Rear End Squat

[FWT0310th]

I have a stock IRS and stock 3:55 gears. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to limit rear end squat under full acceleration? I get some of this and it causes the front to want to "float" a bit. It's an 03' Cobra Coupe with stock springs. The only suspension/chasis changes so far are Subframe Connectors, IRS brace, IRS Bushings. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[sssvtcobra]

Best, easiest, cheapest way to prevent that from happening is to change out your springs and shocks. Go to some lowering and stiffer springs combines with some matching shocks and that should take care of it.

[FWT0310th]

That's what I thought. The guy that tunes my car recommends against lowering these to prevent the exhaust from scraping. That's the only thing that has prevented me from changing springs. Thanks for your input.

[sssvtcobra]

You shouldn't have to worry about scraping. Unless you've got mountains for speed bumps. I've got coilovers on my car, and it's pretty low. It's lower than with just springs themselves, and my car doesn't scrape. I've even got a steep entrance into my garage and I can pull straight out. My car isn't slammed, but there's little room for it to go lower. You would be fine with just putting on some springs. There's alot of Cobra owners out there with springs and they don't scrape.

Just letting you know my situation.

[FWT0310th]

Thanks for the experience. I sure like how your car looks. I would like to put some springs on, probably the steeda sport springs. My car has mac long tubes and the exhaust runs pretty low on the bottom. I am not sure if it's lower than any other cobra but it seems to be an inch or two lower than the rocker panels. I guess I need to look under some cars. Is your exhaust the lowest hanging component under your car or is it pretty even with everything else? If I am being rediculous, feel free to set me straight. Thanks.

[sssvtcobra]

Sorry, I didn't know you had longtubes. And no your not being rediculous. Just concerned, which we all have been at one time or another with our cars. I know I have. Having LT's will reduce how much you can lower your car. The middle of my O/R x-pipe is the lowest piece under my car, and I have the Bassani. I'm guessing the flanges of your longtubes is probably the lowest point under your car. They usually are on almost all mustangs.

Best way you can find out how much you can lower your car is to use some lumber, or other objects that you can slide under the lowest point under your car. Such as stuff in 1" increments. Then depending on how much you can slide under it, depends on how much you can lower it. If there's no springs that make you feel comfortable using because of them being to low, then you can either go the coilover route, or just try swapping out your shocks to reduce the squat.

Hope that helps

[FWT0310th]

I really appreciate your help. My car already had the headers when I bought it and I began to worry that they didn't fit right because the exhaust seemed pretty low. I will look into a coil over set up or shocks. The guy that tuned it recommended adjustable shocks.

Thanks again...have a great 08'

Chris

[FWT0310th]

SSSVT,

I went by a shop today with several cobras outside. I looked underneath a few for comparison. Ones without headers maybe had a little more clearence than mine. One was lowered with long tubes and while his stuff was lower to the pavement than mine, it looked fine. Now I feel fine about changing springs. Thanks again for talking me through this.

By the way, I spent quite a bit of time in Eugene in the early nineties. I worked for a company based there. Great place to live. I remember a lot of joggers.

[sssvtcobra]

Glad you got to see some other Cobras to judge against. That is always the best way.

And we still have a lot of joggers. You probably know, but their holding the olympic trials here at Hayward field this year.

Good talking to ya