2009 Cobra Jet Mustang - Suspension Tuning

Suspension Tuning
As with any professional approach, Calvert's big win makes the work appear easy and perhaps simple to attain. But when we started breaking down the steps the team took to get to the first round of qualifying, the real story was all about lots of testing. First, Calvert lowered the rear control arm mounts at the housing to move the rear suspension's instant center rearward to help the launch. Then he had to come up with Rancho adjustable rear shocks to produce the desired rebound valving necessary to get the proper plant for the rear tires. The shocks offer a nine-way rebound adjustment, a strong 5/8-inch shaft, and sufficient length to allow the car to plant the rear tires with body separation. In the midst of all this shock and instant center tuning, the team also established the car's proper pinion angle. In tandem with the rear suspension tuning, Calvert experimented with some custom-valved front struts to generate the ideal front end rise rate. Calvert is still experimenting with the front pieces, and production parts will follow.

The 9-inch rear housing assembly also came under the Mustang from Ford. Calvert runs a 4.57:1 rear gear with lots of Strange parts, including a spool, 35-spline axles, and rear disc brakes. The Cobra Jet cars also came from the factory with this fabricated aluminum sway bar mount system from Dave Zimmerman's Team Z Motorsports. The mount bolts to the rear lower rear control arm bolt to locate a pivot point for the sway bar. Adjustments to the turnbuckle can create preload in the rear suspension.
The 9-inch rear housing assembly also came under the Mustang from Ford. Calvert runs a 4.5
The stock Mustang single upper control arm mount for the three-link required a Z Motorsports custom steel piece along with an adjustable-length upper control arm that makes establishing pinion angle a little easier.
The stock Mustang single upper control arm mount for the three-link required a Z Motorspor
Calvert lowered the stock rear control arm mounting point to shorten the instant center and plant the tires harder on the launch.
Calvert lowered the stock rear control arm mounting point to shorten the instant center an

Strange supplied the gears, 35-spline axles, and rear disc brakes for the 9-inch.
All the FR500CJ cars started out as body-in-white shells to keep the weight down, and then each also had the batteries relocated to the trunk.
All the FR500CJ cars started out as body-in-white shells to keep the weight down, and then