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Ford Mustang V6 and GT 2005-2014: Shock Absorber Reviews

No really, it is. So to help you out, here's a review of some shock absorber kits to help give your Mustang the ride quality it deserves.

By Jeff White - October 21, 2015

This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 and GT (2005-2014).

The suspension on your Mustang is one of the most tunable systems on your car. There are endless parts out there on offer from aftermarket companies to tailor it for whatever kind of driving you're interested in.

One of the parts of your suspension that you should focus on first is the struts and shocks. This is an area that is left very average when a car comes from the factory, due to the fact there are many different people with many different tastes in ride quality that will be buying the car. They, in a sense, need to please everyone. The good thing about this is that this makes it open to giving it some tweaking and getting your ride a bit more to your liking for what you want to do with it. With the Mustang being such a popular platform, there are a number of different options when it comes to picking out a good strut and shock kit.

Figure 1. Ford Mustang.

The number one thing when considering a strut and shock kit for your car is that you want to change them all at the same time, and you want to keep them all the same brand as well as model. Just changing out the front, or just changing out the rear, won't net you the maximum results from the shock/strut you decide to choose. You also want to keep in mind that some struts and shocks work best when used with lowering springs that were designed to work well with those specific struts and shocks.

Whichever way you choose, I can guarantee that performing this upgrade and performing it the right way will transform how your Mustang feels on the street and, most importantly, make it much better to drive. Because after it's all said and done, that's the most important thing.

Mustang Strut and Shock Absorber Kits
Ford Performance Dynamic Shock and Strut Kit P/N: M-18000A
KONI Sport Adjustable Shock and Strut Kit P/N: 8241-1240SPORT, 101611
RTR Tactical Performance Shock and Strut Kit P/N: 389051, 390052
Price

$589.98

$842.80

 $829.99
Construction
 Monotube Twin-tube Twin-tube
Adjustable? Yes/No
 No Yes, rebound only Yes, rebound only
Application
 Improved street handling Improved street handling with adjustability Improved street and track handling with adjustability
Good for Lowering Springs? Yes/No
 Yes (best with SR Performance Springs) Yes Yes (best with RTR Tactical Performance Lower Springs)

Ford Performance Dynamic Shock and Strut Kit

Price – $589.98

Construction – Monotube dampers

Adjustable – No

Application – Designed to fit 2005 to 2010 GT and V6 Mustangs. Will also fit 2011 to 2014 GT and V6 Mustangs when used with Ford Racing Springs and M-18183-C upper strut mounts.

Good for Lowering Springs – Yes

The Ford Racing Performance Dynamic shock and strut kit is great for improving your Mustang's suspension without the need for adjustability. With these shocks and struts, it's a set in and forget the type of deal. Drastic improvement over stock Mustang ride quality are great for improving street performance. They work best when used with SR Performance lower springs or Ford Racing Performance lowering springs. I would say going with these shocks and struts would take your Mustang a notch up in the suspension department, and for someone who drives on the street all of the time, they would be a great choice. Recommended for those who do more street driving and want to improve their suspension.

KONI Sport Adjustable Shock and Strut Kit

Price – $842.80

Construction – Twin-tube damper

Adjustable – Rebound adjustable

Application – 8241-1240 SPORT is designed to fit 2005 to 2010 GT, V6, Bullitt, and Shelby GT500 Mustangs. 101611 is designed to fit 2011 to 2014 GT, V6, and BOSS Mustangs. Does not fit the Shelby GT500 from these years.

Good for Lowering Springs – Yes

The KONI Sport Adjustable shock and strut kit is designed for improving street performance while also giving the driver the ability to adjust the compression and rebound. This is to make it so that you can fine tune your car for the ride quality that you desire on the street. They are designed to work well with lowering springs, as are most aftermarket shocks and struts. KONI has been in the shock game for a long time and has always been considered a great choice for maximizing your car's street performance capabilities. Recommended for those who do street driving and want to be able to adjust the compression as well as rebound.

RTR Tactical Performance Shock and Strut Kit

Price – $829.99

Construction – Twin-tube dampers

Adjustable – Compression adjustable

Application – 389051 is designed to fit 2005-10 V6, GT, Bullitt, and Shelby GT500 Mustangs. 389052 is designed to fit 2011 to 2014 V6, GT, and BOSS Mustangs. Does not fit these years Shelby GT500.

Good for Lowering Springs – Yes

The RTR Tactical Performance shock and strut kit is part of the performance parts that professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. has helped to develop. So they are a bit more geared towards someone looking for maximum adjustability on and off the track, but with keeping the stock style of MacPherson strut on the car. They are going to be a bit more on the aggressive side when it comes to shock and strut packages. Of course, as you can imagine, they work best with the RTR Tactical Performance lower springs. These springs are actually unique, due to their progressive spring rate design. This kit even comes with a tool that helps you to easily adjust the shocks to your liking, as well as being a great way to improve your street performance. These shocks and struts would also be good on the track and can help you to dial in the setup needed if you also take your car there. Recommended for drivers who do both street and track driving.

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