2011-2018 Fiesta Handling Package, Anyone?

[LionsTooth]

Anybody installed this set? Would be interested in any feedback. https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-FR3-FA

 

[Rowdy09]

following

 

[scotman]

I purchased and installed that kit shortly after they introduced it. It is a good value if you just want to lower your Fiesta. The springs do not degrade the ride quality from O.E. or "improve" the handling beyond lowering the CG.

 

[LionsTooth]

I purchased and installed that kit shortly after they introduced it. It is a good value if you just want to lower your Fiesta. The springs do not degrade the ride quality from O.E. or "improve" the handling beyond lowering the CG.

Thanks, brother! So a beefier front bar would be in order?

 

[scotman]

Thanks, brother! So a beefier front bar would be in order?

Nope! The basic Fiesta has a larger diameter sway bar than the stock Fiesta ST. I found that adding polyurethane bushings at the frame brackets and a pair of adjustable end links are simply the ultimate upgrade in this area.
It's the ultimate upgrade because you can easily adjust the amount of preload on it. On my 2011 Fiesta, that upgrade allowed me to soften the front bars effectiveness when i knew that I would be autocrossing on a wet course. The front anti sway bar becomes a tunable component with those changes!
I chose end links from a company in metro Detroit called Power Grid. They have an innovative spherical joint design that is non binding and lubed for life. They are made to last.
These changes also made it possible for me to put my Fiesta on a scale setup and adjust the corner weights, to a degree. I spent a lot of time playing with the weight distribution using a driver weight simulation and observing changes in corner weights as i added measured quantities of fuel.

 

[LionsTooth]

Nope! The basic Fiesta has a larger diameter sway bar than the stock Fiesta ST. I found that adding polyurethane bushings at the frame brackets and a pair of adjustable end links are simply the ultimate upgrade in this area. It's the ultimate upgrade because you can easily adjust the amount of preload on it. On my 2011 Fiesta, that upgrade allowed me to soften the front bars effectiveness when i knew that I would be autocrossing on a wet course. The front anti sway bar becomes a tunable component with those changes! These changes also made it possible for me to put my Fiesta on a scale setup and adjust the corner weights, to a degree. I spent a lot of time playing with the weight distribution using a driver weight simulation and observing changes in corner weights as i added measured quantities of fuel.

Awesome tips & dollar savings! Thanks! What bushing did you use? Any idea where to find the links?

 

[econoboxrocks]

That's a good price for all that. I remember when they closed out the Ford Performance stuff for the ST, they had a bunch of pieces that sold really cheap. They want to clear out the inventory to make room for newer parts. Jump on it before they're gone.

 

[manbearpig]

They're "temporarily out of stock", but that package is cheaper on Steeda's website.

 

[econoboxrocks]

I purchased and installed that kit shortly after they introduced it. It is a good value if you just want to lower your Fiesta. The springs do not degrade the ride quality from O.E. or "improve" the handling beyond lowering the CG.

That in itself improves handling. Of course, depending where you live, you might not want to lower your ground clearance.

On a related note, by replacing the exhaust, gas tank and battery, I knocked about 20 lbs. off my bike, all high up on the top half. The change in handling from the lower cg is very noticeable, but it's a motorcycle, so yeah.

 

[LionsTooth]

They're "temporarily out of stock", but that package is cheaper on Steeda's website.

Out of stock at Steeda, too. Jegs & Kohr have it; Summit says they special order it (reviews).

 

[scotman]

Guy's, don't be too surprised if that kit is not restocked. I think that a better upgrade for about the same money would be a set of Koni STRT dampers and a used set of ST springs.
I am looking at Bilstein B6 dampers. They are compatible with performance springs and are not an adjustable type. They run about a buck and a half per corner, give or take the markdowns.
I have not seen much discussion about the B6 on Fiesta. It's a high quality product given their reputation.

 

[scotman]

Awesome tips & dollar savings! Thanks! What bushing did you use? Any idea where to find the links?

Pick your favorite brand of polyurethane bushings. Any of them are an improvement over the stock bushing.
The Power Grid adjustable end links can be researched on their website www.powergridinc.com. they have a lot of information about their product features and how to adjust them. Chip Minich is a very experienced motorsports engineer and his product works as advertised.
The image below is not a Fiesta endlink. It does show the spherical joint design that gives it low friction and lots of articulation.
Warning! Once you have a pair of these, it will ruin your desire for anything less!

 

[manbearpig]

I don't see a Fiesta application on their price list.

 

[LionsTooth]

I don't see a Fiesta application on their price list.

https://www.ebay.com/str/powergridinc?_bkw=fiesta

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RoadNutz-F...033954?hash=item361ebe7ba2:g:OM4AAOSwgsla~rMC

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Massive-Ra...701675&hash=item3aaa928824:g:sPgAAOxy9MpSONBF

 

[Dean72]

Anybody installed this set? Would be interested in any feedback. https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-FR3-FA
View attachment 4633

I have this on my 2014 Hatch. Installed it about 50k miles ago and it settled down nicely around the 17” wheels.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LionsTooth]

I have this on my 2014 Hatch. Installed it about 50k miles ago and it settled down nicely around the 17” wheels.

This is the M-FR3-FA set? Cool! Hey, Dean72...how about an introduction?

 

[Dean72]

This is the M-FR3-FA set? Cool! Hey, Dean72...how about an introduction?

Yes. Sorry... I’m Dean from Texas. 2014 Ford Fiesta SE Hatch with full 2.5” exhaust with OBX Header, hi-flo cat, 12” glasspack (resonator) capped off with a DC Sports muffler. 17” Focal wheels, cold air intake, LED conversion everywhere, N2MB WOT/2 step box. 184,000 trouble free miles and still on the original clutch. It’s a great car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LionsTooth]

Yes. Sorry... I’m Dean from Texas. 2014 Ford Fiesta SE Hatch with full 2.5” exhaust with OBX Header, hi-flo cat, 12” glasspack (resonator) capped off with a DC Sports muffler. 17” Focal wheels, cold air intake, LED conversion everywhere, N2MB WOT/2 step box. 184,000 trouble free miles and still on the original clutch. It’s a great car.

Love to see more pictures!

 

[LionsTooth]

Nope! The basic Fiesta has a larger diameter sway bar than the stock Fiesta ST. I found that adding polyurethane bushings at the frame brackets and a pair of adjustable end links are simply the ultimate upgrade in this area. It's the ultimate upgrade because you can easily adjust the amount of preload on it. On my 2011 Fiesta, that upgrade allowed me to soften the front bars effectiveness when i knew that I would be autocrossing on a wet course. The front anti sway bar becomes a tunable component with those changes! I chose end links from a company in metro Detroit called Power Grid. They have an innovative spherical joint design that is non binding and lubed for life. They are made to last. These changes also made it possible for me to put my Fiesta on a scale setup and adjust the corner weights, to a degree. I spent a lot of time playing with the weight distribution using a driver weight simulation and observing changes in corner weights as i added measured quantities of fuel.

So you corner-weighted using the swaybar? Back in the day, when I corner-weighted, I always disconnected the bars, then reconnected using the adjuster so they weren't preloaded.

 

[scotman]

I don't see a Fiesta application on their price list.

Just give Chip a call. He put my links together out of several bins of parts. He used my stock end link as the dimensional guide. I will be in the area of his shop next week and can pay him a visit to get specific current info.