Arning Drop what is it's function
Shelby Drop What does it do
Manic Mechanic
Episode 112
It all started with an Independent rear suspension that Ford toyed with putting into the new Mustang for 1965. Since there were no Mustangs available yet tests were run on a race prepped SCCA 1964 Falcon by the lads at Shelby American. Th reason Ford was looking at the IRS was the Corvette (the Mustangs major competition in racing) had been running an IRS since ‘63. In order to make the Mustang IRS work, Klaus Arning, the Ford suspension engineer charged with developing the IRS, found that the upper control arm needed to be relocated lower to take advantage of the IRS’s handling characteristics. Ford dropped the IRS idea when the bean counters saw what the cost would be. But Shelby, who had done the testing, kept the Drop as a low cost way to make his cars handle better than the more pedestrian Mustangs. That’s right, the Arning Drop was a by-product of another design.
It is dead simple and effective. Lower the upper control arm 1 inch and bring it rearward 1/8 inch on pre 1967 Falcons and Mustangs and you have a better handling pony. This novel idea did four things:
• it lowered the vehicles center of gravity
• it reduced body roll by nearly 10%
• it greatly improved the camber curve of the vehicle
• it added caster to the mix via the 1/8 inch rearward offset.
With later Mustangs, Falcons and Fairlanes, you will only drop the arm the 1 inch. By 1967 Ford had moved the arm 1/8 inch rearward for better caster.
What does Reducing The Camber Curve mean? It simply keeps more tire on the road in a corner. The greater the tread contact with the road, the better you will go around a corner.
jford@autorestomod.com
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