity, thereby reducing body roll and providing better traction. Most spring kits lower the car by one to one and half inches depending on their designs, but some kits, like the Eibach Sportlines drop your Mustang by up to two inches on both the front and rear for an even more aggressive stance and stiff cornering, though they can cause reduced ride quality on the street and increase wear on your factory shocks and struts. Lowering springs alone are good option for the average street driver on a budget who wants better handling and has the garage tools to do the job themselves. If you would rather get your springs swapped out by a shop, you might want to reconsider. Many indy shops charge about three hours of labor for just springs, but only five for a suspension kit, making a full kit a more cost-effective option.
For most purposes, suspension kits are a better overall purchase. Our best-selling Eibach Pro-Plus kits for both Fox Body Mustangs and Fox-4 Mustangs include lowering springs, Pro Series dampers for the front and rear, and both front and rear sway bars. The springs and dampers work in conjunction to lower the Mustang and greatly reduce body roll without ruining the everyday drive. The sway bars and their included bushings provide flatter, more predictable cornering that gives you more traction and control. Eibach's kit is perfect for street cars or even Mustangs that participate in lighter-duty track events like time trials and autocross. The kit does require slightly more know-how to get it successfully installed, but the job can generally be accomplished with common garage tools and a stiff drink.
If you've loaded up on springs or a complete kit, but still need an extra boost in handling cornering, Stage 3 has some other gear that can help you out. Lower control arms stiffen up your rear wheels giving you not only better handling, but allowing you to put more power down to the pavement. Subframe connectors greatly reduce the amount of infamous chassis flex that's characteristic on Fox-based Mustangs and reduce the harshness of sudden impacts. Strut tower braces for the third generation Fox Bodies and Fox-4 SN95s reduce the amount of flex in the front chassis to help kee you more in control of your Mustang.
Even just sticking with lowering springs will greatly enhance your suspension, which is more than enough for the average vehicle owner. You're not average, though, and hopefully throwing some of our more comprehensive packages has turned your Mustang into a real track-worthy machine that can handle corners just as well or better than your average Porsche. We here at Stage 3 Motorsports want you to succeed on the track, but more importantly have a Mustang that you like to drive as much as simply look at. Still, lowering springs work, and we can't really argue with that. Check out our other suspension gear for both Fox Body and SN95 or contact Stage 3 directly with any questions or if you need something specific.
