The Steeda Autosports Engineering Team latest creation is the most technologically advanced and best performing suspension upgrade you can provide for your 2005 and newer Mustang.
Steeda's Watt's Linkage was under development for an extended period of time by Steeda Engineers using ISO 9001-2008 certified procedures to insure we set a new benchmark standard for Watt's Linkage suspension systems for the Ford performance enthusiast.
Rather than rushing to market like many of our competitors have done and potentially providing inferior products that do not provide the best possible performance attributes, we took our time and designed it the right way from scratch. Our company founder, Dario Orlando, has always mandated that if the Steeda name is on it, it has to be the very best possible, he would not have it any other way.
We started with a "blank sheet," doing extensive product evaluations and engineering simulations to form a basis for the current suspension dynamics on the Mustang.
A Watt's Linkage replaces the Panhard Bar that was added when Ford re-designed the suspension and made the trailing arms parallel with the length of the chassis. When all of the trailing arms were made parallel, they no longer provided lateral (side-to-side) positioning by themselves (as they did on the Satchell Link of the Fox/SN95).
As the body mount of a Panhard Bar rises and falls with suspension motion, the axle moves laterally with respect to the chassis due to the arc described by the Panhard Bar. This in effect, binds the suspension, preventing it from moving to where load transfer and geometry would like it to be. Therefore, the lower the movement the better.
A perfectly set up Panhard Bar (a bar that is horizontal at ride height) with a length of 42.5" (about what the S197 is) has a lateral motion of about 0.189" (roughly 3/16" or 4.8mm) toward the passenger side for 4" of travel in both bump and rebound. When the Panhard Bar cannot be set up perfectly, (and it's not on the S197, it is not parallel at ride height) the amount of lateral movement increases in either bump or rebound (depending on which end of the Panhard Bar is lower, which is the driver's side on an S197). Further, since the axle moves toward the passenger side in both bump and rebound, there is a difference in cornering characteristic when turning left vs. right.
Steeda's Watts Linkage practically eliminates the unwanted lateral motion inherent in the geometry of the factory Panhard bar in its operating range. With the lateral and center link lengths that Steeda uses, the lateral motion for 4" of bump travel is about 0.018" (roughly 1/64" or 0.46mm or 1/10 of the Panhard bar amount). At 4" of rebound it is about 0.017" (again, about 1/64" or 0.43mm or 1/10 of the Panhard bar).
At 2" of bump/rebound travel, Steeda's Watt's Linkage is even more impressive. The Panhard Bar has moved 0.047" (1.19mm) while the Watt's Linkage has moved less than 0.001" (0.0005"; or 0.01mm).
Eliminating the lateral movement of the axle allows the suspension to react to cornering forces in a more consistent manner and will provide for a more stable and confidence-inspiring feeling as your vehicle's suspension moves through its range of motion. To the driver it will feel like the rear end is more connected to the chassis, plus with the left vs right turning dynamics now stabilized, the whole vehicle will feel more connected, responsive, and consistent.
Also not to be overlooked is our available adjustment for roll center height and links featuring urethane bushings instead of spherical bearings for quiet street operation. Spherical bearings used by competitors will increase NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) in the vehicle.
On a Watt's Link-equipped vehicle, the center pivot of the center link is the rear roll center. Moving the center pivot up or down moves the roll center up and down. Further, the lateral links should be horizontal and the center link vertical with the vehicle at ride height to minimize scrub.
Our Watt's Link is constructed out of tubular chrome moly alloy steel, not mild steel like competitors - TWICE as strong and lighter than mild steel competitors keeping weight to a minimum with superior strength.
Notes: Not compatible with convertibles, Eibach rear swaybar or Ford Racing rear swaybar.
Note: 2011 & newer must use rear sway bar 555-1073 for clearance.
Product Benefits
Not all Mustang Watt's Linkages are created equal. Learn more about what makes Steeda stand out from the crowd: http://www.steeda.com/blog/2013/08/steeda-mustang-watts-link/
