View Full Version : Fox body sway bar mount question...
03svt
05-21-2016, 09:01 AM
Picking away at a few small things on the car, first thing is it needs sway bars in a bad way.
not sure why previous owner would remove sway bars at all, but he did. So, the car doesn't have the brackets that mount to the sub frame (these vvvvvvvv)
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u263/mikebones_photos/1DB8E4BE-A38A-4762-8472-8919FB179F9A.png (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/mikebones_photos/media/1DB8E4BE-A38A-4762-8472-8919FB179F9A.png.html)
So I was going to order new brackets from LMR and take it to someone to weld them back on, but I found steeda brackets this morning and I'm wondering how they are mounted? Do they eliminate the factory mount all together and just bolt threw subframe? Which would eliminate having to weld factory pieces back on and they are suggesting(steeda website) that they are stronger..
https://lmr.com/item/ST-5558112/mustang-lightweight-front-sway-bar-brackets-steeda-7993
Any suggestions would be great, thanks in advance
Mike
tulowd
05-21-2016, 10:46 AM
The swaybar brackets are likely what they are talking about. Every mount I have ever seen requires the factory installed mounting tab, even the forward offset mounts when you change the wheelbase. http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg582/tulowd/87%20Vert%20TU%20LOWD2/IMG_1979_zps9txlgdnb.jpg
Never seen the mounts on the frame directly. Note the pic - the mounts are inboard of the frame rails.
Previous owner likely was a drag racer, maybe he smoothed out the engine compartment?
Post a pic of what the frame rail area looks like there.
Dutch
05-21-2016, 11:25 AM
You could get a sway bar fron a sn95 and mount it directly under the frame rail. Thats where the 1994+ mustangs have them. Not sure if the fox bar is the same as a sn95. But that's what I would do
03svt
05-21-2016, 11:48 AM
The swaybar brackets are likely what they are talking about. Every mount I have ever seen requires the factory installed mounting tab, even the forward offset mounts when you change the wheelbase. http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg582/tulowd/87%20Vert%20TU%20LOWD2/IMG_1979_zps9txlgdnb.jpg
Never seen the mounts on the frame directly. Note the pic - the mounts are inboard of the frame rails.
Previous owner likely was a drag racer, maybe he smoothed out the engine compartment?
Post a pic of what the frame rail area looks like there.
Yes everything has been smoothed including firewall, I was hoping is would eliminate stock mount but I see what your saying, thanks for the pic, makes sense now.
03svt
05-21-2016, 11:50 AM
You could get a sway bar fron a sn95 and mount it directly under the frame rail. Thats where the 1994+ mustangs have them. Not sure if the fox bar is the same as a sn95. But that's what I would do
When I was looking at pics that's what I noticed that the position of the mount is different, but the fox uses different bar from what I've read.
Possibly the rear is the same??
RedSN
05-21-2016, 01:10 PM
I believe the SN95 bar is wider than the fox
...or so I've been lead to believe from the mounting holes on my MM control arms. (see my build thread)
Fox sway bar with lowered mounts n your good to go.
tulowd
05-21-2016, 05:37 PM
You could get a sway bar fron a sn95 and mount it directly under the frame rail. Thats where the 1994+ mustangs have them. Not sure if the fox bar is the same as a sn95. But that's what I would do
Front SN95 bar is 1.5" longer than a Fox, not sure about the body/frame mounting locations. Rear bars are the same width and same control arm mounting - good upgrade for a Fox is SN95 GT or Cobra rear sway bar.
03svt
05-21-2016, 08:51 PM
Fox sway bar with lowered mounts n your good to go.
I'll order up the factory replacement pieces from LMR, and maybe see if it needs the lowered mounts
Front SN95 bar is 1.5" longer than a Fox, not sure about the body/frame mounting locations. Rear bars are the same width and same control arm mounting - good upgrade for a Fox is SN95 GT or Cobra rear sway bar.
Good to know about the rear bar thanks..., trying to decide if it's worth while buying aftermarket sway bars for a car that will never see the road course...
tulowd
05-21-2016, 08:54 PM
Good to know about the rear bar thanks..., trying to decide if it's worth while buying aftermarket sway bars for a car that will never see the road course...
Understeer is included at N/C in all Mustangs unless it has an R in the model number lol. Bigger rear bar will make the car turn/steer better, on the street or on the track.
03svt
05-21-2016, 09:04 PM
Understeer is included at N/C in all Mustangs unless it has an R in the model number lol. Bigger rear bar will make the car turn/steer better, on the street or on the track.
I have an R on my license plate does that count :)
Ok I think I can justify that logic to the wife for an aftermarket set of bars..thanks for all the info Tulowd
Frankie
05-24-2016, 12:56 PM
I put an 03 Mach1 rear bar on my Fox, very noticeable difference.
Make sure you use the lowered brackets for the front bar - your first pic shows the bar directly to the factory bracket - or the bar will hit the oil pan.
03svt
05-27-2016, 07:13 PM
Fox sway bar with lowered mounts n your good to go.
Is this what your meaning Rick
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u263/mikebones_photos/A5937F9F-8AC3-491F-BCD2-388192555E2A.png (http://s170.photobucket.com/user/mikebones_photos/media/A5937F9F-8AC3-491F-BCD2-388192555E2A.png.html)
Sn95 bracket?
- - - Updated - - -
I put an 03 Mach1 rear bar on my Fox, very noticeable difference.
Make sure you use the lowered brackets for the front bar - your first pic shows the bar directly to the factory bracket - or the bar will hit the oil pan.
Good to know it makes a difference with the Mach 1 bar, maybe worth keeping my eyes open for one of those instead of going aftermarket.
No, brackets on the frame itself need to be dropped to clear mod motor. I had saved pics but can't find em, will post if I locate.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/67coupe89lx/IMG_0926.jpg
Not the one I'd saved, found these on the web. If it was me, would put a triangle at either end of the angle iron to prevent flex plus would clean it up / look more factory.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/67coupe89lx/IMG_0925.jpg
03svt
05-27-2016, 10:35 PM
Thanks Rick, would think enough people have built modfoxes that someone would be selling these brackets...
With coilovers as part of the conversion, for normal to mildly aggressive driving, hardly miss it. Once you determine bracket drop and install, you'll also need shorter end links.
tulowd
05-28-2016, 08:18 AM
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/Front-Swaybar-Endlinks-C220.aspx
Speedtospare
06-01-2016, 10:36 PM
I honestly dont even miss my front swap bar with the coilovers. I dont road course the car.
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