Suspension Question

[Mustang Munkey]

Dear Friends,

This past Friday September 23rd, I bought my first asc/McLaren Mustang. It is an 89. I bought it in Florida and my son and I drove it back to VA. We left FL on Friday night and arrived back in VA today at about 3pm.

The trip went well, no break downs. However, when we stopped the first time for gas, we could not get the gas door opened. Turns out a fuse was blown that allows the button in the glove box to work, so it took a while to figure it out but we finally did. :0)

The most disappointing thing about the trip was the ride of the McLaren. On smooth road surfaces things were fine. However, even small bumps in the road or small potholes would literally jar the entire car. It felt more like riding in a wooden wagon than in a car. At first I thought that perhaps the shocks and struts were worn out but then I did a little bit of reading and some are saying that worn shocks and struts would not cause a harsh and jarring ride but rather a bouncy and springy ride. At this point I am not sure where to look for answers.

Is it common for the 89 asc / McLaren Mustang to have a harsh / jarring ride when faced with even the smallest imperfections in the road surface?

If it is not common, where would you suggest that I start in trying to remedy this harsh and very uncomfortable ride? I fear that too much more of this type of driving and the car is going to shake itself to pieces.

Thank you,


Mark

[Mustang Munkey]

Here is a link to my snapfish folder that shows the car parked at Smith's of of I95 in Santee SC and the other one is of my 17 year old son pulling the Mclaren into the yard after that grueling drive from FL to VA!

https://www.snapfish.com/library/share? ... 0/SNAPFISH

[knsstang]

Dear Friends,

The most disappointing thing about the trip was the ride of the McLaren. On smooth road surfaces things were fine. However, even small bumps in the road or small potholes would literally jar the entire car. It felt more like riding in a wooden wagon than in a car. At first I thought that perhaps the shocks and struts were worn out but then I did a little bit of reading and some are saying that worn shocks and struts would not cause a harsh and jarring ride but rather a bouncy and springy ride. At this point I am not sure where to look for answers.

Is it common for the 89 asc / McLaren Mustang to have a harsh / jarring ride when faced with even the smallest imperfections in the road surface?

If it is not common, where would you suggest that I start in trying to remedy this harsh and very uncomfortable ride? I fear that too much more of this type of driving and the car is going to shake itself to pieces.

Thank you,


Mark

Congratulations on your purchase. I also have an 89 (#95 Royal Gold). I have had many mustangs and they all pretty much ride like that unless you have suspension work done( I believe it's because of the"live axle"). Our cars have no roof for structural rigidity so our ride is a little bit worse. I am starting to drive my car again, so ive decided that im going to put an "independent rear suspension" and a tubular k-member with coil-over struts on mine for a better ride. I don't race it so I think it'll be ok. I believe you have to find a better suspension setup.

[svo413]

Tires make a huge difference in ride comfort.

[knsstang]

Tires make a huge difference in ride comfort.

I'm running 265/35-18 5 lug on mine. Same aspect ratio as stock, but less tire cushion..lol. I love the look.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6oKv6 ... sp=sharing

[Mustang Munkey]

I took the car in to a front end shop and they determined that the inside and outside tie rod ends on the passenger side were bad. They replaced them and aligned the car. Two days later I had a new set of tires installed, the existing tires were at least 8 years old and cupped from being run with the bad tie rod ends. The suspension is still stiff but I actually enjoy driving the car now! Wow what a difference. Thanks again for all of you who helped answer my questions.

[heat4copper]

Glad you fixed it! McLaren's drive can be hardly called soft even when the suspension is fine. However there is a huge difference between that sporty stiff drive and what you had.

[ChuckG]

You reminded them that the outer tie rods are Turbo Coupe, right?

Another unique element of the ASC/McLaren package.

[tfs2121]

You reminded them that the outer tie rods are Turbo Coupe, right?

Another unique element of the ASC/McLaren package.

That was a coupe thing. OP has a vert

[plumkrazy]

What year Turbo T-bird?

[negusm]

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewtop ... light=bird

The part number he gave me was for a 1987. But it's probably a revision of a 1984/5 T-Bird.

[svo413]

So you are saying Sandy's 86 coupe had a tag with E7SC-? That would be a very early release of the part and good to know.

[negusm]

So you are saying Sandy's 86 coupe had a tag with E7SC-? That would be a very early release of the part and good to know.

I don't think so. I think he had purchased NOS tie rod tips....probably from the Ford dealer right after he bought his car.

Sandy said he had NOS parts for everything on his car that asc put on it.

-Mike

[bigzeke42]

I ordered the tie rod ends from Green Sales and they are E7SC3289-BA

[bigzeke42]

Ford part no: E2SZ-3A130-A