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S197 Mustang Suspension

MCS "SPEC IRON" Single Adjustable Coilover Dampers (Ford S197 Mustang)


All MCS damper kits are built to order so expect an estimated 2-4 week build time after you order. If you chose to order online, you will be billed immediately. If you would like to call in the order (we prefer that) we process a deposit for the shocks up front, with the rest billed when they are complete.

NOTE: The Ford Racing M-18197-A rear shock clevis mount is No Longer Available through normal sources. We can not supply them. You will have to source that part yourself.

Introduction

Vorshlag Motorsports is an authorized Motion Control Suspension dealer. The MCS TT1 single adjustable damper is far from basic. This damper set features a full 18 settings of rebound control over a wide range, unique to each vehicle model's specific requirements. Dampers are more than just a number of adjustments and click count – the shape of the resulting curves is specifically engineered to give your car the most grip through the range of surface conditions and dynamic inputs your vehicle experiences.

This set is made for NASA's "Spec Iron" racing class, which is for 2005-2010 Mustang GTs built around a "spec" set of rules for wheel to wheel road racing. The original spec in 2013 was made by a now defunct company, so NASA series directors put the kit out to bid by other shock makers. Vorshlag was a part of this bidding process and one of the kits we recommended was the MCS TT1 set we have had a lot of success with. On 6/27/2015 this technical bulletin by NASA mandated that going forward, new builds would need to run the MCS #SET-1WNR-NSI-S-01, shown here.

All the MCS dampers are built in the USA. They are fully rebuildable, serviceable and can be custom valved and upgraded any time here in the USA.


Key Features

  • Adjustment range of 18 different settings for Rebound control
  • Monotube design front and rear
  • Nitrogen pressure is adjustable, if required
  • Includes standard spring hardware (springs and camber plates are not included)

 

Click on thumbnails for larger image. Some images shown with optional components. All pictures 2015 Vorshlag.

Parts Included:

  • 2 Front MCS Single Adjustable (18 adj, Rebound only) Monotube Struts
  • 2 Rear MCS Single Adjustable (18 adj, Rebound only) Monotube Shocks
  • The Spec Iron set is made to work as a "coilover rear shock" and includes rear shock upper and lower spring perches for 2.25" springs at no additional charge (springs not included)
  • The rear shock is an "eye to eye" design and the class rules require a mount that bolts to the stock location. The Ford Racing M-18197-A Shock Mount Kit is an option. NOTE: This shock mount is NLA.
  • Unique to Vorshlag:

+ We include a 1.5mm Allen wrench tool, which is used to tighten the rebound knobs onto the adjustment shaft.

+ Also included free of charge is a pair of Vorshlag 68-75mm Spanner Wrenches for MCS front coilover strut spring perches. These are needed to loosen/tighten the 2-piece perches on each strut but NOT included by other dealers.

+ MCS kits ordered from Vorshlag are shipped to our facility first. This way we can test fit any optional parts (springs, camber plates, etc) to the as-built struts and shocks, and give everything a final Quality Check. Almost all other MCS dealers drop-ship these kits direct from MCS to the end customer.

 

Included in all MCS kits from Vorshlag are a pair of Spanner Wrenches, which we build for the MCS perches

Many dealers just "sell shocks" and leave it up to the end user to figure out all of the pieces necessary to make them fit their cars. Vorshlag designs, tests, manufactures, and/or sells all of the "optional" but necessary parts needed to install this MCS kit to a Spec Iron race car. This includes the mandated Maximum Motorsports spherical top mount/camber plate, the Ford Racing pin-to-eye rear shock mount kit, and various spring packages for this racing class. See below for more details.

These options will affect the final price as shown for each component added.

CAMBER PLATES : The NASA Spec Iron series was built around a lot of parts in the Ford Racing catalog. Ford sponsors the series and pays out contingency, so it just "is what it is". As such the Maximum Motorsports MM5CC-7 plates are required for use in Spec Iron class. If you choose the optional Camber Plates for this Spec Iron kit, we will include the required camber plates ($347) and the upper spring perches to match the MCS setup ($87). These front upper spring perches and the struts are made to accept 2.5" ID coilover springs.

  

NOTE: If you want to buy this kit for use in an S197 for something OTHER than the NASA Spec Iron racing class, please go to this entry for the "normal" MCS TT1. It is the same price but includes options for Vorshlag camber plates and a "divorced" rear spring setup that we normally recommend for S197 Mustangs. The Vorshlag plates have a more rugged radial bearing upper spring perch design and are easier to adjust. The "divorced" rear spring package we sell with the other S197 Mustang MCS kit allows for MUCH more inboard wheel room out back, which the "coilover shock" setup eats up. Spec Iron is mandated to a maximum 9.5" wide wheel, but we would recommend 10" to 12" wide rear wheels for other S197 racers outside of Spec Iron.

SPRING PACKAGES: While MCS provides you with the dampers, Vorshlag offers the unique option for racers to pick their own front and rear spring rates at a reduced cost. These options will include new Hyperco springs from our track tested and recommended S197 spring packages. These rates are all applicable to a dedicated race car running in Spec Iron series. If you would like to order custom rates not listed here, please give us a call. This can be arranged for typically no extra cost.

We use Hyperco springs, which are measured in inch lengths and rates are in pounds per inch of travel (lbs/in).

  • Front Spring Package includes a pair of Hyperco 2.5" ID Coilover Springs. These can work with the included MCS upper spring perches or the optional Maximum Motorsports camber plates and Spec Iron 2.5" upper spring perches.
  • Rear Spring Package includes: pair of Hyperco 2.25" ID Coilover Springs for the "coilover on shock" mounting location
  • Vorshlag's Spec Iron Spring Packages include:
  • Package A - 450 #/in Front, 175 #/in Rear
  • Package B - 500 #/in Front, 250 #/in Rear
  • Package C - 550 #/in Front, 300 #/in Rear
  • If you would like to order custom rates not listed here, please give us a call. There is no additional charge for different spring rates.

FRONT SWAYBAR ENDLINKS : The MCS strut for the S197 Mustang moves the endlink mount on the strut housing DOWN by a significant mount. This is done to make room for the threaded section of the coilover housing, where the lower spring perches thread on. This threaded section is pretty long and covers up where the factory bracket for the swaybar endlink would be.

To fix this you need to run a much shorter anti-roll bar end link on the front struts with 12mm threaded ends. We have found a shorter set of Whiteline endlinks that work perfectly for the front MCS S197 strut's lower endlink location, which is shown above. It includes a pair of beefy, adjustable length units made with aluminum hex bar and OEM style ball joint ends - sealed from the weather, so they rotate well and last a very long time. You can fine tune the endlink length with this design, and we have torture tested this same setup on our MCS equipped TT3 Mustang - with massive grip levels and lots of abuse. You can try to piece something together on your own, or just hit the "easy button" for this option and we can ship a pair of these with your MCS kit.

FORD RACING PIN-TO-EYE REAR SHOCK KIT : NOTE: This mount is No Longer Available. The factory S197 Mustang shock mounts are composed of two separate rubber pieces, with the upper piece designed to accept a 10mm dia. shock shaft. These MCS rear shocks for SPEC IRON come with an eye upper mount. You will need the class mandated Ford Racing (M-18197-A) Shock Mount Kit, shown below.

 

SIGNATURE DELIVERY : Orders over $2400 require signature delivery. Please plan on that when ordering.