I have to ask a question...

[Jstas]

...I am seeing all these Lightning owners going hog wild trying to be the fastest, have the most power and all that. Accompanied is thier usual list of go-fast parts.

Two things I never see: suspension and brakes.

Well, I do see suspension but it's drag racing suspension.

Does anyone ever bother to put a bigger set of sway bars on or maybe some frame bracing to tighten things up? How about a shock tower brace or more aggressively tuned shocks?

Also, brakes. The stock 01-02 Lightnings have been tested with stopping distances that are shorter than the Cobras. Shortest stopping distance I saw for a Lightning was 123 feet. Shortest for a Cobra was 136 feet, both from ~60 mph.

I see faster and faster trucks but nobody upgrading brakes and some are removing suspension parts that are there to help control the weight and power of the vehicle.

Now I know Hotchkis makes a set of fat sway bars for the Lightning/F-150. They also have higher rate springs with an aggressive 1.5-2 inch actual drop. In speaking with them I was given some impressive claims that they have tested with 99-02 Lightnings pulling .92 G's on a skidpad and running slaloms at 70-75 MPH. Those are very impressive numbers for a truck. But does anyone else make suspension parts for these vehicles? There are many parts out there for F-150's but, in most cases, the aftermarket parts for a normal F-150 are still not as potent as the stock parts on the Lightning.

The other thing is brakes. I do not know of anything besides pads that are out there for a Lightning. Is there any kind of kit with 4 piston calipers or bigger rotors?

I think I'd rather turn the truck into a cornering monster capable of shredding turns on a road course than be an asphalt ripping drag racing terror. Just seems like something different to do and less likely to void a warranty. Suspensions and braking systems improve performance to better utilize existing power production levels. Rather than increase power to insane levels, I'd rather like to see what I can do with what I already have.

[BlownSVT]

Yeah I kinda' agree with you about the brakes and sway bars and what-not.

But in most peoples eyes including mine, for the time being, What are the oppurtunities for the average suburbanite that cruises around town most of there time in the L. to see the benefits from a race tuned suspension? Not that many, I know........my 97 S-10 SS has all of the "on a rail" handling upgrades (due to the fact of short of s/c'ing the motor not a BUNCH of power can be added) and I only notice that it is bumpy as hell, and everyone is taller than me, but if I was at Laguna Seca "buddy you bettter look out!!!!" LOL I know this is exagerated (sp?) but I have added VERY noticeable POWER upgrades to my L and spent less on them than even half of a good Baer brake system. And I can feel the $ at work every stoplight if I want.

So I guess in my own SMALL opinion, It is just a simple matter of, My L handles well--for a big beast, It stops WELL----for a big beast. And it sure hauls A$$-----for a big beast. Why spend the money on the less noticeable stuff at first?


Just my $ 0.02. Jimmy

[Jstas]

Well, what's the point of going fast if you can't stop?

I don't want to lower the truck though. The wheel gap looks kinda lame but then I think, "It's a freakin' LIGHTNING! Who cares about wheel gap?"

Really though, I had my Thunderbird pulling .95G's in a turn and it was extremely noticable over the stock .85G's. It doesn't add power but there is a very noticable difference. After I did the work on my T-bird, the car was a bit faster because the suspension responded much better. It also used to run down BMW M3's and Mazda Miatas on off-ramps and twisty two lanes. It's fun to see people with that "WHOA!" face when they look in the mirror after trying to lose me and all they see is grille!


A race tuned suspension is a bit overboard. Improved performance is a bonus though. You stop faster, you can respond better with evasive action and you don't get as much shimmying and wandering under normal driving and turns. So there are other bonuses beyond going fast.

[BlownSVT]

Oh I do agree that there are added benefits!!!!!!!!

But I am just saying, that for my first few mods..........performance and then suspension.

You said yourself that the L stops faster than a Cobra.

It corners better than MOST cars, and the costs of new suspension parts are not cheap. I DO plan on upgrading my supspension because I do like to be able to take turns. Just not now. And a brake system is like a second mortgage.

I just wish there was a nice 4 link system or something that would benefit both street and track racing.........curves and straight. There very well may be something out there but for now I have limited myself to "BOLT ONS" which I know can mean MANY things...........good thing my wife doesn't.:tmb:

Anyway I just think it is a simple matter of taste. I HATE wheel gap but I promised not to lower the L. Plain and simple.........don't want the latest 36'' wheel (j/k) to fill it either.

Plus you tend to lose launching ability when you mess with your ride height...........simple fact. My S-10 has half the hp 1/3 less tq with bolt ons.........posi-trac rear, higher end ratio gears 3.08, almost the same width tire as my L and I can't get traction for anything since I DROPPED it. Even with traction enhancements.

Anyway good thread though I love this topic.

Jimmy

[Chuck G.]

With all due respect I took my sway bar off to try and be a little faster on the strip. It didn't help in my case( I ran slower than ever). The reason I haven't changed the suspension is # 1 I'm scared to wipe out on the track and my ride would be gone. # 2 So far up to 127 mph the truck has not needed any mods in suspension. ( I try not to go faster than the speed limit)# 3 The folks at the S--A auto cross didn't seem to want my Lightning around their junk. ( ps:I think every one has gone to celebrate Christmas!):beer: :guns:Happy New Year.

[tlangvardt]

it boils down to your interests...
if you mod it out for road racing ... it won't work very well for drag racing. If you set it up for drag racing, it won't work very well for road racing...

I prefer road racing over drag racing, so my mods will revolve more around handling and brakes., rather than straight line performance...

2 cents

[Jstas]

OK, I wasn't trying to piss in anyone's Wheaties here. I was just making some observations and inquiring about parts ugrades that I have not seen yet.

Chuck G., I understand why you removed the sway bar. I have done that myself and very few times has it actually helped times down the track. I understand why many drag racers do much of what they do. I used to do much of it myself. I may only be 25, a youngin' compared to alot of other woners around but I have roughly 9-10 years of drag racing experience under my belt. Also, I did not say that the truck NEEDED any changes to the suspension. But, do you really NEED more power? No, not really. You want more power. Can you use that power on the street? Well, yes and no but we know how that argument goes. So why is it justifiable to add another herd of horses to the output but we can't justify modifications the increase road grip and responsivness?

If we look at it from a much more objective point of view, suspension and braking system modifications would see a great deal of use on the street. Especially around holiday times when evasive action has to be taken to avoid crazed shoppers. It is also easier to take advantage of suspension and brake modifications and stay within legal limits than it is with power production modifications. You can take a highway offramp a little faster, you don't have to brake as early for that sweeping right-hander on the way to the grocery store. You don't have to watch that kid down the street like hawk thinking he is going to run out infront of you. Body roll can be reduced, stability in cross-winds is increased and stability at higher speeds is increase. There are alot more real-world and pratical advantages to suspension and braking modifcations than there are to an insane amount of power.

What are the trade-offs? You lose a couple of tenths in the 1/4 mile. If you lower the vehicle, the ride gets a bit more bumpy. Well, a common mis-perception is that lowering the vehicle improves performance. That is true because it drops the center of gravity but, it changes geometry of the suspension. A simple 1 degree change in an angle of a control arm can make it feel like a pig on rollerskates rather than if it were welded to rails. So yes, there are trade-offs but I think the benefits outweigh the trade-offs.

[BlueOvalBolt]

Here are a couple of links to brakes and suspension parts. I have seen anything about how good the brake set up is but there are a good number of guys running Ruslow suspension parts.

Brakes
http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29850

Suspension
http://www.nloc.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=451

Hope it helps.