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Tech: S550 Coilover Suspension

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Tech: S550 Coilover Suspension

’Over Time

Better handling with Ridetech’s new 2015+ Mustang coilovers

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Ridetech

By adding a double-ball-joint front end and an independent rear suspension, Ford engineers took the handling of the latest Mustangs to a higher level. However, we always want a little bit more. If nothing else, we want the ride height a bit closer to the earth, but sharpening its handling is always good too.

The Ridetech High Performance Coilover Suspension for 2015 Mustangs (PN 12270210; $2,400) includes four monotube coilover shocks, four Hyperco coilover springs, mounting brackets for the rear shocks, and a relocation spacer for the rear sway bar. If you want to step up from the HP system to the Track Quality system (PN 12270311; $4,750) you gain adjustable monotube shocks. The latter feature a single rebound adjustment and a two compression adjustments, high- and low speed. It employs a remote reservoir plumbed with a 30-inch braided line.
The Ridetech High Performance Coilover Suspension for 2015 Mustangs (PN 12270210; $2,400) includes four monotube coilover shocks, four Hyperco coilover springs, mounting brackets for the rear shocks, and a relocation spacer for the rear sway bar. If you want to step up from the HP system to the Track Quality system (PN 12270311; $4,750) you gain adjustable monotube shocks. The latter feature a single rebound adjustment and two compression adjustments, high- and low speed. It employs a remote reservoir plumbed with a 30-inch braided line.

There are many aftermarket options available to tune up your Mustang handling from simple lowering springs to complete suspension upgrades. One of the latter options that’s new to the market is from the specialists at Ridetech. The company offers a new coilover systems that bolts right into your 2015+ Mustang, and offers a few advantages over traditional spring and damper setups.

“The most obvious advantage is that utilizing a coil-over allows you to fine tune the ride height to your preferences. However, I would say the biggest advantage is in the quality of the shock absorbers and their adjustability, which can make a dramatic improvement in the ride and handling of the car,” Ryan Morgan Account Manager Sales/Tech at Ridetech said. “All RideTech shocks are monotube design, which features a much larger piston diameter than the average twin-tube shock. They are available in HQ Series with adjustable rebound or TQ Series with adjustments for rebound as well as high- and low-speed compression dampening. Also, our strut mounts feature adjustability for caster and camber, which is lacking in the factory components. All RideTech shocks carry a 1,000,001-mile warranty.”

The front struts included in the feature monotube dampers wrapped with Hyperco springs that are cold-wound on a CNC machine. These shocks provide consistent performance thanks to a 1.834-inch piston and a 5/8-inch piston. The are fit with 2 ½-inch Hyperco springs. This is the prototype version so the production versions may look a bit different.
The front struts included in the kit feature monotube dampers wrapped with Hyperco springs that are cold-wound on a CNC machine. These shocks provide consistent performance thanks to a 1.834-inch piston and a 5/8-inch piston. The are fit with 2 ½-inch Hyperco springs. This is the prototype version so the production versions may look a bit different.

Now you might not be familiar with Ridetech, but the company does have a long history of developing Mustang suspensions. However, it got its start in the Ford world improving the handling of vintage Mustangs.

“Ironically the very first vehicle to receive a RideTech suspension was Bret Voelkel’s (owner of RideTech) 1970 Mustang back in 1996 when he started the company,” Ryan explained. “Over the last 20 years we have built and raced several Mustangs to validate fitment and prove the performance of our products…”

During that time the company has developed parts on a 1965 Mustang, a 1969 Mustang, a 2005 Mustang GT, and a 2010 Mustang GT. The latest test bed for Ridetech’s suspension system’s is Jeremiah Stotler’s 2015 Mustang, This car was equipped with Ridetech’s prototype system and the car then competed in a qualifying event for the Optima Street Car Challenge, where it finished Fifth in the GT class and scored the First Timer award despite competing with only 430 horsepower against far more powerful cars.

You can watch Jeremiah’s car in action on track right here…

And here it is tearing up the autocross…

The front strut is a direct bolt-in that offers 1 ½ to 2 inches of lowering, and its upper mount includes caster and camber adjustments.
The front strut is a direct bolt-in that offers 1 ½ to 2 inches of lowering, and its upper mount includes caster and camber adjustments.

If this setup looks compelling to you, it will be reassuring to know that you can most likely install the kit yourself.

“Your average hot-rodder with a bit of mechanical ability should be able to install this kit in a few hours. Everything is completely bolt-on, no fabrication or welding required,” Ryan added. “Step by step installation instructions are included, and RideTech is known for providing the best customer service and technical support in the world, if you have any questions just give us a call.”

We had the opportunity to take a look at the system’s components to see how it installs, and the fitment looks pretty straightforward.

The Ridetech kit also include an improved sway bar endlink and an eccentric bolt for camber adjustments, which will allow for a substantial drop.
The Ridetech kit also include an improved sway bar endlink and an eccentric bolt for camber adjustments, which will allow for a substantial drop.
Like the front shocks, the rears are monotube dampers with Hyperco coils. They too are available in HP and TQ configurations depending on how much adjustability you desire.
Like the front shocks, the rears are monotube dampers with Hyperco coils. They too are available in HP and TQ configurations depending on how much adjustability you desire.
Installing the Ridetech rear shock means installing this robust upper mount. It doesn’t simply use the factory shock mount holes. It ties into the framerail for enhanced strength, but doing so necessitates drilling the frame to install Rivnuts.
Installing the Ridetech rear shock means installing this robust upper mount. It doesn’t simply use the factory shock mount holes. It ties into the framerail for enhanced strength, but doing so necessitates drilling the frame to install Rivnuts.
By installing the Ridetech rear coilovers a bit of wheel clearance is gained because the whole coil/shock assembly resides inside the wheel.
By installing the Ridetech rear coilovers a bit of wheel clearance is gained because the whole coil/shock assembly resides inside the wheel.
To clear the way for the coilover system, the kit includes a sway bar spacer to relocate the bar. According to Ridetech this adjustment improves the location of the endlinks.
To clear the way for the coilover system, the kit includes a sway bar spacer to relocate the bar. According to Ridetech this adjustment improves the location of the endlinks. It was important for Ridetech to prove out the system on a car like Jeremiah Stotler’s 2015 Mustang. “Racing—or R&D as we call it—is a very important part in product development,” Ryan said. “Only when we push a car to its limits can we find ways to improve it the parts on it.”

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