Mustang Chassis Upgrade

To correct that, you can replace the factory stamped-steel upper control arms with stiffer tubular units. These should be mounted about one inch lower than the factory mounting holes for an improved negative camber curve, which helps to maintain the proper tire angle for a larger contact patch.


In addition, the box-welded lower control arms should be replaced with stronger tubular arms as well. New strut rods with either urethane or Kevlar-impregnated Teflon bushings will virtually eliminate the deflection and binding commonly found in typical rubber strut rods.

Brakes
While you're wrenching on the front end, consider upgrading the brakes, too. A variety of conversion kits are available from the aftermarket, and older systems with a single-reservoir master cylinder should at a minimum be updated to a dual-reservoir unit for safety's sake.


For the rearend, Total Control offers a Watts Link setup for improved road-course handling. It's designed to minimize body roll in relation to the axle during cornering or when the axle travels vertically. The system keeps the axle more horizontal under heavy loads by linking together both the right and left rear sides with transverse rods that attach to a rotating bell crank welded to the bottom of the differential. In addition, dual trailing arms keep the axle positioned front to rear. Also, to keep the axle from rotating, a torque arm runs parallel with the driveshaft and connects the axle with a forward mounting point on the subframe crossmember. The addition of coil-over shocks as well provides an improved ride and adjustability for a variety of road surfaces.

Rolling Stock
With all those changes, don't forget the wheel and tire combination. First determine which general category of tire suits your needs. Daily-driver vehicles should have tires that provide longer treadwear and possibly a smoother ride. Street cars that see occasional track time would be better fitted with a lower-profile, better-handling tire, possibly with upsized wheels. For all-out performance, racing tires are essential, but keep in mind that they may not be the best or legal choice for a street-driven vehicle. If you live in a very wet or snowy area, you will definitely want to take weather conditions into consideration.