The First-Gen Ford Mustang Reveals There Was Still Much To Learn About Solid-Axle Suspension In 1965

It's Suspension Secrets with Huibert Mees and The Autopian's David Tracy! Huibert helped design the suspension on the Tesla Model S, one of the most important cars ever made. David's no slouch either, with degrees in both Engineering and Rustly-Heapology. In this episode, Huibert and David get under a first-gen Mustang to discuss its front suspension setup and Ford's simple solid-axle solution for the rear end.

[@bearddevil]

Oh, David. Those tires. That alignment. That said, I love Huibert's suspension deep dives.

[@mysticgreg]

DT you sure got your money's worth out of those tyres! 😲 Great video, keep them coming!

[@CalPil0t]

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the front tires (tyres). Something is amiss with the alignment...

[@mysticgreg]

@@CalPil0tHa I actually typed that using the American spelling to 'blend in' but my browser corrected it to my local (Australian) spelling of the word =)

[@CalPil0t]

I have a 64 1/2 Mustang that was refurbished about 25 years ago, but it is needing another makeover. And I want to add front disc brakes and maybe electric power steering.

[@Thinginator]

Ford loved that front suspension design in the 60s... My 1966 Thunderbird has the same setup, just with the addition of disk brakes. Mounting the shocks like that necessitated huge inner fenders that crowd on either side of the engine, leaving less than an inch of clearance between the exhaust manifolds and the inner fender, and requiring you to use an engine lift if you want to remove the exhaust manifolds for any reason. And removing the cylinder head requires removing the exhaust manifolds because they bolt to both the head and the block because of course they do. And where they bolt to the head, the bolt holes are exposed from the rear so moisture and heat cycles causes the bolts to seize over time, because screw you, that's why. Not all old cars are as easy to work on as they appear... Super reliable once I got it all fixed though.

[@hankdawson7133]

I'd be curious to see a before and after on the Shelby suspension mod. Seems like a project right up David's alley.

[@Levibetz]

Fun aside about the FWD rumor on the front suspension. AMC struggled to win at Trans Am, and even had a dealer available crossmember part (to comply with Trans Am rules) that allowed Mustang front suspension to be fit onto an AMC. This worked, but travel was so severely limited it didn't work very well. They redesigned the suspension with Donohue for the 1971 model year, and what came out of it is a heavily Mustang-inspired front suspension. Well, AMC being AMC that design was then copy-pasted to everything in that size segment. Hornet, AMC, Gremlin, etc. Fast forward to 1981 and the AMC Eagle is launched... using a revised version of this suspension with a tall spindle to allow front driveshafts to pass under the relatively low frame rails, thus creating the AWD crossover passenger car that's so ubiquitous today. So in a way, the Mustangs front suspension did end up with drive axles in it.

[@stoveguy2133]

Spring design is 60 yrs old. Long time to develop theories on intent. Like fwd.

[@theone861]

He helped develop the Tesla. 😂