Since 2016, MagneRide suspension has changed Ford Mustang road handling for the better. This article
offers insight into Mustang MagneRide technology and is a helpful guide to accompany our recent Steeda
Tech Tip video How To Check If Your Mustang Has MagneRide. If your Mustang doesn't have MagneRide from the factory, fret not! Here at Steeda, we have plenty of
Mustang suspension options to
take your Mustang to the next level when it comes to grip and overall
handling characteristics!
MagneRide Video
What Is MagneRide
What Is MagneRide On Mustangs?
MagneRide Advantages
Does My Mustang Have MagneRide?
How To Check For MagneRide
Initially developed by Delphi Automotive when it was part of General Motors (yes, your MagneRide-equipped
Mustang has DNA from GM!), MagneRide adaptive suspension technology first appeared in the 2002 Cadillac
Seville STS and the C5 Corvette for 2003. Delphi Automotive eventually separated from GM as a
stand-alone company and declared bankruptcy in 2005. Ohio-based BWI acquired MagneRide in 2009, and
BorgWarner now owns the remainder of Delphi. In addition to MagneRide's GM origins and current use in
Mustangs, the technology has appeared in other car brands, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Land Rover,
and Acura. A standard Mustang suspension relies on basic shock absorbers and struts (dampers) filled with hydraulic
fluid (an oil) to absorb imperfections on the road surface. Regardless of the pothole's size or the
height of a speed bump, the standard damper responds only one way because of the hydraulic fluid's
limitations. MagneRide uses dampers filled with magnetorheological (MR) fluid, a blend of iron and synthetic oil, and
easily magnetized. Through electromagnets in each damper, the system will adjust the MR fluid's density
to soften or stiffen the suspension in response to road conditions. MagneRide uses sensors that monitor
Mustang body roll and signals the system to adjust the magnetization level accordingly. While there is a cost for MagneRide on a Mustang, either as an option or as part of a top-tier Mustang
variant, MagneRide offers several advantages over the standard suspension. Let's review which Mustangs have the MagneRide system as standard equipment or as an option. There is no interior or exterior badging to signify if a Mustang has MagneRide. If you are trying to
figure out if your car is so equipped--and it's not a standard feature mentioned above--then look at
your Mustang's original window sticker. MagneRide will be listed here if it's on the car. If you don't
have the window sticker, contact a Ford dealer to request a duplicate. When all else fails, and you're unable to determine if your Mustang is MagneRide equipped, then you have
to get up close with the car (more likely under the wheel wells). Our Steeda Tech Tip video How To Check
If Your Mustang Has MagneRide will be a valuable resource. Let's explore the highlights of this video.
The video begins with an overview of MagneRide-equipped Mustangs that we talked about above and dives
into close-up descriptions of Mustangs without and with MagneRide. We'll use timestamps from the video
so you can follow along as Chris from Steeda takes us through the details. Here, watchers can peek inside an unobstructed front wheel well of a 2018 Mustang GT. A glance at the
brakes tells you this vehicle is not equipped with a performance package. In this non-modified car, we
can see the factory front strut as well as the springs and sway bar. An ABS line is shown as it extends
horizontally from behind the splash shield. A Mustang with MagneRide will also have a control line that
runs parallel to the ABS line. In this clip, we see the back of the front strut and learn that MagneRide Mustangs would have a line
coming from the strut's bottom. This line would go through the harness at the back of the strut and then
continue to the MagneRide's electronic control unit (ECU). Another tell-tale sign of a MagneRide system
is looking for a ride-height sensor and bracket attached to the control arm we see here. Heading over to the rear wheel well, viewers learn that a MagneRide Mustang will have a harness coming
out of the dust cap that sits on top of the shock mount--this is probably the easiest way to spot the
difference between cars with and without the MagneRide system. Another indicator of MagneRide is looking
for a ride height sensor mounted on the lower control arm. The presence of two holes instead means no
MagneRide. In this next part of the video, we explore a 2018 Mustang GT equipped with the Level 1 Performance
Package and the MagneRide upgrade. While the car has aftermarket Steeda MagneRide Sport Springs and a
Steeda front sway bar, we also
look at the factory MagneRide strut. Here, we see the ABS line that was
mentioned earlier and the MagneRide line as it continues to the damper.
Looking at the damper, we see a control line coming out of the bottom of the strut. The line continues to
the harness and then to the ECU. To further confirm your Mustang's MagneRide equipment, look for a
harness with a heat-resistant cover that's close to the exhaust. This line connects to the ride-height
sensor that's attached to the lower control arm. This sensor transmits road condition data to the ECU
about once every five milliseconds. In this clip, we can clearly see how the rear factory shock absorber is different than one in the
non-MagneRide Mustang--the control line leads from the harness into the top of the shock to deliver
system commands. In this final segment, we see MagneRide ride-height sensors mounted on a rear lower control arm as
another indicator of how a Mustang differs from one without this system. You can also get a good view of
Steeda's Mustang MagneRide Sport Springs, which can complement the factory MagneRide system. Source: Steeda/YouTube, Autopedia, BWI, MotorTrend, Automotive
NewsDoes My Mustang Have MagneRide?
How To Check For MagneRide
What Is MagneRide
What Is MagneRide On Mustangs?
Advantages Of MagneRide
Does My Mustang Have MagneRide?
How To Check For MagneRide
1:22 | Mustang Without MagneRide (front)
1:51 | Mustang Without MagneRide (front--alternate view)
2:22 | Mustang Without MagneRide (rear)
2:55 | Mustang With MagneRide (front)
3:33 | Mustang With MagneRide (front--alternate view)
4:17 | Mustang With MagneRide (rear)
4:43 | Mustang With MagneRide (rear-alternate view)
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