RRS suspension swap

Mustang Australia

Author Topic: RRS suspension swap  (Read 3272 times)

Offline Nytro564

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  • Name: Mark Donovan
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RRS suspension swap
« on: February 05, 2021, 04:32:17 pm »
Hello fellow Mustang owners. Just joined the owners club a couple of months ago and have a thousand questions. I have only joined your chat group today and this is my first post. Sorry if it’s a bit wordy, but I tend to waffle on at times.......
Purchased a 69 coupe from Gladstone, which now resides on the Gold Coast. The car was much loved by the previous owner who passed away in tragic circumstances a little over 3 years ago. Looking at the car, he spent a lot of time and effort doing some really lovely work to the old girl. Terrific motor and gbox and diff. Body is gorgeous and interior is very tidy. However, suspension, steering and (front) brakes are mostly original and I would love to give her the suspension and brake upgrade the engine deserves.
I have been furiously searching the net for options. I’ve been recommended a couple of places for a brake upgrade. Hoppers Stoppers and Race Brakes do kits but I’m pretty sure I’m going to go with Castlemaine Rod Shops Wilwood 320mm/4 spot Caliper kit. Seem to be good value and a nice looking assembly.
Suspension......we’ll that a different story. So many cool over/rack and pinion kits to choose from. I stumbled across the RRS kit in my searching. Apart from the fact that they’re an Aussie company, engineering wise, they really looked the goods. However, a very trusted and experienced racer/suspension specialist mate of mine advised me very strongly against this kit. Told me how he had first hand experience with a customers mustang with the RRS kit and said he had spent hours with the car and was unable to “get it to steer right “.
Has any one had experience, or at least an opinion about either of these two products for mustang? I have since found CJ Pony Parts and have picked out some upgraded components (keeping the front suspension basically original) that my mate is happy with. My issue here is, CJ Pony Parts reviews are either 5 star or 1 star and I’m worried about pressing the ‘pay now’ button on over $1200 US with a company so far away. Anyone had experience with them?
I’ll stop typing now before you all fall asleep reading my post. Mark D.

Offline flatchat

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2021, 06:55:32 pm »
Have heard similar stories as you've mentioned above
IMHO just reco the front end as per original  with exception of the brakes -- the alignment can be tweeked for better performance unless you're racing it
BHSS / TBS  Capalaba (Brisbane) do brake kits for these- rotors, hats and calipers etc
She'll be  good for another 50 something years then
Cheers

Offline Dwayne

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2021, 07:13:34 pm »
There are some good upgrades to factory suspension that gives great results.

Roller spring perches, thicker front sway bar, quality shocks and a good wheel alignment.

For the brakes, start with fittiing good EBC pads and see if that does the job.

Offline Megzee67

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2021, 07:53:23 pm »
Hey Mark, sounds like a good 'little' project you have got planned....
As for the RRS gear, I purchased the RRS R&P and "race Bred ?" Lower control arms and they seem pretty well engineered, but I am still in the final build stages so no results to report just yet.
As I am doing a complete resto build, I took the following path, pretty similar to Dwayne's recommendations, plus a couple.......
Shelby Drop
Chassis Rail connectors
Front and rear discs -
Roller spring perches
HD Front lowered coils  -( https://www.custommustangs.com.au) Check these guys out.
HD reverse Eye leaf springs -
High Quality urethane bushes
Top of the range KONI shocks all around
large diameter front sway bar
Shock tower gussets
Passenger side torque box
Check out https://opentrackerracing.com/ gear from the states....they have some great wish list components that is a lot more specialized than the generic CJ Pony parts.


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They listen with the intent to reply.

Offline AussiePhil

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2021, 08:13:43 pm »
Hey Mark,
I got my Wilwood brake kit from Castlemaine Rod Shop and couldn't be happier with it and their service!
Instructions are brilliant! If you've got a big cam you may also benefit from adding a Vacuum pump like a Hella UP28 with vacuum switch.
As for the power steering I've got Unisteer from the USA, fitting power steering, a lot depends on LHD or RHD and extractors! I needed to change from Tri Y to JBA shorties!
Both need a reasonable mechanical ability, especially the power steering!
If you're going from a car without power steering you can't believe how if helps the car turn. (Stating the obvious,!)
All the best!
Cheers Phil.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2021, 06:33:07 am by AussiePhil »
If you've never buggered anything you've never done anything!
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Offline AussiePhil

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2021, 08:32:30 pm »
Hey Mark,
Just remember the more you modify your car it can make for a very uncomfortable ride!
Go for a ride in something like you're thinking off and get an ideal if you'll be happy!
Cheers Phil,.
If you've never buggered anything you've never done anything!
But if you've buggered a lot maybe you're not very good at it!

Two for one is good but four for two is better!

Offline gbader

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2021, 10:48:12 am »
Have heard similar stories as you've mentioned above
IMHO just reco the front end as per original  with exception of the brakes -- the alignment can be tweeked for better performance unless you're racing it
BHSS / TBS  Capalaba (Brisbane) do brake kits for these- rotors, hats and calipers etc
She'll be  good for another 50 something years then
Cheers

My experience (and its not right or wrong, just what I found) - I looked at the wilwood kits (and spoke to them), general view is that these are fine for street/show but anything more they are a little light (of course, wilwood have other beefier options, just talking about the "big brake kits" - although it does have the dust boot option). FYI, mine is just a fun/track car, not a cruiser.

I ended up with Hoppers gear as they could do the rear as well (new kit, which is basically from BHSS/TBS), much heavier rotors etc etc - I am yet to get it out in anger but certainly seems like its up for the challenge. I did speak with BHSS and they could supply a kit but only if I supplied the wheel/hub etc so they could ensure perfect fit, hard from WA but in retrospect this should have been what I did - if I lived in GC/Brid, no brainer.

FYI, I have ended up moving to 16's to clear the new brakes - after all my measurements etc, I still stuffed it up (15's cleared, but talking mm's)

Summary - you have one of the best shops close by, take it in and get a package for you (and you won't need to stress over offsets, size etc)

cheers

 

Offline HEVEN67

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2021, 11:29:20 am »
Just something interesting, why is it the hot rodder shops sell mustang front suspension setups for hotrods?
I've had my mustang for 16 years and 55,000 miles and still got the original ball joints and tyres, I have replaced the shock absorbers and sway bar rubbers (with rubber) which made a world of difference. just saying the original stuff isn't so bad, if you were considering and engine upgrade to a modern engine or a big block them shock towers need to go then ok, but otherwise the standard suspension with the Shelby drop and as someone previously said tweak the suspension geometry and the car drive magnificent.
LuvheV
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Offline Dwayne

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2021, 11:40:19 am »
Just something interesting, why is it the hot rodder shops sell mustang front suspension setups for hotrods?

That's the Mustang 2 IFS suspension, not ours.

Offline FB.65.68.70

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Re: RRS suspension swap
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2021, 08:34:41 am »
Nytro
I have a 68 fastback with RRS struts and rack and pinion, installed because the car is a big block and we needed room in the engine bay to fit a decent set of headers, which installing the struts and the suspension tower mods gives you.
The car does regular day trips, freeway, back roads , hilly twist and turn roads and even skid pans, autocross and hill climbs. The car steers great and sits handles exceptionally well due to the struts, the rack and pinion is very direct but does lose you some steering lock which only effects u turns . RRS gives you a number of braking options when you select the struts.

In comparison I have a 65 fastback with a small block, it has reinforced upper and lower arms, shelby drop with wedge plates under the top ball joints, 1inch sway bar and heavier coils and shocks. The thing handles like a go kart (not the weight of a big block either. )  Id suggest probably suggest a gt spring or ridetechs progressive wound coils to get a better ride as my 620s are a bit harsh sometimes.  The reco'd falcon steering box is good but it doesnt beat the rack and pinion. .
Brakes are upgraded slotted standard size discs and a set of performance pads.

So always a personal choice but lots you can do with the standard stuff with a few upgrades and not sure what your mate did wrong but the RRS stuff really does work well.