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2014 MkZ Performance Mods


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Anyone have any interesting parts/ideas for performance tuning?

Need any advice?

 

I currently have installed:

 

K&N panel air filter in factory box with Steeda resonator delete

Accel SuperCoils with NGK Iridium spark plugs

H&R wheel spacers with premium factory wheels, 5mm front 10mm rear

Michelin Pilot Sport 2 UHPS tires

Ray's Engineering lug nuts

Steeda rear sway bar with poly bushings

JMS Throttle Response Kit

 

I have also deleted the rear badging. Looks really nice.

 

Yet to install:

 

Eibach Pro Kit

 

I'm looking for advice on cat-back exhaust and a flash tuner. Anyone have any thoughts?

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

I didn't notice much difference. Probably not worth the $400 unless you have money to burn. However, sometimes the final result of a collection of parts equals more than the individual parts themselves. I think an ECM tune might unlock some potential here also. Leaning towards the SCT custom tune file.

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  • 3 months later...

So the Steeda bar does fit the awd? I just ordered one to try it out - must have missed it in your mod list the first time I read this thread. If so, that is a relief, as I was worried I would be blindly pioneering the sway bar on my car. (also a 3.7awd)

 

For the record, I contacted Steeda and they told me the car does not fit any AWD car. (which contradicts their very own product description).

 

Any more details on the intake resonator delete? And do you have any images to share with the spacers mounted?

 

Thanks!

 

edit: Checked your gallery, spacers look great!

Edited by DeviLSh
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DeviLSh,

The sway bar fits and turned out to be a decent mod. There's not much to the intake resonator delete. I purchased one for the '14 Fusion from Steeda. It's pretty much just an aluminum plug. It was a little small for the hole in the intake tube of the Linc. I used a nice t-bar clamp generally used in high pressure situations, i.e. forced induction, to be sure I had good even clamping power and just tightened until the hole snugged up. It's been on for about a year without issue. BTW, I've been blindly pioneering for about two years if you have any other questions. Currently about halfway through installing H&R lowering kit... will update.

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Thanks for the info - appreciate it.

 

H&R springs are in my sights as well, so I will be keeping an eye on your posts. my RSB should arrive this week so I am glad to hear you enjoy the mod. I am already really impressed with the handling on this car, so I am excited for the rear sway.

 

How much of a sound change does the res-delete add to intake noise would you say?

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So I got the front springs installed and at first I didn't like the look.

I decided to drive it for a while and see how I liked the ride. Handling performance is my goal here after all. I'm not so sure I like the ride either. It's not bad in sport mode, but pretty bouncy in comfort mode. Being a city driver in DC, I use both modes. The look is almost starting to grow on me, and I'm even thinking I like the rake with the rear at stock ride height. It looks custom and aggressive. I'm afraid lowering the rear as well will look like and old beater Linc with busted airbags. Any comments?

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I'm already leaning towards returning to stock setup. I've installed a performance lowering kit on every car I've had for the last twenty years. I've experience good and bad. This one just feels bad so far. It feels like a car with a 200+k miles suspension, not an upgrade. I'm not necessarily knocking H&R, this kit was not engineered for my vehicle. Fitment specs match the Fusion, performance specs probably don't. I would hate to put the rear springs on only to remove later, but I don't necessarily want to back track without thorough vetting. These kits have a little break in period, so I'm thinking I drive it for a while an see if the rebound evens out. Another concern is aesthetics. The wheel sits tighter in the wheel well, which is usually desirable, but the large wheel well design of the Linc makes it look kind of wrong. As a side note, I was told by the distributor where I purchased the kit that the springs were progressive rate. They are not. The Eibach kit is, (I own this kit too, never installed, long story). I might just swap over to Eibach. I've had much success with their kits in the past....

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Willy I would also install the rears before you write these off. The rear suspension is a divorced setup right? In that case you won't have to deal with spring compressors/coil over shock assemblies so at least it should not be as labor intensive as the front. Upsetting to hear that in general you aren't pleased though. I have been in a lot of h&r equipped cars and loved it.

 

I will add that I like the look of the fronts, but don't care for the rake and would love to see it leveled off.

 

Are the ones you ordered part #51677-2?

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Willy bought these from us.

 

I'm already leaning towards returning to stock setup. I've installed a performance lowering kit on every car I've had for the last twenty years. I've experience good and bad. This one just feels bad so far. It feels like a car with a 200+k miles suspension, not an upgrade. I'm not necessarily knocking H&R, this kit was not engineered for my vehicle. Fitment specs match the Fusion, performance specs probably don't. I would hate to put the rear springs on only to remove later, but I don't necessarily want to back track without thorough vetting. These kits have a little break in period, so I'm thinking I drive it for a while an see if the rebound evens out. Another concern is aesthetics. The wheel sits tighter in the wheel well, which is usually desirable, but the large wheel well design of the Linc makes it look kind of wrong. As a side note, I was told by the distributor where I purchased the kit that the springs were progressive rate. They are not. The Eibach kit is, (I own this kit too, never installed, long story). I might just swap over to Eibach. I've had much success with their kits in the past....

 

You still may not like the ride but you really should install the rear springs. They are made to work as a set. If anything, you are throwing off the handling of the car by only running the fronts. Also these springs are progressive as stated by H&R's themselves. It's listed right on their website. 

 

"Sport Spring kits are H&R’s number one selling product. Enhance the look of your vehicle with a reduced fender well gap. H&R Sport Springs lower the vehicle center of gravity and reduce body roll for better handling. The progressive spring rate design provides superb ride quality and comfort. A lower wind resistance signature will make the vehicle more streamlined and improve gas mileage. If you are only looking to improve one part of your vehicle’s suspension, you cannot go wrong with installing Sport Springs. Fun to drive, H&R Sport Springs are the number one upgrade for your vehicle."

 

These springs are listed for the 2013+ MKZ and in conversation with H&R they stated that they indeed were tested on the MKZ before being listed so I wouldn't be so quick to write them off as being matched improperly. Anyway like I said, you still might not like them but I just wanted to chime in and provide additional information. The wheel looking pulled in is going to be something that is more noticeable on most lowered vehicles with bigger wheels. Spacers or aftermarket wheels with a slightly more aggressive offset might fix this.  

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T@CD3,

I have H&R wheel spacers installed and they look great, fit great, and are well made. I like H&R, I like CD3. That being said, somebody is lying. I'm no rookie, I can see the difference and feel the difference.

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Progressive rate spring?

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Progressive rate spring!

 

Not sure how installing the rear springs will affect the ride quality in the front. I certainly see how it would affect high speed cornering and steering. Now that I'm getting some interest, I'll finish the project.

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Yes the springs look different but that doesn't mean the H&R's are not progressive. The coil does not have to look exactly like the Eibachs. Feel free to call H&R and talk to them. I just got off the phone with them to triple check. They are extremely well respected in the industry. There is no reason for them to lie and they would be found out anyway. But they can give you all the specs and answer your questions if you would like.

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  • 1 month later...

Installed H&R on all four corners and tested. Now in process of installing Eibachs. Currently running H&R on the front and Eibach on the rear. Will update when the process is complete. I was obviously initially turned off by the look at first, but it has grown on me and I'm glad I decided to continue the install. Now it's a matter of which kit performs better. Performance is what drove me to lower the stance to begin with.

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