Looking for upgrades for track use (novice driver)

[MustangNoob]

excessive front end roll, blown shocks, wider width on the rear tire and higher lateral forces overload suspension and causing the wheel to lift? I have no idea :/

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[fsk128]

excessive front end roll, blown shocks, wider width on the rear tire and higher lateral forces overload suspension and causing the wheel to lift? I have no idea :/

hahhaa blown shocks? come on! im novice at the track but that didnt happen for sure. Car has about 5k miles on it.
I think its excessive front roll thats why i was asking about upgrading just front sway bar in my first post.

 

[LouG]

If you really want to make improvements, start with trackday tyres, (if you haven't already) and a track alignment.
Personally, I haven't found body roll to be an issue, and a stiffer front bar will increase understeer.

 

[fsk128]

If you really want to make improvements, start with trackday tyres, (if you haven't already) and a track alignment.
Personally, I haven't found body roll to be an issue, and a stiffer front bar will increase understeer.

I see. Im running ps4 maybe i could try cup2 when they wear out. 275/35 front and 305/35 rears.
I dont have camber/caster plates. Should i get those for a track alignment?

 

[Nik691]

I’d leave the front bar alone. The bars are the same out of the DH. If anything, it’s the rear bar that could be worth a change, but from what I read, it can make the car quite uncomfortable for daily driving.

Instead of going to that extreme, I would lower the car first. That’ll give it a lower center of gravity and make it more planted.

Dedicated track tires and track alignment would do it good, so a set of camber plates may be a good idea.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I see. Im running ps4 maybe i could try cup2 when they wear out. 275/35 front and 305/35 rears.
I dont have camber/caster plates. Should i get those for a track alignment?

(1) Caster camber plates would be my first mod.

(2) Stickier tires in a 295, 305, or 315 size on 11" wheels would be my second mod. The same size all around. 18" or 19" - 18 would give you more tire choices, but these days 19's choices are catching up.

I recommend you join https://trackmustangsonline.com/

They have a great forum dedicated to tracking Ford Mustangs. Everybody from beginners and HPDE enthusiasts to GT4 race car drivers and team members participate there.

 

[BimmerDriver]

It seems like the OP is resisting advice to get more experience before upgrades.

But that's what should happen.

Then, after more experience and as speeds get higher, you'll see the need for better brake pads, better brake cooling, and camber plates.

A harness bar with 5-pt belts should be on your list as well. Partly for safety but also it keeps you in the seat allowing for better control and less fatigue.

 

[GT0038]

My suggestion is to make no changes except brake pads get some more seat time. Better brake pads well save you since you are driving in track mode and not fully disabling the stabability control you will wear out your rear brakes very quickly. Only way to fix that is to disable the stabability control completely which I don't recommend until you get more seat time and understand what your car is doing. That being said I would invest in front and rear brake pads you will hate the dust even more but it will take the added heat that you are generating by running in the mode you are running. Once you boil the brake fluid then you will need to do a complete flush for now the OE brake fluid will suffice as long as you don't boil it which will happen once you wear those rear pads down. Track alignment will also help especially with stock springs and swaybars but you will not be able to get an alignment you need without camber plates. So that might be a waste of money at this point.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

disable the stabability control completely which I don't recommend until you get more seat time and understand what your car is doing.

How do you know when it is the right time to go from just putting the car in Track Mode to holding the traction control button until the dashboard says "AdvanceTrac Off" and hitting OK?

 

[Sofa King]

How do you know when it is the right time to go from just putting the car in Track Mode to holding the traction control button until the dashboard says "AdvanceTrac Off" and hitting OK?

Use the Force, Luke...

 

[jml]

Mild improvements you may want to consider to improve the chassis rigidity and not increase understeer :
. Steeda IRS subframe support braces
. Steeda G-trac front brace
. A more spirited alignment

I would do this before changing sway bars.

Good luck!

 

[fsk128]

Thanks everyone! Im gonna start with camber/caster plates, irs support braces and front brace. Also a harness belt looks like a good idea. The Mustang Schroth QuickFit Harness works well? looks practical and it aint expensive.

 

[LouG]

I see. Im running ps4 maybe i could try cup2 when they wear out. 275/35 front and 305/35 rears.
I dont have camber/caster plates. Should i get those for a track alignment?

Cup 2's or P Zeros RS, even PS4S are an improvement. There's others too, check out Tyre reviews on YT.
It can't hurt to get the plates now, Your alignment guy will love you.

 

[tj@steeda]

Thanks everyone! Im gonna start with camber/caster plates, irs support braces and front brace. Also a harness belt looks like a good idea. The Mustang Schroth QuickFit Harness works well? looks practical and it aint expensive.

Let me know if I can help assist - happy to help!

Best,

TJ

 

[Dark Sprite]

Thanks everyone! Im gonna start with camber/caster plates, irs support braces and front brace. Also a harness belt looks like a good idea. The Mustang Schroth QuickFit Harness works well? looks practical and it aint expensive.

I just went down an hour long Schroth harness rabbit hole… thanks for mentioning this, I was concerned with the standard seats that my only option was to buy a replacement bucket seat but this seems like a really good option for use in a daily driver / occasional track car to be easily removed when not in use.

Next to look into HANS, as everything I read just now suggested not to use a 4+ point harness without one!

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