MagneRide vs. Standard: How to Identify Your S550 Suspension (And Why It Matters)
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You’re finally ready to lower your 2018+ Mustang GT.
You hate the massive factory wheel gap, so you find a great set of standard lowering springs online and hit buy. They arrive, you jack up the car, pull the front wheel off, and see... a thick wire harness plugged directly into the side of your shock absorber.
Panic sets in.
You have MagneRide, Ford’s advanced active magnetic damping system.
And those standard springs you just bought? They won't work.
If you install standard lowering springs on a MagneRide-equipped Mustang, the factory ride-height sensors will get confused by the new stance. The ride will become incredibly bouncy, the dampers will function incorrectly, and your dashboard will likely light up with suspension error codes.
MagneRide is an incredible factory feature (standard on the GT350 and Mach 1, and optional on the GT), but modifying it requires highly specific, engineered parts.
In this guide, we show you exactly how to check your wheel wells to see if your car has it, and which premium springs from Ford Performance and Eibach are explicitly designed to work with the magnetic dampers, not against them.
Compare Premium Suspension Upgrades
Daily Stance, Track Adjustability, or Drag Traction?
|
Upgrade Type |
Top Brands |
Main Benefit |
Ride Quality |
Best For |
|
Progressive Springs |
Eibach Pro-Kit |
Stance. Drops the car ~1.0". |
Near Stock. Soft initial travel, stiffens in corners. |
Street/Daily. Removing the wheel gap while keeping the commute comfortable. |
|
MagneRide Springs |
Ford Performance |
Integration. Works with factory sensors. |
Firm. Optimized for active dampers. |
Mach 1 / GT350. Lowering the car without ruining the MagneRide system. |
|
IRS Support Kits |
Whiteline |
Traction. Stops subframe movement. |
Stock. No change to ride height. |
Launching. Eliminating wheel hop and protecting your half-shafts. |
|
Coilovers |
KW Suspensions |
Adjustability. Exact height and damping control. |
Firm. Geared strictly towards performance. |
Track Days. Dialing in precise corner weights and rebound settings. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Suspension)
How do I know if my Mustang has MagneRide?
Look at your front struts.
Turn your steering wheel all the way to one side and peek behind the front tire.
- Standard: You will just see a smooth black metal shock body.
- MagneRide: You will see a thick wire harness plugged directly into the side of the strut body. You will also see "Ride Height Sensors" (little plastic arms) attached to your lower control arms. (Note: All Shelby GT350s and Mach 1s have MagneRide).
What is "Wheel Hop" and why does the S550 do it?
It is traction loss caused by soft factory bushings.
Wheel hop occurs when the rear tires violently bounce up and down during a hard launch instead of gripping the pavement smoothly. On the S550, this happens because the entire Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) subframe is mounted to the chassis using soft rubber bushings designed for a quiet ride. Under heavy power, the subframe twists, binds, and snaps back. A premium Whiteline IRS Bushing Insert Kit fills the empty voids in the factory rubber, stopping the twist and eliminating the hop instantly.
Do I absolutely need an alignment after installing lowering springs?
Yes. Do not skip this step.
Lowering the car permanently changes the geometry of the suspension control arms. It usually adds excessive "Negative Camber" (the tops of the tires leaning inward) and completely throws off the "Toe" (the direction the tires point). If you don't get a professional alignment within 100 miles of installing your Eibach or Ford Performance springs, you will destroy the inner tread of your expensive tires.
Get the drop. Keep the traction.
Find the perfect lowering springs and IRS lockdown kits for your build. Shop our verified collection of premium 2015–2023 Ford Mustang Suspension Upgrades.