Talk to me about suspension upgrade paths/options

[studio460]

My bad didn't see this. Yes those are the links. Just order them off rock auto to save some cash.
I wish we had a billet aluminum rear control arm option. Especially since I want to go to coilovers eventually which will negate the massive size of the factory ones

No problem—thanks! I'll just add them later. I had some gorgeous Metco billet-aluminum rear control-arms for my Marauder. Wish I had 'em for the SHO as well. I literally shredded the factory stamped-metal control-arms at something like 70K miles.

 

[Mahu24]

I love them! Caution: HUGE amount of drone on my otherwise unmodified exhaust. I would recommend a Hemholtz resonator to tone them down. From about 1,500-2,300RPM, the drone is insanely there. But of course, I don't particularly mind! My only complaint is that they could be louder, but they add a deep, ultra-low frequency rumble at cold-start/idle and a beautiful gurgle (but no backfire) on downshift.

The installer had to perform some kind of unknown magic to fit because, oddly, the bend-angle isn't correct for factory 2019 SHO exhaust (about 20°-30° off). He also had to de-weld/re-weld the hangers since they weren't in the correct position either (too far to the center of the car). But the shop did a beautiful job of adjusting the tips to show a bit more tail than the factory tips.

Note: I ordered the "Black Ops" version, but only the tips are black—I spray-painted the mufflers themselves prior to install with VHT high-temperature paint.

Sounds like maybe you got the mufflers for the flex? My coworker has a flex and the exhaust bends are different going into the mufflers as well as the hangers are on the other side of the pipe.
I think for the cost honestly, I'll probably get my local shop to build me an exhaust. I really want the Corsa system. But at 3 grand Canadian. It's way too much money

 

[studio460]

Hmmm . . . I dunno. I definitely ordered the ones for the 2019 SHO. Sounds kinda fishy now that you mention the differences in the Flex, but I was anxious to get them on the car and the shop figured it out anyway.

 

[Mahu24]

Hmmm . . . I dunno. I definitely ordered the ones for the 2019 SHO. Sounds kinda fishy now that you mention the differences in the Flex, but I was anxious to get them on the car and the shop figured it out anyway.

Very well could have been sent the wrong ones haha. When I was window shopping for exhausts I wondered what differentiates the flex from the Taurus exhaust so I went and had a peak at my coworkers flex. And those are the differences I saw.

 

[TheOGScooby]

Yeah, it's this kind of post which gives me pause on getting the H&Rs; then, you'll stumble on other members' posts where they're perfectly happy with them. The lowered CG and the appearance upgrade are both huge draws for me—it's very tempting. To the OP, as far as I've gathered for the members here, there are four options [corrections made]:

1. SHO non-PP/PP + Whiteline rear anti-sway bar.
2. SHO PP: H&R springs + Whiteline rear anti-sway bar.
3. SHO PP: Megan Racing springs + Megan Racing coil-overs + Whiteline rear anti-sway bar.
4. SHO PP: Swift or BC Racing springs + BC Racing coil-overs for Ford Flex + Whiteline rear anti-sway bar.

Option 4 seems most extreme, and option 3 still seems a recipe for a harsh ride. I'm definitely doing option 1, but still deciding option 2. AMR Engineering coil-overs have also been mentioned here, but I can't find any information on them; i.e., their website (amrengineering.com) doesn't resolve and their last post on their Facebook page was August of 2020.

As a non-PP owner, would jumping straight to coilovers and a whiteline rear sway bar be an issue? Also would I want to switch to the thinner front sway bar of the PP? Trying to make parts lists and am pretty unsure on the coilover options, looking at BC Racing DS Series with Swift Springs. Not sure on what spring rates to choose though.

 

[kryptto]

That sounds like a nice setup if you ask me, the spring rates I can't answer.