My latest order from Maximum Motorsports had arrived, completing a systematic array of parts that will no doubt make my 2009 GT500 a more capable automobile. I've used MM with much success in the past on my fox bodied cars and I expect nothing less with my latest S197 acquisition. But before I get into the hardware, I feel it necessary to mention what else I see that MM does right, packaging.
I ordered Maximum's "Extreme Duty Rear Lower Control Arms for 2005+ Mustang. Designed for high power applications and extreme use" last week. They come packaged in a slim box that you could tell had been filled just right in order to protect the contents within. The tag was simple.
Parts are packaged and protected with a foam wrap. Voids are filled with the wrap to eliminate any empty space, a detail I really appreciate.
The arms are supplied with new factory hardware and a few pages of Maximum's excellent step by step directions.
The arms themselves are impressive, especially from a fabrication standpoint. I have yet to weigh them and compare them to the factory GT500 arm, but I will. The welds appear to be laid right and the powdercoating is uniform and scratch free. The length of the arms has been preset to match factory dimensioning and the rod ends are locked in and parallel (I checked and each arm is dead nuts).
I've also chosen to install Roush Racing's "Wheel Hop Reduction Kit" in the hopes of further reigning in the most annoying characteristic that this chassis embodies - wheel hop.
The Roush 'tech' that I spoke with on the phone didn't really impress me, nor does the vague product description on their website.
They could learn a thing or two on packaging from MM. It looked like the box the upper arm/bracket came in had been beaten up quite a bit. Most of what the box contained was air.
Pay attention, Mr Roush. I expect better care to be taken, especially for the price. I do appreciate the use of factory hardware (for the most part) and a good set of directions, however chock full of legal disclaimers they may be.
I do have a few concerns about the part. Roush couldn't tell me about the arm's length. I asked whether it had been altered to improve the pinion angle and I was told that the pinion angle wasn't changed (evasive if you ask me). I like the reinforcement but am skeptical of the use of the factory upper bushing.
The bushing is a bit soft and deflects easily by hand if you try to twist the two brackets. My hope here is that the lowers will do most of the improvement and that I don't need a rod ended upper, resulting in less NVH increase than if I did. I'll compare the dimensions and the bushings between this part and the factory upper upon disassembly.
I'll also be adding Maximum's rod ended panhard bar. A beautifully crafted part, beefier in size over that of the fox MM units I use on my '88 and '90 coupe.
So there you have it. I'll try to get this stuff installed soon and all at once (forgive the parabola effect the fish eye lens offers below).
In the meantime...anyone else running these arms yet?
Tob
I ordered Maximum's "Extreme Duty Rear Lower Control Arms for 2005+ Mustang. Designed for high power applications and extreme use" last week. They come packaged in a slim box that you could tell had been filled just right in order to protect the contents within. The tag was simple.
Parts are packaged and protected with a foam wrap. Voids are filled with the wrap to eliminate any empty space, a detail I really appreciate.
The arms are supplied with new factory hardware and a few pages of Maximum's excellent step by step directions.
The arms themselves are impressive, especially from a fabrication standpoint. I have yet to weigh them and compare them to the factory GT500 arm, but I will. The welds appear to be laid right and the powdercoating is uniform and scratch free. The length of the arms has been preset to match factory dimensioning and the rod ends are locked in and parallel (I checked and each arm is dead nuts).
I've also chosen to install Roush Racing's "Wheel Hop Reduction Kit" in the hopes of further reigning in the most annoying characteristic that this chassis embodies - wheel hop.
The Roush 'tech' that I spoke with on the phone didn't really impress me, nor does the vague product description on their website.They could learn a thing or two on packaging from MM. It looked like the box the upper arm/bracket came in had been beaten up quite a bit. Most of what the box contained was air.
Pay attention, Mr Roush. I expect better care to be taken, especially for the price. I do appreciate the use of factory hardware (for the most part) and a good set of directions, however chock full of legal disclaimers they may be.
I do have a few concerns about the part. Roush couldn't tell me about the arm's length. I asked whether it had been altered to improve the pinion angle and I was told that the pinion angle wasn't changed (evasive if you ask me). I like the reinforcement but am skeptical of the use of the factory upper bushing.
The bushing is a bit soft and deflects easily by hand if you try to twist the two brackets. My hope here is that the lowers will do most of the improvement and that I don't need a rod ended upper, resulting in less NVH increase than if I did. I'll compare the dimensions and the bushings between this part and the factory upper upon disassembly.
I'll also be adding Maximum's rod ended panhard bar. A beautifully crafted part, beefier in size over that of the fox MM units I use on my '88 and '90 coupe.
So there you have it. I'll try to get this stuff installed soon and all at once (forgive the parabola effect the fish eye lens offers below).
In the meantime...anyone else running these arms yet?
Tob
