Independent Rear Suspension Install

Getting a grip with a new rear end for an old Mustang

In Ford's four decades of producing Mustangs, nearly all of them have come equipped with a live-axle rear end. Not that there's anything wrong with a straight axle—it's sturdy, inexpensive, and hooks up better in straight-line acceleration. So why even consider switching to an independent rear suspension (IRS)?

Twist or Straight?

Good question. The answer lies in who's asking, and the intended use of the car. That's because a live axle performs well on smooth pavement, while an independent handles better on bumpy, twisty roads. So if you do most of your driving on rougher pavement where you'll need more flex in the suspension to keep the tires in contact with the road, then an IRS is the way to go. Not only that, if you plan to do any competition events such as on a road course or in the new sport of drifting, IRS will provide superior handling and controllability.

All of which leads us to the install shown here on a 1967 Mustang. Larry Weiner of Performance West had already substantially modified this Fastback in a number of other areas, such as replacing the factory engine with a late-model, 4.6-liter mod motor, supercharged with a Kenne Bell blower. So Weiner, a builder of numerous show cars enhanced with aftermarket components, wasn't reluctant to try something new.

Control Freak

In this case, the suspension upgrade came courtesy of Control Freak, a division of Blue Moon Motorsports, which manufactures tubular control arms and IRS systems for late-model Mustangs and older GM vehicles as well. The system shown here fits 1965 to 1970 Mustang model years. In addition to a triangulated tubular cradle that reinforces the frame and supports the Ford 8.8-inch center section, the package includes custom racing half-shafts (designed to handle as much as 600 rwhp), competition-grade CV bearings and forged CV housings. The coil-over shocks are QA1, manually adjustable units. All of which means this modernized Mustang will handle quite a bit differently than Ford's original design.

Resource

www.bluemooncars.com