Can we talk about this?
 

What's the deal?

What do you want to know?

Everything! I've seen a few photos of what I guess is a prototype but not much is being said.

LCA mounts and crossmember?
Shorter spindle?
UCA mounts?

It's all new and not like anything else thats out. If you're one of the designers...what's the deal?

Dan

This is the brain child of Mike Maier and Craig Johnson. It's currently in pre production testing on Mike Maier's 66 coupe. Lower control arms are approx 3+ inches longer, uppers are 1 inch longer, roll centers are the same as current design, spring rate and role bars are softer car is almost twice as flat while cornering. Spindle is shortened allowing for a 315 to be run up front with a flared fender. It also allows for either a coyote motor or the Roush Yates motor to fit between the shock towers. That's about all I know, when I see Mike later today, I'll tell him about this thread and he can chime in with what he wants to add and answer anymore questions.

Oh yeah, this suspension was not on the car when we had the car out at the OUSCI event at Laguna Seca. We have been testing the car at a couple of events and its looking promising. At the latest auto-x (Larry Park Memorial). Mike went out and was faster than Mary Pozzi's fastest lap on his first lap. Overall, got her by almost a second.

Chetly summed it up pretty well. The installation is similar to a Mustang II but with much better geometry. It uses slugs or spacers at all of the pickup points to allow for roll center and anti-dive geometry. The setup with zero slugs is great for the street and will work well for most drivers and conditions, however, if you want to tinker or the track/tire requires a different setup you can raise or lower the roll center, tweak the camber gain or add anti-dive.

The new shock towers add a huge amount of space in the engine bay and still maintains the structure of the unibody.
LS and tall deck Windsor motors will also fit but header selection has yet to be determined.

Mike ran in CP, so I think he ran slicks, not 200 treadwear of CAM.
He was even faster on Sunday though.

Mike ran franks car in CP and his car for fun runs later on the Falkens.

Craig and I apparently had too much time on our hands. The main goal was to make the car easier all around. Set up, Tuning, and most of all driver confidence. Oh yea.. Bigger motors too. The car has been hacked on with all kinds of special ideas that might not have been so special. So we thought we would give a new special idea a chance. This one isn't so bad if I may. The biggest thing I think is the confidence entering the turns. You can hammer the entrance with a ton less pucker factor. We are currently fitting it to a couple of cars sorting things out. It definitely is promising and even in it's early stages I'll say others are going to have a good time trying to get close to the performance of this set up. Just saying...

Rad!

More pictures and video if you have them! Craig are you running something similar on your falcon? And is this something that would be available to be adapted to other cars...say like a 65 comet?

Dan

No, no, no!!! No putting LS motors in Mustangs, or any other Ford...

I wouldn't see why not. Mustang, Fairlane, Falcon, Comet, Cougar, Maverick all have similar enough suspension design where this could be adapted.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet. Spark plug replacement. What normally took 1.5+ hours on the 66 coupe can now be done in your average 30 minutes. Gained something around 6-7 inches overall width between the shock towers.

I have some video some where I'll look for it

https://www.flickr.com/photos/438129...7644793457979/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/736678...7641774980135/


Here are some before and after pictures until I find the video's. The picture with the polished CCW front wheels are the after shots. Remember, The same spring rate, same bar and the same roll center height.

Looking good Mike.

The car's posture looks good Mike.

Do you happen to know the driver of the yellow Camaro 13cp? I believe he lives a few blocks from me in Springfield, OR.

Just so you guys don't think I'm talking out of my ass, this is me driving the car.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/43812942@N06/14250822527/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43812942@N06/14414204916/

You can see how flat this car is now and how the tire is being pulled to the inside. These wernt slow speed auto cross turns where these pictures were taken.

I just recieved my new stock replacement shock towers and was planning to order the front end stuff from Maiers and called the shop to ask a few questions. Spoke to Mike's brother and he informed me of the testing going on and the extra engine bay room sparked my interest.

I'll be holding off the replacement until I see what happens with this set-up. Cheers for sharing

A buddy of mine called last week to ask about the power steering offerings and Mike wasnt in the building and his brother said the motorsports side of things is moving to Livermore ca.

Mike is this true?

New suspension is looking killer!!

Mike Maier has left the building
 

First I would like to thank everyone for all of the support for Maier. Everyone from the old timers that remember Bill racing the 68 in the late sixties to the guys from the early eighties all the way to the new pro touring crowd. Bill and Shirley Maier have had a 45 year run with a ton of great memories, with in this I have found a niche in suspension. Over time the suspension grew and so did my own family. Brianne and I have talked for some time about moving the suspension division of Maier closer to home. Eventually Bill and Shirley rehired Charlie Maier to run the family business. All of this started taking place at the beginning of this year. A couple of weeks ago the separation was jump started unexpectedly. Since then I have been in Livermore, CA working on purchasing the suspension shop from the family. We are sorry about the inconvenience to the customers who are in limbo at this time. However Brianne and I are very excited for new things. We are planning on reopening as soon as possible. , If you have any questions feel free to ask, You can count on us to let you know when the doors open. Until then keep an eye out for updates. Just so you know the fiberglass is still cranking out parts so give them some love and pick up a few pieces for your Mustang.

Mike Maier

Wish you and Brianne all the best Mike, you know you've got my support. I'm ok being in limbo for a bit, you and some of the guys at the shop have been great to deal with and I'm sure you'll be up and cranking away soon.

When the time is right post up some pictures of the front end and maybe even the TA that you're running. About the TA, can it be ran without the fancy wizzbang trunk mounted deal?

:thumbsup:
Dan

ps Chetly, do you have an extra hat you can send my way?:lmao:

Nope...

Mike Maiers has been key role in our suspension program.. Mike has consulted with me for the last two years in helping me understand the dynamics of suspension plus the key components of what makes a car fast on the track.. Spending late evenings on the phone with me & explaining things to me in detail so that I could understand them.. but also never deviating from the truth & always being up front with me when he didn't know the answer to my questions.. Proud to say that Mike is good friend who I will give the shirt off my back to help him as much as he has helped me! As I stated last week Mike.. Let me know if I can help with anything..

Craig,

I'm looking forward to seeing the Falcon with this new setup, perhaps supporting that (reasonably priced) LS we talked about at GoodGuys...

On an off note, if you haven't seen the #112 Falcon (flat black), it's awesome--check it out on YouTube. It doesn't have much in the way of original stuff underneath, as it's been a track car for about two decades. He was out at Sonoma, until his steering decided to puke all over everything. I think he said that he'd be out at Thunderhill in October. Let's make the track lousy with badly painted Falcons!

Meanwhile, I collect more dents (without driving)...

No LS for me. I just picked up a running Mark VIII with the 4.6L 32V 4 cam motor dirt cheap...but that will be for my 28 model A "Hot Rod Lincoln" project. For now I am more or less done with the falcon, I'll probably do some new lower arms to get the roll center where I want, but not much else. I am going to paint it this winter and just drive/maintain it until my AutoX weapon rolls out of the garage in a couple of years. I'll start a new build thread once I gather enough parts to get started on it.

Good friends spell each other's name correctly....



Dear Mister Mike Maier,


Call me if you need some help.

:tv_happy:

Mike Miaer has left the building, But He's not gone!
 

Again, I want to say thank you for the support. However now is the time to arch your back, dig in your heals and push like hell. The best people out there are all around us. I have said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a terrible looser.

Chris.. it's ok, I didn't remember your name until I read your post. ( Just kidding)

Welcome to the town of Livermorons lol., unless you guys already live here.

Good luck with the move and biz adventure. Where are you guys moving too? I'd like to stop by when you guys get settled and meet y'all.....

Mike

Hey Mike, maybe you should do an introduction, just so people know what you do and are capable of.

Here, I'll help ya get started.

I'm Mike Maier and I'm kinda a big deal. I race and have since I was 16, my wife is smoking hot and races as well. I enjoy Tofu and short walks on the beach....

Feel free to edit and add anything else that may be important.

:underchair:
Dan

Don't forget, father of 2, 5 time SCCA autocross champion, winner of over 15 goodguys autocross events, held the track record at multiple USAC Sanction tracks in a Ford Focus Midget, featured in a couple episodes of overhaulin...

I am just gonna go ahead and add President of the Mike Maier Fan Club (not to be confused with MIKE MAIERS or MIKE MYERS) to your signature, cool?

:gitrdun:

Wait just a gawl dang minute! Fan club? Nobody told me about a fan club.

I'm still on the waiting list for the Weld's World Emporium of Racing...and cheesballs. Greg said I was close but still under review, whatever that means.

:thumbsup:
Dan

Sorry Dan. Gotta finish a bucket-o-cheeseballs first. In one sitting.

Good luck with that. :D

Only one?? PFFFFT where do we sign up!?!?

Just helping promote a friend of mine that isn't exactly tech savy nor having the time to spend hours on online car forums. :bigun2: :bigun2: :bigun2:

Hey, it's all good. I know Mike too. And I am a member of the club.

:cheers:

If they don't know of Mike 'M'...they shouldn't be allowed to join lat-g.

#greaterFeatsThanChuckNorris

:thankyou:

MY wife said my head is getting too big.. So Stop!
 

Boy.. you guys can make a guy feel good. Now stop all this sissy yapping and start working on your buckets so I don't here some cheese whiz excuse why you couldn't make it to the next event!


You guys are all right.

yeah, I met him a few times, he wouldn't sign my Chevy hat so I guess he's just "ok". Charlie is a much nicer guy. :peepwall:

LOL.

So Mike, does this mean you are going to drop or stop selling the Maximum Motorsports line?

My vendors are all really great. I am especially close with maximum motorsports. They have helped me a ton over the years. I will continue to support them for sure.