Full Roush Suspension Kit - Panhard Bar?

cowtown

cowtown

Founding Member
Nov 4, 2001
228
0
16
Victoria, BC Canada
#1
I am planning on getting this kit, hopefully later this year, maybe in the spring if need be. With that in mind do you guys recommend getting a panhard bar for this full kit? It comes with pretty much everything but that. From what I've read it seems like a good idea for when you put springs in, just wasn't sure if doing it all would mitigate it at all? I doubt it would but just wanted to make sure.

Also anything else you guys would recommend for this install that isn't in the kit?
 

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#2
It may not lower the car enough to need one (only 1"), but I'm sure there are some cars out there that may be off a bit once lowered. My car was lowered 1.5" in the back and with the wide tires, it was very noticeable! You can get the BMR adjustable for about $135 which is well worth it. It takes about ten minutes to swap out the OEM bar, which you have to loosen one side and drop the other for a spring install anyhow.

One thing I don't see in the kit that you should go ahead and replace while it's apart is the upper strut mounts. They are designed to be a single use only item. The top and bottom plates can separate and possibly lose ball bearings or other times they start making a "popping" sound. I've read it's hit or miss whether you reuse them and have problems or not. I replaced mine with the Steeda mounts during the spring swap and I haven't had any issues with them for nearly 10K miles.
 
#3
i would wait until the springs are installed and measure. that way, you are not spending money if you dont need it. some cars need the bar, some dont....even with the same springs.
 
#4
cowtown said:
I am planning on getting this kit, hopefully later this year, maybe in the spring if need be. With that in mind do you guys recommend getting a panhard bar for this full kit? It comes with pretty much everything but that. From what I've read it seems like a good idea for when you put springs in, just wasn't sure if doing it all would mitigate it at all? I doubt it would but just wanted to make sure.

Also anything else you guys would recommend for this install that isn't in the kit?
Click to expand...

Hey Cowtown - mine is dropped 1.5" and I need an adjustable Panhard bar to get the axle centered back up. With my wide tires it's definately noticeable. I'm out of town for the next two weeks but later in August I'll be at the Wed night cruises and I can show you what it looks like. This winter I'll be doing suspension work as well. We should talk.
 
#5
At $135 I may just do it anyways just so it isn't a concern. I won't be going ultra wide on my wheels, I like to be able to rotate mine all the way around so likely a 18x8.5 replacement is what I'm looking at later on. My move to Victoria may be delayed another month but my car is already out there as I was originally figuring I'd be there by the 7th of August, now my work situation has likely changed and I may just be transfering out with my current job a month and a bit after that. Kinda sucks as now I'm going to be 6 weeks without my car, but I'll make more money so I'll be able to afford a few mods/toys still!
 
#7
I used Roush Rear springs on my car and it definitely went off center, something that you will notice if you have wide tires/wheels. I had to bring it back in line (but still have to tweak it a little) but I went with the more expensive watts link option.
 
#8
Hey Walter, tell me your thoughts on the Watts link (which one do you have) as far as cost, ease of installation and bang for the buck. I am considering this myself, I'm not sure if it would be worth the time and money spent for a strictly street driven car. I currently have the full Roush suspension along with aftermarket UCA and LCA units, and adjustable panhard bar and have a lot of fun with other so called sports cars on off ramps and clover leafs but I'm thinking the Watts link is the next step to the ultumate suspension set up.
 
#9
I have nothing but good things to say about the Watts link. I have the Fays2 Engineering Unit made by Jim Fay. It's a real quality piece and Jim ALWAYS answers your phonecalls if you have any hangups (which I did due to impatience). I had a good conversation with him on the phone in which he walked me through how he came up with the design and all of the features he built into it (he really did his homework I can tell you that much without writing an essay). It was about 600 bucks shipped and I did the work myself with the help of a buddy with nothing but common garage tools, jack stands and plastic ramps. Took me a week-end of off and on working (but then again this is all a product of impatience on my part and delay from having to install the Roush rear springs and new LCA's on top of that).

To answer your question if I could pick three mods for the car the watts link would be #1. The suspension seems to work BETTER with it. The car is nice and neutral, it doesn't get upset by road bumps (smooths out the ride), it is quieter and most of all it feels like the rear of the car follows the front and not work against it. Also the brakes and the LSD seem to work better as a result of the improved power transfer. After years of owning IRS cars that is just what I needed to regain most of the feel I lost when switching to a live axle vehicle.

Overall if I could pick just one mod for the car that would be it anyways I should still be featured on Jim's website last I checked check it out. Do a search on Google (since i'm not sure I'm allowed to post non vendor links).
 
#10
Hey guys -

I installed the Roush suspension this spring and really have to say I'd give it a 9 on a scale of 1-10. Handling is awesome and ride is very smooth even on city streets.

I do have a question though as part of this thread. It's related to the strut mount brackets. It seems like all of a sudden now when going over bumpy pavement at low speeds it sounds like something is loose in the front suspension. When the speed picks up I don't really hear it. It sounds like it's coming from the front strut towers, but I don't know for sure. The sound is definitely a suspension part sound and is kind of like a rattling noise like something is loose, so I was wondering if maybe it's the strut tower brackets. I had the Roush dealer in town do the install, so I was wondering if I should take it back ???

When I think about it I've heard it before from a Ford Taurus that's about 6 years old, kind of the same bumpy, clunky noise from the front suspension.

Any information you guys have would be appreciated to point me in the right direction.

Thanks
 
#13
walter said:
90% of the time you drop a S197 Mustang and reuse the stock strut mounts they will pop and make noise especially on low speed as they are basically a one time use only part.

You need to replace those or get camber plates to get rid of the problem.
Click to expand...

I guess I've got lucky six times. All six cars I've installed them on I've never replaced the strut mounts. All were before 20,000 miles. V6 and V8s. All friend's cars so I would know if they did make noise. So far after months and months of driving, no problems ... :shrug:
 
#14
ThumperMX113 said:
I guess I've got lucky six times. All six cars I've installed them on I've never replaced the strut mounts. All were before 20,000 miles. V6 and V8s. All friend's cars so I would know if they did make noise. So far after months and months of driving, no problems ... :shrug:
Click to expand...

You Must have I think Ford has some kind of TSB on the subject but that's for 05 up to mid productions 07's

Either way I'm putting in a set of Shelby GT500 Mounts on mine when I tackle the front springs. For 60 bucks it's cheap insurance and they are stiffer then the Stock GT but not hard enough to jar you.
 
#17
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