Suspensin Double Check
 

Okay, i traded the 12 in for a 14 track pack GT on Black Friday and I have some suspension parts I need to put on. I just wanted to double check my parts list to make sure I am good to go.

So far I have
KONI STrT shocks and struts
SR lowering springs
J&M Panhard Bar
and I will order a LCA relocation bracket after Christmas.

Are these the main things I NEED to get it done correctly?

Down the road I plan on at least some adjustable LCAs.

The car is a daily driver, I probably won't ever race it so m main concern is how it looks and rides and hopefully it will handle better as well.

Thanks for the knowledge. Oh, and would anyone be willing to help me out installing it after the new year sometime?

As long as the Konis are for 11+ you should be good. If not you will need the GT500 strut mounts. Should ride and look good as well as handle much better. If your anywhere close to wylie I can help you out

You don't need Adjustable LCA's unless some serious racing is done in the future. I recommend BMR and I'd get them so you can put them on now with all the other stuff. They make a difference.

Sounds like a decent combo. Not my choice in brands but should be fine.

I thought the gt500 mounts were still needed to prevent popping noises, etc. My stock mounts pop quite a bit.

The stock mounts are GARBAGE and a very good place to upgrade. The 05-10 cars have a different-length threaded portion of the strut shaft from the 11-14 cars. You need the GT500 mounts to accommodate the 05-10 struts.

I do know that the GT500 mounts DO NOT WORK with 11-14 struts. I don't know if the 05-10 struts work with 11-14 mounts.

Good idea on the LCA brackets- while you're at it get some adjustable LCA's too and fix that pinion angle.

My stock mounts have worked just fine with my combo and have lasted plenty of racing

well then I'd say you're a beneficiary of some divine intervention. Mine started creaking and squeaking before I did a thing to the front suspension, probably after 3000 miles.

When I lowered my car the stock mounts came apart into 2 pieces exposing the little ball bearings. They have creaked and popped since then.

Yeah if you're careful you can pop the mounts back together and it won't be too nasty. Most people just pop them apart and have all the balls go everywhere and try to but it back together without any grease.

GT500 mounts are better. What's even better than that is C/C plates.

Ya I managed not to spill anything anywhere but I did feel they are pretty darn cheap material to come apart like that.

haha ya I may eventually got CC plates although I don't have nearly as aggressive as a drop you do.

What causes that?

-Alex

They are just made to snap apart. You can snap them back together. It makes for a smoother ride with less noise than the GT500 ones.

So I forgot to mention I have the 05-10 KONIs and ground control camber plates for the 05-10 struts.

Well this whole argument is pointless lol

Loss of ball bearings.

Then you're set!

Let me ask something. So I see now Koni offers the orange strut for the '11+ models. If I go that route I don't need to use gt500 mounts??

No sir.

hmmmm

BUT, I already have the mounts, so might as well get the older struts? any advantage to using the new model ones?

From my understanding and what I have seen is that your car will sit lower with the older style.

Ha ha ha, yeah, sorry for leaving that tidbit of info out of the original post!

So it'll look funky with the new style? lol

I think the springs sit 1/8 to a 1/4 of an inch shorter on the older models. Not much difference.

OK, thanks. Just didn't want the nose up higher than the back.

Is this consistent for BOTH the front struts and rear shocks? Just the front?

no just the front. the rear is unchanged, and rear ride height isn't affected by the shocks in any case

Ya I don't want to reuse mine especially if are popping now. I'd hate to get it all together when I do my struts / shocks and they still pop because I didn't go gt500 mounts to begin with.

Curious as to why you say this? I have installed dozens of gt500 mount on stock 11-14 shocks without issue.

My stock struts didn't fit the GT500 mounts, the threaded length of the shaft was not compatible. This is generally what the consensus is, you're actually the first person I've heard of saying this works.

A picture is worth a thousand words...if there's something we're all missing, we'd love for you to share!

Hrm... Yeah I'll take a picture next time. I wonder if there is a difference in the years. I believe we order them for a 2012 gt500.

Let me look into it.

You are correct, I retract my statement, the ones I have installed were coupled with the eibach struts. (black struts) Seems we have been doing more ford racing and koni shocks lately. My fault