7 Signs Your Ford Mustang Needs Suspension Work

Fixing up an old Mustang is half restoration and half hot rodding. When it comes to suspension, it can be hard to tell which approach is best when addressing problems. Sometimes parts are worn out, and sometimes they're in good shape but just aren't up to the task of controlling the car. Here are 7 signs your car needs suspension work, and the best way to address it!

Springs

1. Is your Mustang sitting low, or is one corner a lot lower than the others? Constant vibration stresses the metal in the spring, weakening it until it starts to sag. Given enough torsional stress, the spring will break.

2. Does driving around corners feel unstable? Springs also control the ride height: getting the right springs is a matter of balancing the comfort of increased travel distance with the added control of a low center of gravity. Racing setups can really sharpen handling at the track, but they can also make your Mustang too uncomfortable to drive. You'll dread driving it to the gas station, let alone a long ride on curvy roads. Street performance springs trade off a little of the stock ride comfort for a more modest improvement in handling.

Ball Joints

3. Have sloppy steering? Getting odd bumping and squeaking noises from the front end? Ball joints act as pivot points at the ends of the control arms, keeping your wheel in position as it moves up and down on the suspension and pivots to make turns. When they wear out, they become loose, bumping against the control arm when turning. This lets the wheels shift position mid-corner.

Control Arms

4. Have sloppy steering without the noise of a bad ball joint? The front control arms link the wheel hub to the frame. Bent arms can pull the suspension out of the geometry designed for your vehicle, but most front control arm problems stem from worn out bushings, which, like worn ball joints, let the wheels change position in turns.

5. Does your car leap when it launches? On the rear of your car, the control arms keep the axle in position. Worn bushings can interfere with handling, but the most noticeable effects appear when drag racing. Launching torques the axle, causing it to rotate backward. With enough power, this torque can lift up the front end, reducing control and increasing launch times. '05 and later cars swapped the earlier four link setup for a three link with a Panhard bar that mostly keeps this movement in check, but worn bushings can still reduce axle control.

Sway and Anti-Roll Bars

6. Does your car feel like it will tip onto its side when making turns? The sway bar and anti-roll bar keep the wheels on each axle moving together. Bad bushings or a weak sway bar will let the body roll in corners. A stiffer sway bar up front and a stronger anti-roll bar in the back will make the ride a little less comfortable, but it will add significant stability when turning.

7. Does one of your wheels lift when doing a drag launch? The torque can twist the entire axle, lifting up one of the wheels and reducing traction. A stronger anti-roll bar will help keep it on the ground.

Getting the Right Suspension Parts

Anderson Ford Motorsport has been in the Mustang tuning business for almost three decades, helping people build everything from street cars to 8-second dragsters. We have the Ford Mustang suspension parts you need to get the performance you want out of your build.