Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Time to upgrade my tired and worn out off shore uppers and lowers. Looking at UPR Products chrome moly extreme series adjustable uppers and fixed bushed lowers. What do you have?? What do you like and what do you hate? Factory OE rear sway bar?
Thanks in advance..........

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

As I'm just starting a O/SA build I would like to hear about these things as well since I have zero experience with the Fords Charlie.

I've been eyeballing the Maximum Motorsports adjustable lowers...thinking it might be handy to be able set ride height with the springs. I really have no clue as to whether it would be beneficial tho...I have not even decided between 26" or 28" tires. Does a rear sway bar make much difference in these Mustangs at these power levels?

I was thinking any adjustable upper control arm would be fine, but again I am just guessing at this point. You use these to set pinion angle, right?

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Lower control arms cannot be adjustable. Global West makes a nice lower, and the uppers can be adjustable, Team Z, Wild Rides, and UPR have nice ones.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

We've used the UPR ones on so many different class Mustangs with great results. I'm currently gathering parts for my Fox body stocker and it will wear UPR rear suspension components.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

By adjustable I meant the spring perches, not in length. Would these be legal? Are you guys using a sway bar on the rear?

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

we are usin adj uppers but lakewood traction action lowers . so far works great

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

For my street/strip Fairmont we used Kenny Brown Performance lowers and adjustable uppers, which work great.

For the Mustang stocker we're using the old Southside Machine lowers (mounted in the stock location) and double adjustable uppers. Looking into a couple of different options to relocate the upper control arm mounting point at the rear end housing to improve the instant center.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Probably not a good idea. Visions of a very narrow minded tech inspector in a bad mood signing your card in red ink instead of black. The rulebook does use the term non adjustable. The jury is out on the factory sway. Not real sure if it is of any value. I have always used the factory bar and have no experience without one.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

How about a set of adjustable lowers once set then welded up solid? No longer adjustable, right? I'm always digging... ;) I've noticed that most of the aftermarket lowers are still using poly bushings instead of solids.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I have UPR upper and lower on my car. None are adjustable.
Eibach drag springs, no sway bar.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

What size slick you running Chris? Got a side pic of the car?

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I think the idea is, that they don't want you messing with the wheelbase. If all 4 are adjustable, how does the tech guy know what you've done? He could measure the wheelbase, yes, but you may have moved the front wheels to compensate for the rear change.
I'll bet no one ever moved their wheelbase around...

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Here is a copy-n-paste from the 2014 NHRA rulebook:

SUSPENSION, Rear

Must remain as produced, except for the following: Leaves may be
changed (added or subtracted) as long as overall length and
mounting points are used. Coils may be changed (clamped or
spaced) as long as stock mounting points are maintained. Solid
bushings in rear suspension permitted. Cars with rear coil springs
may relocate the upper control arm at rear-end attachment point.
Rear trailing arms may be replaced with NHRA-accepted OEM-type
aftermarket units. Aftermarket lower unit must be non-adjustable
and have bushed ends (no heims). Aftermarket upper unit may be
adjustable and use heim ends instead of bushings. Sway bar(s)
optional. OEM or aftermarket torque arm permitted only on vehicles
OEM-equipped with a torque arm. OEM torque-arm attachment

points at rear end must be retained. See General Regulations 3:4.



As Charlie stated above, if a racer showed up with lowers that have an adjustable spring height , a tech guy might take it all wrong and ...

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

My guess is then any lower control arm with solid bushings will do...the cheaper the better. On the hunt for the cheaper now...

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Here is my take on this subject. For rear suspension double adjustable uppers everybody makes them, both upper and lower needs to have spherical in all joints, this will make your rear suspension very free when this happens you will need to do some thing like a sway bar or others use air bags to help this. Finding lower arms with spherical bearing in both ends is rare I think BMR makes some.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Pricey, but very nice... http://www.cjponyparts.com/bmr-rear-...-1998/p/LCA39/

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Are the old Southside Machine bars considered legal? I don't see where any of these suspension parts are NHRA accepted in writing.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I see no reason why they would not be legal.
Those arms are not adjustable.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I would love to spherical bearing on the lowers, but once again, if you get a tech guy with a stiffy, you will wish you had bushings and a grease gun.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

A couple of rings of soft rubber on the outside and ..ah never mind...I didn't say it.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Lol...in the end it probably wouldnt amount to much if any improvement anyway. I'll just stick to the tried and true cheap routes. :p

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I tend to agree with you.

That type of suspension does rely on the rubber bushings to keep it from binding as it goes through it's travel. However it's generally accepted that you only need about 1" of separation to plant the tires. You should be able to obtain that much with heim uppers and just a small amount of play in the lower sleeves.

In reality though , I would think all you need in a lower class auto Stocker, is the hard poly type bushing with grease fittings. That kind of set up should last a long time.
I would at least check the lower left one once in a while though.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

This guy has some ideas: baselinesuspensions.com

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Here you go Dave... http://www.baselinesuspensions.com/

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Here is the Baseline Suspensions Outlaw Kit installed on the 8.8, ready to go into my SN95 . Instructions, fit and finish were excellent..

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Just ordered the Team Z version... http://www.teamzmotorsports.net/product_p/tzm-uca1.htm

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...psc1ce9c15.jpg

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

:):):)

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Those both look like nice pieces.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I don't believe you can move pivot points fore and aft in Stock.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I saw a 78-79 GM Stocker last year that had a home made setup like that team Z deal.

It was setup to use a shorter upper control arm to change the instant center on the car.

I'm going to read the rulebook again, but I do not remember where it said you cannot change the pivot point of the upper control arm at the rear end.

On the car's body/chassis, yes, you cannot move that, but I am not sure about the rear end attachment point.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Those 8.5 inch tire guys use that setup and have had great success running into the 8's with it.

No doubt a sweet setup for the Fox chassis.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

States clearly in the rulebook that cars with rear coil springs may relocate the upper control arms at the rear-end attachment point Mark.

The one pictured above mine might not fly...it appears to have some extra bars requiring another attachment point.

I intend to use these along with the Southside Machine lift bars hoping to get a favorable IC.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

" Cars with rear coil springs may relocate the upper control arm at rear-end attachment point"

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

You guys beat me to it.

SUSPENSION, Rear

Must remain as produced, except for the following: Leaves may be
changed (added or subtracted) as long as overall length and
mounting points are used. Coils may be changed (clamped or
spaced) as long as stock mounting points are maintained. Solid
bushings in rear suspension permitted. Cars with rear coil springs
may relocate the upper control arm at rear-end attachment point.
Rear trailing arms may be replaced with NHRA-accepted OEM-type
aftermarket units. Aftermarket lower unit must be non-adjustable
and have bushed ends (no heims). Aftermarket upper unit may be
adjustable and use heim ends instead of bushings. Sway bar(s)
optional. OEM or aftermarket torque arm permitted only on vehicles
OEM-equipped with a torque arm. OEM torque-arm attachment

points at rear end must be retained. See General Regulations 3:4.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Now that would be interesting, since both of those products change the instant center by themselves.
Keep us posted.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I don't know how...tried a copy/paste of that paragraph from the rulebook and it went crazy on me. Took me five minutes to backspace all the gibberish out lol.

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

I use Team Z rear arms on my stuff.
I used it on a NMRA Factory Stock car and went low 1.4's with a stick and Drag radials.
We have is now on our NMRA Coyote Stock car and have gone low 1.3's.
Dave Zimmermans stuff works and he is a wealth on knowledge when setting it up.

Laters,
Mike Washington

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Yeah, I kept looking at those lowers and it appeared to me a better possible angle vs all the rest. Only downside I see is they are likely heavier pieces than any other...weight in the right spot anyway.

Edit: I said Southside Machine, but these are actually UMI, a copy of the same. http://www.ebay.com/itm/360192700262?item=360192700262&viewitem=&sspagenam e=ADME:X:AAQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr Guessing those plates on the sides are for an optional sway bar mount?

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

None of those shown have any adjustment options from what I can see, like a 4 link, other than the UCA's?
I would recommend making sure the bolts in the LCA's have no slop with the new arms. I replaced my stock bolts, as the bolts are metric and the LCA bushing was 1/2".

Sean

Re: Fox and SN95 Mustang rear control arms
 

Thanks, Rich. I haven't figured this Mac yet.