suspension FORD MUSTANG 2023 User Guide

No Lift Shift (If Equipped)
This feature provides you with the abilityto keep the accelerator pedal firmlypressed down during high engine speed,wide open throttle accelerations. Duringwide open throttle gear shifts, the enginecontroller prevents the engine speed fromflaring with the clutch disengaged duringa rapid upshift. This allows reducedmanual transmission upshift time, resultingin quicker acceleration and smoother nolift shifts.
DRIVE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
Selectable Drive Modes (If Equipped)
Selectable drive modes deliver acustomized driving experience using avariety of electronic vehicle systems. Thesystems optimize vehicle dynamics andpowertrain response based on yourselected mode. Systems associated withselectable drive modes are:
•Electronically power assisted steering.See Steering (page 202).
•Electronic stability control and tractioncontrol maintain your vehicle controlin adverse conditions or highperformance driving. See StabilityControl (page 175).
•Electronic throttle control enhancesthe powertrain response to your drivinginput.
•Adaptive dampers (if equipped).
•Active exhaust adjusts the soundcharacteristics of your vehicle (ifequipped).
Using Selectable Drive Modes
Note:Your vehicle may have some of thedrive modes that follow.
To change the drive mode setting, pressthe mode button on the instrument panelunder the display. The first pressilluminates the selected mode, subsequentpresses change the selected mode.
Note:Mode changes are not available whenthe ignition is off or when the transmissionis in reverse (R). Some modes may beunavailable when the transmission is in drive(D) or sport (S).
Modes:
•Normal – Best suited for everydaydriving. If your vehicle has adaptivedampers, the suspension delivers abalanced combination of comfort andhandling. Selectable steering defaultsto normal but can be changed usingthe steering button.
•Sport – Engages when you shift yourautomatic transmission into sport (S).Sport mode increases throttleresponse and helps your vehicleaccelerate faster, but does not changethe vehicle dynamics or stabilitysystem.
•Sport+ – Best suited for spirited driving.This mode increases throttle response,and if your vehicle has active exhaust,it takes on a more powerful tone. If yourvehicle has adaptive dampers, thesuspension becomes stiffer, body
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motion reduces and the steeringbecomes more precise. Selectablesteering defaults to sport. Dependingon vehicle configuration, you may beable to change the selectable steeringsetting by pressing the steering button.
•Track – Provides a performance drivingexperience. Throttle responseincreases, and if your vehicle has activeexhaust, it takes on a more powerfultone. A performance oriented tractioncontrol mode is automatically utilized.In this mode, traction controlintervention is reduced and tunedspecifically for track usage only. Thismode is not intended for public roads.See Using Stability Control (page176).If your vehicle is equipped withadaptive dampers, the suspension isoptimized for transient handlingmaneuvers. This mode offersmaximum control and confidence inhandling on road courses or auto-crossstyle events. Selectable steeringdefaults to sport. Depending on vehicleconfiguration, you could change theselectable steering setting by pressingthe steering button.
•Drag Strip - Provides a performancedriving experience tailored to drivingon a drag strip. The engine respondsdirectly to your inputs, and if yourvehicle has active exhaust, it takes ona more powerful tone. This mode is notintended for public roads. If yourvehicle has adaptive dampers, thesetting is optimized for straight linemaximum acceleration. Selectablesteering defaults to sport. Dependingon vehicle configuration, you couldchange the selectable steering settingby pressing the steering button.
•Snow/Wet - Provides a confidenthandling driving experience during poorweather. If your vehicle has adaptivedampers, the suspension delivers abalanced combination of comfort andhandling. Selectable steering defaultsto normal. Depending on vehicleconfiguration, you could change theselectable steering setting by pressingthe steering button.
Using MyMode (If Equipped)
You can use MyMode to create a uniquedrive mode.
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To create or save MyMode, press thebutton on the steering wheel and accessthe menu. See General Information(page 98).The available systems display.Select your desired settings using theappropriate buttons and menus. Press andhold OK to save your settings. MyMode isadded to the drive mode list and can beselected the next time you drive yourvehicle.
Note:The system has diagnostic checksthat continuously monitor the system tomake sure it properly operates. If a mode isunavailable due to a system fault or changein gear position, the selected mode defaultsto normal.
Note:Pre-Collision Assist is automaticallydisabled when track mode is selected. SeePre-Collision Assist (page 203).
Note:If your vehicle has adaptive dampers,the steering setting is optimized to work witheach drive mode. Other steering settingsmay not be available.
Selectable Steering
Note:The steering setting defaults tonormal if the battery is disconnected orremoved.
Press the steering button on theinstrument panel to change thesteering feel. The first pressilluminates the selected mode. Each timeyou press the button, it changes the mode.
Modes:
•Normal - Default factory setting.
•Sport - Slightly higher effort requiredfor steering with more road force feltthrough the steering wheel.
•Comfort - Slightly less effort requiredfor steering with less road force feltthrough the steering wheel.
Note:A soft feedback bump in the steeringwheel may be felt after you make aselection.
Adaptive Dampers (If Equipped)
Press the button on the steeringwheel to adjust the suspension.The first press illuminates thecurrent mode. Each time you press thebutton, it changes the mode.
Adaptive damper modes:
•Normal — Available in normal andsport drive modes.
•Sport — Available in normal, sport andtrack drive modes.
•Track — Available only in track drivemode.
•Drag Strip — Available only in drag stripdrive mode.
Active Exhaust (If Equipped)
Press the button on theinstrument panel under thedisplay to adjust the tone of theexhaust.
Active Exhaust modes:
•Quiet - Lowers the noise of the exhaust.
•Normal - Default factory setting.
•Sport - Raises the noise of the exhaust.
•Track - Tunes the exhaust for trackperformance.
Note:The track exhaust mode setting isonly for use at tracks and not for use onpublic roadways. Use of this setting resultsin increased exterior noise, which may notmeet state and local laws and regulations.It is the obligation of the driver to operatethe vehicle in a manner that complies withstate and local requirements. Only use thetrack exhaust mode setting at a competitiontrack or an off-road course where elevatedexterior vehicle noise is acceptable.
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TOWING A TRAILER - MACH 1
WARNING: Your vehicle isnot approved for trailer towing.Never tow a trailer with yourvehicle.
TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Do not exceedthe GVWR or the GAWRspecified on the certificationlabel.
WARNING: Towing trailersbeyond the maximumrecommended gross trailerweight exceeds the limit of yourvehicle and could result in enginedamage, transmission damage,structural damage, loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rolloverand personal injury.
Note:There may be electricalitems such as fuses or relays thatcan affect trailer towing operation.See Fuses (page 246).
The load capacity of your vehicleis designated by weight notvolume. You may not necessarilybe able to use all available spacewhen loading your vehicle ortrailer.
Towing a trailer places extra loadon the engine, transmission, axle,brakes, tires, and suspension.Inspect these components before,during and after towing.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects the vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest items in thecenter of the left and right sidetrailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a ball mount with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward thevehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in the Load Carryingchapter. See Load Limit (page214).
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Alternate Flatbed Method
Tow vehicle ramp.A
Wooden ramp.B
Use 2 in (5 cm) by 8 in (20 cm) by 8 ft(2.5 m) wooden ramps to load the vehicle.
The diagram illustrates the maximumramp angle allowable to load your vehicleon a flatbed. Vehicle damage may occurwith greater angles.
Blocks must be used to achieveappropriate undercarriage clearances.
Transporting or Trailering - Mach1 Handling Package (If Equipped)
Due to low ground clearance, your vehicleis transported from the assembly plant tothe dealer with front suspension spacersinstalled. These are removed by the dealerprior to customer delivery and are providedwith the vehicle. If you plan to transport ortrailer your vehicle and need additionalclearance, the spacers may be reinstalledfor additional underbody clearance.
Note:Suspension spacers must beremoved before driving your vehicle. Failureto remove the spacers may cause damageto suspension components and degradevehicle performance.
Note:It is only possible for you to install orremove the suspension spacers while thevehicle is raised in the air.
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Front Suspension
Insert the top of the spring spacer onto thespring first, then snap the bottom of thespacer into place.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
WARNING: If your vehicle has asteering wheel lock make sure theignition is in the accessory or on positionwhen being towed.
If your vehicle becomes inoperable withoutaccess to wheel dollies or a vehicletransport trailer, it can be flat-towed withall wheels on the ground, regardless of thepowertrain and transmission configuration,under the following conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward fortowing in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in neutral (N).If you cannot shift the transmission intoneutral (N), you may need to overridethe gear shifter. See Transmission(page 163). Failing to do so may resultin damage to the transmission.
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
You cannot recreational tow your vehiclewith all wheels on the ground becausevehicle or transmission damage couldoccur. You must recreational tow yourvehicle with all four wheels off the groundsuch as when using a car-hauling trailer.Otherwise, you cannot recreational towyour vehicle.
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TRACK USE - MACH 1
Operating at High Speeds andTrack Days
Your vehicle is capable of sustained highspeeds and track day driving.
Before operating your vehicle at highspeeds:
•Verify your tires have the correctpressures.
•Inspect wheels and tires for wear anddamage. Replace any damaged wheelsand tires.
•Check and set lug nut torque. SeeTechnical Specifications (page 336).
•Verify fluid levels for oil, coolant, brakeand hydraulic fluid. See Capacitiesand Specifications (page 337).
•Change the engine oil and replace theengine oil filter prior to use on the track.Change the engine oil and filter againafter every four hours of track time.Maintain the engine oil level at or nearthe max mark on the engine oil dipstick.See Engine Oil Check (page 262).
•Replace the brake fluid with freshMotorcraft/Ford DOT 4 LV HighPerformance Brake Fluid or other DOTcompliant fluid with a dry boiling pointgreater than 500°F (260°C) from asealed container. Do not use siliconeor DOT 5 brake fluids.
•If you are operating your Mach 1 on adrag strip, use drag strip selectabledrive mode in addition to using line lockand launch control to provide a specificset-up tuned for the quickest straightline elapsed times.
•If you are operating your Mach 1 on aroad course, use sport or trackselectable drive modes to provide aspecific set-up tuned for optimal shiftand suspension set-up that is tunedtowards handling prowess on closedcourse surfaces.
After operating your vehicle at high speedsor track day driving, do the following:
•Set the tire pressure to the properspecification.
•Check and set the lug nut torque. SeeTechnical Specifications (page 336).
•Check all fluid levels.
•Refer to the track maintenance intervalchart. See Normal ScheduledMaintenance (page 452).
•Check the front and rear wheelbearings for abnormal wear.
•Inspect brake caliper dust boots forabnormal wear.
Track Apps
WARNING: Track Apps™ is fortrack use only. Remember that evenadvanced technology cannot defy thelaws of physics. It is always possible tolose control of a vehicle due toinappropriate driver input for theconditions. Aggressive driving on anyroad condition can cause you to losecontrol of your vehicle increasing the riskof personal injury or property damage.
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If you feel a sudden vibration orride disturbance while driving, oryou suspect your tire or vehiclehas been damaged, immediatelyreduce your speed. Drive withcaution until you can safely pulloff the road. Stop and inspect thetires for damage. If a tire isunder-inflated or damaged,deflate it, remove wheel andreplace it with your spare tire andwheel. If you cannot detect acause, have the vehicle towed tothe nearest repair facility or tiredealer to have the vehicleinspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb orpothole can cause the front endof your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage toyour tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you’redriving, the wheels may be out ofalignment. Have an authorizeddealer check the wheel alignmentperiodically.
Wheel misalignment in the frontor the rear can cause uneven andrapid treadwear of your tires andshould be corrected by anauthorized dealer. Front-wheeldrive vehicles and those with anindependent rear suspension (ifequipped) may require alignmentof all four wheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tireand wheel assembly may result inirregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show unevenwear ask an authorized dealer tocheck for and correct any wheelmisalignment, tire imbalance ormechanical problem involvedbefore tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may beequipped with a dissimilar sparewheel and tire assembly. Adissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly is defined as a sparewheel and tire assembly that isdifferent in brand, size orappearance from the road tires andwheels. If you have a dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly it isintended for temporary use onlyand should not be used in a tirerotation.
Note:After having your tiresrotated, inflation pressure must bechecked and adjusted to thevehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at therecommended interval (asindicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will helpyour tires wear more evenly,providing better tire performanceand longer tire life. Sometimesirregular tire wear can becorrected by rotating the tires.
Rear-wheel drive vehicles (fronttires on the left side of thediagram).
Non-directional tires
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19 in. x 10.5 in. front wheel, withthe valve hole in a smallerwindow.
C
19 in. x 11 in. rear wheel, with thevalve hole in a larger window.D
Note:For the base 5-star wheel, you canidentify the correct wheel size by checkingbehind the wheel spokes.
To make sure that your tires perform asintended, it is important that you properlymaintain your tires:
•Your original equipment tires areoptimized for performance in both wetand dry conditions. We do notrecommend using the originalequipment tires when temperaturesdrop to about 45°F (7°C) or below(depending on tire wear andenvironmental conditions) or in snowand ice conditions.
•The tires were designed for track useand may exhibit significantly reducedtread life and increased tire noisecompared to the standard equipmenttires under normal driving conditions.Increasing the front camber settingsbeyond the factory settings may furtheraccelerate tread wear and induce tirenoise.
•For tire pressures, see the placardlocated on the B-pillar inside the driverdoor.
•Always maintain your tire pressuresaccording to the tire informationplacard on the driver door jamb, usingan accurate gauge.
•Tire pressures are specified cold andshould be checked after the vehicle hasbeen parked for at least three hours.Do not reduce the pressure of warmtires.
•Check your tire pressure often tomaintain it properly. Tire pressure candiminish over time and fluctuate withtemperature.
•Do not overload your vehicle.Maximum vehicle and axle weights arelisted on the tire information placard.
•Extra caution should be taken whenoperating the vehicle near its maximumload, including assuring proper tirepressure and reducing speeds.
•Extra caution should be taken whenoperating on rough roads to avoidimpacts that could cause tire damage.
•In the event that you encounter anabnormally harsh impact, inspect yourtires for damage.
•Inspect your tires for damage on aregular basis. If a tire is damaged,immediately replace it.
•Proper suspension alignment is criticalfor maximum performance andoptimal tire wear. If you notice uneventire wear, have your alignment checked.
•Rotate tires as recommended in thetire rotation information. See Tire Care,in the Wheels and Tires Chapter of theOwner's Manual.
•Follow the rotation pattern for"Vehicles equipped with different sizetires on the front and rear axle".
•When replacing tires, the only way tomaintain original performance is to usethe original equipment tire. If a differenttire is used, it should be the same size,speed rating and load rating and bereplaced as a set of four. Never mix tirebrands.
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USING WINTER TIRES
Inflate the winter tires to the same tirepressures as those listed in the tirepressures table.
WARNING: Snow tires must be thesame size, load index and speed ratingas those originally provided by Ford. Useof any tire or wheel not recommendedby Ford can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels cancause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.Follow the Ford recommended tireinflation pressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (on thedoor hinge pillar, door latch post or thedoor edge that meets the door latchpost, next to the driver seat), or TireLabel on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way your vehiclehandles.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING: Aggressive driving inany road conditions can cause you tolose control of your vehicle increasingthe risk of severe personal injury orproperty damage. The traction controlactivating is an indication that at leastsome of the tires have exceeded theirability to grip the road; this may lead toan increased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death. If you experience a severeroad event,slow down.
The tires on your vehicle could haveall-weather treads to provide traction inrain and snow. In some climates you willneed to use snow tires and chains on yourvehicle in emergency situations or ifrequired by law.
Note:The suspension insulation andbumpers will help prevent vehicle damage.Do not remove these components from yourvehicle when using snow tires and chains.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and chains:
•When possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle.
•Chains could damage aluminumwheels.
•Use ultra low profile cables, 10 mm orless in dimension as measured on thesidewall of your tire, with 235/55R 17,235/50R18 and 255/40R19 on the rearaxle only.
•Do not use snow chains or cables with265/40R19, 275/40R19, 305/30R19,315/30R19, and 265/35R20
•Not all S-class snow chains or cablesmeet these restrictions. Chains of thissize restriction will include a tensioningdevice.
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