How to Troubleshoot a 1994 Ford Mustang Suspension
The 1994 Ford Mustang is equipped with a modified MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link rear suspension, featuring coil springs at all four corners. This is a carry-over from the earlier Fox chassis and provides good handling performance. Troubleshooting suspension problems in the Mustang consists of a series of tests on the suspension components to pinpoint the cause of noises and handling problems due to faulty parts. The average home mechanic will have no problem performing these tests in about an hour with basic tools.
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Instructions
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Front Suspension
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1
Raise the hood. Bounce the Mustang up and down by pushing on the fender. As you bounce the car, watch the strut mounts bolted to the strut tower on both fenderwells. If the center of the strut mount moves more than 1/2-inch, replace the strut mounts on both sides. Release the car and watch for it to stop bouncing. If it continues to bounce more than twice, replace the struts.
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2
Push wheel chocks in front of and behind the rear wheels and set the parking brake. Raise and support the front of the Mustang with a floor jack and jack stands placed under the front sub-frame.
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3
Check the lower ball joints for looseness by supporting the lower control arm with the floor jack. Clean any grease and dirt off the bottom of the ball joint and observe the wear indicator protruding from the ball joint. It must protrude a minimum of 3/64-inch (.047-inch) from the ball joint's surface. Replace the ball joint if the wear indicator is not protruding.
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4
Inspect the lower control arm bushings where they attach to the K-member with a pry bar to pry the control arm away from the Mustang's K-member. Failed control arm bushings will allow the control arm to move. Replace the bushings if there is more than 1/2-inch of movement.
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5
Inspect the sway bar links and bushings. Replace any broken links or missing/damaged bushings. Damage and wear to these components will be visible and apparent.
Rear Suspension
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6
Bounce the rear of the Mustang several times and observe how many times it continues to bounce when you stop. Replace the shocks if the Mustang continues to bounce more than twice. Replace the shocks if they bind and won't allow the vehicle to bounce.
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7
Secure the front wheels with wheel chocks. Raise and support the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack and jack stands. Visually inspect the rear sway bar for cracks or breaks in the bar. It is common for the 1994 Mustang's rear sway bar to break at the mounting flange bolted to the rear lower control arms.
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8
Check the rear control arm bushings for looseness and damage. Insert a pry bar between the control arm and the axle and pry on the control arm while observing the bushings. Repeat the test for both lower and upper control arms.Replace the bushings if they allow excessive movement of the control arm, more than just the compression of the rubber in the bushing when compressed.
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9
Inspect the torque boxes on the chassis that the front of the control arm is bolted to. It is common for the torque boxes in the 1994 Mustang to crack from hard use. Have any cracks welded by a qualified welder.
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Tips & Warnings
If the torque boxes in your Mustang are cracked, an aftermarket weld-in reinforcement kit is available from most performance-oriented auto parts suppliers for the 1979 through 1993 Fox chassis and the 1994 through 1999 SN-95 Mustang.
Failure to support the vehicle's weight with jack stands, while working under it, can result in vehicle damage and severe injury.
