[mmikeclass06]

what advantages other than weight loss is there with going to all tubular front suspension? my gt that is about to be full stripped down and restored, all ready getting cobra irs and was thinking of upgrading the front also, mainly because the body had 300k on it when i pulled the v6 out and put in the 4.6, front is getting really load when i turn so i been wondering to just rebuild the one i have or spend money and buy all tubular with new bushings (planning on turbo in near future when 5.4 is finished being built, also where/what would you recommend. ONES who have

[ndfrspd]

you mean tubular front k member?

[DejaBlue87]

with the k member u will have more room also

[ModMustang97GT]

Well, with the tubular front, you are going to be shaving about 35-50 lbs off the front. A good thing, since you are adding 50 lbs of weight with the 5.4l.

You will get better geometry due to the new K member being designed for the drop height that you will generally be running.

You will need to get Coil-Overs with the K-member. Coil overs will save you weight and give you better handling. But it isn't that cheap. The K member kit with the Coil overs included will runn you about $1500 from Maximum Motorsports. Less with a granatelli, or QA1 piece.

What kind of driving are you planning to do with this car? Daily Driver? Drag queen? Twisties? AIX? This will give us a good idea of what kind of K member would be the best bet.

You should get Subframe Connectors either way. This will distribute the work of the suspension through out the rest of the car.

[mmikeclass06]

its going to be a weekend car that will maybe see track once a year if that. just wanting to see what others would do. main reason i was thinking was room for piping down the road. and if im redoing the rest of my car why not touch it too.

[Fluffy The Rhino]

A tubular K member is in my future. I'm just looking forward to having more room.

[1TITAN]

i had been lookin at the QA1 set up and i think eventually thats what i want to get total with the k member replaced and the control arms and running the coil overs all that equals out to about 70lbs. (roughly) off of the fron of the car. some of that will be unsprung weigh which will have a little more effect on the handling and response of the car.

if your rebuildin the entire car i would go ahead and do it, it would defenitly change the attitude of the car all round

[98Cobra_sleeper]

I have a Qa1 tubular kmember and coilover kit, and it's a nite and day difference with room and weight. i paid 540 shipped from an ebay store called 'uprproductsonline. I had to get this kit because i bought a twin turbo kit, and the kit was designed around that kmember. Its worth it to go ahead and do it now. everything fit really well, and i felt the money was well spent.

[ModMustang97GT]

The only thing I would say regarding the QA1 or Granatelli, is the strength is not as high as the Maximum Motorsports or a few other options. However, the cost is alot different. If this is an average car. Not pulling the front tires 2 feet in the air, not pushing 600 rwhp, not doing high speed track driving. The QA1 and Granatelli pieces should be plenty strong. I just personally really like the Higher Quality pieces, because I want to think it will make a difference to me (don't burst my bubble).

The added difference in space is HUGE. The stock piece is total crap, and has nearly no where to get around the engine. The Tubular pieces are HUGELY better for access. Put it this way. With LT headers, if you don't have the tubular K member, you have to either jack the engine up about 6 inches, or drop the K-member completely to even get at the header bolts.

Either way, the difference in handling will be huge, and the weight gains will be awesome. I'm not sure about 70 lbs. I have heard as high as 60, but that was still suspect and with a Granatelli piece (really light/possibly weaker).

[Fluffy The Rhino]

I know the PSR K-Member shaves 71 or 72 lbs. off of the stocker. I've also read that the tubular K makes for a stiffer ride. A small price to pay for weight reduction, ease of maintenance, etc...

[ModMustang97GT]

I question those weight differences. I have yet to see someone come out to those numbers. They claim those weight differences on their web sites and crap. But the people that I have heard that actually weighed it all out only seem to come up with 35-40 lbs differences. Not that its not possible, just haven't seen it yet.

[AzSonicSnake]

Originally Posted by FluffyTheRhino I know the PSR K-Member shaves 71 or 72 lbs. off of the stocker. I've also read that the tubular K makes for a stiffer ride. A small price to pay for weight reduction, ease of maintenance, etc...

exactly. and i run the exact same k-member. its been on the car for about 2 years now, and i would say its one of the best mods i have done to the car to date. certainly made the feel of the car more tight, and not so sluggish imo. plus when i put my line lock on i thanked god that i had it because it made the install soooooooooo much easier. its worth every friggen penny.

[86er]

Originally Posted by ModMustang97GT The only thing I would say regarding the QA1 or Granatelli, is the strength is not as high as the Maximum Motorsports or a few other options.

dont leave out how maximum makes their K members for road racing, of course its going to be stronger than the others. Its also heavier than most other K members on the market. They put more bracing and supports for the lateral movement and weight shifts

There isnt a single thing wrong with a qa-1 k member. I have seen them on stock fox bodies and 1200hp cobra's

[ModMustang97GT]

How many of those 1200 hp cobra's are daily drivers? Daily driving gives a lot of forces that drag racing does not. Also, alot of thoes cars probably break them and replace them cause they are cheap.

The point is, I know that the Maximum Motorsports pieces are some of the best pieces out there. QA1 does very well, but the fact that they seem to survive is not a good enough reason to justify it.

Your car also makes good power without the air filter on it, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

[86er]

actually I can think of 3 that are driven 300+miles a week actually.

If qa1 is under a car, dont be second guessing yourself oh I should have bought a maximum one or someone elses. It will do just fine