Classic Mustang Rear Suspension

[fomoco1968]

I have a 1968 Ford Mustang that I plan on taking to an HPDE event and eventually getting my license. I am in the process of getting my rear suspension set up. There are tons of front suspension kits with all the fancy coilovers and rack-and-pinions, but for the rear, there is hardly any. Please help! I am in the middle of either going to a Fayes Watts link or just doing something custom. Please point me in the right direction.

[bryanrome]

Watts link won't be of much benefit unless you have coil springs. I don't know much about the aftermarket for Mustangs. But I'm sure you could fabricate a 3 link (with a torque arm and either a watts link or panhard), maybe using 3rd-4th Gen Camaro rear suspension for inspiration, using some tube steel, spherical bearings, and a little skill, math, and ingenuity.

[Renntag]

We have several first gen Mustangs that run in competition with us. I cannot tell you if they are all using leafs in the rear or some sort of bar to reduce lateral movement of the axle.

 

I would imagine that a panhard bar OR a watts linkage would be a benefit regardless. The sole purpose is to keep the axle in the same vertical plane. Even mounted to leaf springs the axle will chuck side to side. If you are running over size tires this movement creates body contact issues and then a safety issue if tires get badly cut.

 

I will contact a couple of our drivers that are campaigning the early stang.

 

Best of luck.

[fomoco1968]

I deffinately want to go with coil-overs in the rear of the car. I don't see the use of leaf springs because of the added weight. These classic mustangs are not light weights. I can take care of the spring specifications, but the actual set-up itself is what I am trying to figure out. I don't want to run a panhard bar.

[bryanrome]

A '68 should not be too heavy of a car. Unless you go with triangulated upper links or stick with leafs, you'll need a panhard or watts link to limit side to side motion with coil springs. But a 4 link is not an optimal setup. I'd personally go with a 3 link, with torque arm and panhard, the panhard because it's less complex and lighter weight. A watts link would lend to slightly better geometry however.

[fomoco1968]

Nice, I found a set and will pick it up this weekend. Watch out HPDE here I come. Thanks for the information. I'll see you guys on the track.

[bryanrome]

Set of coilovers? You can't just swap out to coil springs without having a way to locate the axle... links.

[fomoco1968]

I picked up a Watts link for my 68'. It's from Fayyes and they have a pretty good reputation.