[Shotimes] Question about MAF, and Sway bars..

Tue, 14 Sep 2004 11:38:33 -0400

I think upgrading the rear ASB is probably the easiest and also quite dramitic upgrade that can be made wrt steering response and handling. 

The main effect of a stiffer chasis is that it connects the front and rear better. A stiffer chasis helps improving steering response, but it doesn't help much in improving roll resistance. 

Things such as braces, alum subframe bushings, TPR tension strut bushing and subframe connectors, all help stiffening the chasis and thus the steering response. I've done the first three on my 94, and frankly I could barely sense the difference. I did it one step at a time, so maybe that's why. Alum subframe bushings had biggest impact. I can imagine that 1st gen cars will see bigger improvements due to their weaker chasis.

Things such as thicker ASBs+TPR bushings and Koni struts (or even better coil overs) all help reducing roll resistance, and also has some impact on steering response. I've done both and it's worth every penny and hour I spent doing it.

In terms of cost and time to install, by far the best modification one can make to the handling of the car is upgrading the ASBs and their bushings. I only have a 94, but I would think that the benefits of thicker ASBs + TPR will affect 1st and 2nd gen cars evenly, especially if you do the front and rear at the same time.

As a sidenote, since the 2nd gen cars have stiffer chasis, if you only upgrade say the rear ASB, you will also see an improvement in the roll resistance in the front of the car since the stiffer chasis better connects the rear to the front, so the front and rear "roll" more to the same extent than a 1st gen car.

Michael
94MTX,green,BOS+,Koni/Intrax,Baer,Corbeau
SHO items for sale: http://hometown.aol.com/cmichaelo/for_sale.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Carl Prochilo <gr8sho@prochilo.myserver.org>
Date: Monday, September 13, 2004 11:24 pm
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Question about MAF, and Sway bars..

> How do you solve item 3?  I didn't think the VAPS could be made to 
> worklike the standard power steering offered in the 89-92s.
> 
> About the original question.  The comparison is bogus because one is
> comparing apples and oranges with the stated cars.  You can make some
> drastic changes to the feel of the 95 just by changing the rubber 
> subframebushings to aluminum.
> 
> The important thing to note is that a 95 (gen 2) has a stiffer 
> body than a
> gen 1 but is otherwise the same car with one notable exception, 
> that being
> the power steering.  The other suspension parts can be more easily 
> swappedout.  You can throw poly on all the tension strut rods, end 
> links, and
> anti-sway bars, do the AlSFBs, put Tokicos or Koni struts plus Eibach
> springs, and you will have a very stiff ride.  Put 17" wheels with 
> Z-rated
> rubber and you crank it yet another notch.
> 
> Having said all this, I don't think this would a comfortable ride on
> northern roads for a daily driver.
> -- 
> Cheers,
> Carl Prochilo
> 92 Ultra Red Crimson
> 
> On Mon, September 13, 2004 10:25 pm, Leigh Smith said:
> > Yes the sway bars will make a big difference. So will a couple other
> > things.
> > My 94 MTX also rode like a boat compared to my stock 89.
> > I found there are three main items on the 94 that have a 
> considerably> softer
> > spring rate, starting with the most significant:
> > sway bars
> > springs
> > steering effort
> >
> > If you liked the ride of the 90, I would probably change things 
> one at a
> > time, in descending order, as noted.
> >
> > Lee
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Marc Levy" <malevy_nj@yahoo.com>
> > To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 9:00 PM
> > Subject: [Shotimes] Question about MAF, and Sway bars..
> >
> >
> >> First the MAF:
> >>
> >> I purchased this MAF from FPS many years ago..  I
> >> recall it was from a Mustang??  I measured it, one
> >> side is 73mm the other is 80mm..  Is this the "bad"
> >> one that I saw discussed on the list last week?  I
> >> never even used the thing, and want to know if it will
> >> do me any good on the 95 MTX.
> >>
> >>
> >> Then the sway bars:
> >>
> >> Also, was reading up on the sway bar messages last
> >> week.  I dont know what is on the 95, but I think it
> >> is stock..  I took the bars off of the 90, and I think
> >> they are 25mm and 26mm..  Is it a good idea to install
> >> them on the 95?  I find the 95 is like a boat compared
> >> to the 90.. the 90 did have the Eibach springs, and
> >> FPS aluminum subframe mounts... as well as what I
> >> thought were derilin bushings on everything.
> >>
> >>
> >> While I am doing all of this work.... is there such a
> >> thing as a performance strut mount? Or are the ones at
> >> NAPA good enough?
> >>
> >> Thx.
> >>
> >>
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