I have a question about the suspension on my 2002 S281. Just for FYI sakes, i like to know what the exact products are on my car (manufacturers). I know it says racecraft, but i think its something else, isnt it? I know that our shocks/struts are bilsteins. Are they just the regular HD bilsteins that you can buy on any random website or are they better/worse? Do we have CC plates on the front suspension? What about the springs? Who makes them? What sort of drop do they give our cars over the stock GT? I know they are progressive rate springs, does anybody know the spring values? Are they decent or could they stand an upgrade performance wise? I have heard they lower our cars 1.5 inches, dont know if thats true though. Last, the rear susp, is there anything different than the stock GT besides shocks/struts and springs? Like do we have any different LCA or uppers than the Stock GT. I was looking into the MM panhard bar and torque arms. That sounds like something that would really improve handling.
No CC plates, not sure about what 'grade' bilsteins they are. Srpings are Eibachs, I think the pro kit. Upgraded front sway bar, not sure who makes it. Rear suspension is stock other than springs/shocks. MM panhard bar will not clear the Borla exhaust or so I've read in numerous places. Torque arm would probably also need extensive exhaust work, I don't think you can use an over-the-axle exhaust with the TA. Pretty much every car I've seen so far has dumps or side exit exhaust, but I'm sure someone has probably found a way around it.
I find it odd that saleen doesn't include c/c plates. With all the focus they put toward the suspension one would think they would include c/c plates as part of the package. Guess it's probably a $$ saving thing.
Not odd if you assume (as I'm guessing they do) that the suspension is optomized and doesn't need any more adjustment. Like you mentioned, then they'd have to add more $$$ to the price for something that they view most people don't need. Same argument as to why Ford doesn't include them - 99% of the mustangs on the road will never see a set of CC plates. Hard to believe from being on all the message boards, but most of the mustangs sold are 6 cylinders. As such, I'd bet there are far more stock mustangs out there than modified cars.
I agree that is why they aren't on from the factory, but still it seems that would be a logical upgrade component for a car is built for the best performance and handling. And when you are talking about the kind of premium they get for the cars I would think another $150 item wouldn't impact them too harshly. But I suppose like you say they are able to get enough adjustment out of the stock pieces.
The panhard bar will fit the borlas, with some slight modification. In my case, I had the exhaust shop cut the pipes off right as they exit the muffler, installed the panhard bar, then had them weld them back in. Perfect fit! Nothing hits on anything else, although it is tight.
I was checking out the eibach website to get some specs on the pro kit, if indeed that is what is on my car. I noticed that the pro kit is black springs, and the sportlines are red springs. The springs on my car are red, but it doesnt seem to be the sportlines according to the drop specs. The sportlines say they are about a 2 inch drop and the pro kit says 1.5 inch drop. My car as well as most saleens dont look to be dropped very much from stock, so i would say at most 1.5 inches.That suggests the pro kit, but the color is not matching up. Anybody know if Saleen just uses the pro kit and has them made for them in red or are they sportlines?
Spederman- Let me know how your car runs after installing the accufab TB/plenum & Demolet CAI I was thinking of going that rout on my Naturally Aspirated Saleen also! Did you get the the Full Demolet Tuneable Induction kit?? Upper and lower tubes with the 90mm Mass Airflow Sensor?? Acheron- What Make Panhard Bar did you put on your car??? Maximum Motorsports?? Do you know if The Panhard Bar will clear the Saleen Aluminum Differential cover??
My car has a panhard bar, but with a bassani. The shop cut the pipes and re-welded them. It is possible but it does hack up the exhaust a little bit..
Will Do, i plan on putting it on this weeked. But i also got a mail order tune from Tim@MPH with the XCAL 2, so i will be doing that at the same time to get a few extra HP out of it. I got kit #5 from the demolet tunable induction. Its from air filter to the TB but not the bigger MAF because i heard you dont need it N/A, it makes things worse. Plus this summer i plan on getting a Mongoose S/C kit from Tim and his kit comes with one.
I don't believe Saleen has cc plates anymore. The last ones they sold were from HP Motorsports. I would also recommend the MM plates! The Bilsteins do have their own part number from Bilstein. So there must be some difference in the valving. The springs were and should still be from Eibach also wound differently than the standard Eibach pro-kit.
I have the MM 4 bolt CC plates, but haven't put them on yet. They'll be on the car by spring though...
I have the griggs panhard and torque arm and it was a lot of rewelding on pipes to fit my center exhaust. It was really restrictive and had a lot of curves and smaller pipes. I felt an increase in power when I switched to dumps. . I am going to try to go to a different shop to see if they can work with it differently.
Thanks for the info. I wonder, were the bilsteins and eibach springs wound for more performance than the standard series stuff or more towards comfort/better ride quality?
Sal, You'll love the MM Camber Caster Plates when on! Its one of the best Suspension items I've added to one of my Saleens and the look, well its awesome! I had the top plates Custom Powder Coated the same color as the exterior of the car and the lower plates are chrome, it really made a nice look in the engine bay! Purple and chrome on your car may be the way to go!
