Mustang II Front Suspension and the T-Bucket

Mustang II Front Suspension IFS T-Bucket

The Mustang II Front Suspension is often overlooked as a T-Bucket component, but under the right circumstances and when done correctly can offer some interesting comfort and performance benefits.

Mustang II Front Suspension T-Bucket IFS

Street rodders started using the Mustang II front suspension shortly after the Mustang II was introduced in 1974. Today, the Mustang II Front Suspension is without a doubt the most widely used independent front suspension in street rodding.

Mustang II Front Suspension T-Bucket

Why the Mustang II Front Suspension?

You might wonder why no other IFS has come along over the past 40 years to overtake the Mustang II Front Suspension’s popularity. There’s a simple reason why the Mustang II Front Suspension has reigned supreme: everything the auto industry has built after the Mustang II Front Suspension design has been either front-wheel drive or a tower-type configuration.

Mustang II Independent Front Suspension IFS T-Bucket

But, the real reason hot rodders consider the Mustang II is because it handles so well, it provides better brakes and is an easy way to adapt precise rack and pinion steering.

Mustang II Independent Front Suspension T-Bucket

Of course, like everything in hot rod building the final result is only as good as the care and thought that were put into it. So, some Mustang II conversions are much cleaner looking than others.

T-Bucket Mustang II Front Suspension IFS

In essence, the Mustang II crossmember replaces the conventional T-Bucket crossmember that’s used with a transverse leaf spring and the track width works out to be about the same as when a straight front axle is used.

T-Bucket Mustang II Front Suspension

It’s really a personal choice. Do you like the cleaner look of a traditional dropped straight front axle or are you wanting a much smoother ride with better cornering and stopping capability? Sometimes such decisions are easy and sometimes they’re tough, but if you’d like to learn more about the Mustang II Front Suspension as a possible T-Bucket or street rod alternative, we have some great additional information available on our sister website, www.HotRodPlans.com.

How to Build Mustang II IFS Front Suspension T-Bucket Street Rod

If you’d like to learn more about the Mustang II Front Suspension, how you can build your own on a budget, and discover the Top 10 Reasons Street Rodders use it, then click here>.

John Morehead
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16 thoughts on “Mustang II Front Suspension and the T-Bucket”

  1. Hello everybody,
    About the ifs on T-buckets………what would be the right spring load?
    Considering of using a small block v6 or v8 engine or even straight 4 cylinders.

    I will appreciate your comments!
    Thanks

    Reply
  2. I can only hope there is more support in the future for improved suspensions. I am following the remnants of 1970 MGB. The front IFS is a bolt on affair with rack and pinion steering, Disc Brakes, and already has the appropriate 5-7 degree caster.
    The rear diff is a sweet 3.9 ratio and will mate with my T-5 well along with a triangulated rear suspension. It is constructed with all SAE hardware….no metric wrenches required. The Brake box is another sweet item that can be accommodated easily under the Steering column as original to the MGB. I will stay with 350 SBC, Camel hump exhaust and function doors, YES?

    Reply
  3. there was a time when people rejected an ‘a’ arm front end on model a and b hot rods too. now they’re all over the place. but… i suppose some rather stick with cookie-cutter hot rods. while i like trad hot rods more than anything i have to remind myself too that “traditional” also means the tradition of inovation. in the early 60’s some folks were grafting on vw front ends on their hot rods. looked good too; i have two magizines, one showing how it’s done, depicting this set up and i think i’d try it.

    Reply
  4. I have to agree with everyone above.The Mustang IFS looks klutzy on a T esp. with stock parts (made for duty on a heavier car designed to withstand 200K miles of abuse). I am entertaining taking the spindles and what I can from the geometry and creating a something with more of an Indy car look and EVEN then I wouldn’t expect to pull it off without a track roadster nose and a hood.

    Reply
  5. The car with the lightened gussets holding the upper A arms on wouldn’t pass an engineering inspection in Aussie. You’re lucky or should I say hope you’re lucking in merica

    Reply
  6. Not my taste especially with stamped a arms, just looks cumbersome. I’m sure it handles, rides, and stops better. Just not for me, maybe with tubular arms and coil overs. Cool thing is that if I don’t like it I can build what I like. I respect that we all have different likes, and on some one else’s ride, if it makes them happy, it tickles the crap outa me.

    Reply
  7. The whole idea of a ” T ” bucket is using that old straight axle and tranverse leaf suspension.
    It looks like dog doo with the Ford IFS. But then again in my opinion it ain’t right without a ford engine. My has drop axle disc brakes all around ford 302 with three deuces. A old style ” T “

    Reply
  8. The whole idea of a t-bucket is bare bones construction, no fuel injection, no air conditioning, no power steering, and no fancy suspension. Keep the IFS for the full fendered hotrods.

    Reply
  9. Plane and simple “IT DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT” I like the way a tube axel looks and rides!!
    If I want some thing that handles like a Corvett I’ll buy one. As for brakes I have Mustang II front brakes on my “T” Bucket. I also have power brakes, works GREAT.

    Reply
  10. Please stop the insanity !!!!! I’d rather use very colorful words here. The T bucket is not a can am racer. It is a hobby car, but, a hobby car that is dubbed king of the hotrods, period !!!!!!!!! Fact it is the first real hotrod, hands down ! This nonsense really ticks me off. If, and if, you want more ifs, why aren’t you so called mechanics scared of trying to use a split axel? You know, a 2 piece axel. You could have the traditional look yet more ifs ! Axle travel is very small. The rear moves even more. After trying to conquer ride quality I have finally found that using friction shocks on all four wheels actually has a sweet ride ! And THEY ARE ADJUSTABLE. I could send pics if you want.

    Reply
  11. I have 2000 hours into making my T Roadster a “clean” looking machine and it does NOT have a Mustang II front suspension on it.

    Reply
  12. I have seen some torsion bar suspensions that look pretty good but these examples of Mustang II are all very ugly. Might work well with a full fendered rod but not these T-buckets

    Reply

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