Suspension Settings - Looking for Suggestions

[Stang70Fastback]

I considered putting this in the STX thread, but I think it makes more sense outside of that thread since this isn't purely an autocross car:

Last year, I competed with a bone-stock car in C-Street (yes, that includes running on Primacys...)

I don't consider myself an autocross fiend. I don't expect to ever have a car that is truly competitive in the class that I am in - mainly because this is also a daily-driver/road trip car and needs to be comfortable all the time.

HAVING SAID THAT, this year my setup will be different, and I'm hoping to get some suggestions for an initial setup that is basically MORE geared towards proper daily-driving/spirited back roads driving, but will also serve me well at an autocross or on a track day, because I have no idea where to even start - this is all new to me.

Parts I will be installing on my otherwise stock car in the next month:

• KW V3 Coilovers
• Velox Rear Adjustable LCAs (STX)
• Raceseng Front Cas/Cam Plates
• HRE FF15 18x9 wheels with 255/35R18 Michelin PSS for daily driving
• As-yet-undecided 17x9 wheels w/ 245/40R17 RE71Rs for autocross/a track day or two.

As I'm new to doing any of these sorts of modifications, I'm looking for some input on an ideal mostly-daily-driver-but-occasional-autocross setup. I know offhand that I want less camper at the rear because the suspension there will naturally give increased camber in turns. At the front, I know I will need a bit more (which is fine because those 18x9s poke a bit more than I'd like.) I'm also looking for comfortable settings for the V3s for road use that give decent handling without being too stiff. I can always turn them up for autocross/track day events.

[Cole]

A good starting point for camber (IMO) is -2.5F and -2R. As for suspension settings, you're going to just have to play around to find your sweet spot. I'd recommend just setting aside an hour to set them, drive, pull over, adjust, drive, adjust and so on until you find it.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Cole

A good starting point for camber (IMO) is -2.5F and -2R. As for suspension settings, you're going to just have to play around to find your sweet spot. I'd recommend just setting aside an hour to set them, drive, pull over, adjust, drive, adjust and so on until you find it.

+1 I agree with Cole here.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

• HRE FF15 18x9 wheels with 255/35R18 Michelin PSS for daily driving
• As-yet-undecided 17x9 wheels w/ 245/40R17 RE71Rs for autocross/a track day or two.

If you are interested in performance for your stock engined car then 18x9 are too big. If you are more concerned about aesthetics then disregard this.

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

How to screw up your cars handling and ride - step by step!
2. Big ass heavy wheels
Even if you got a great deal on a buddy's 18x9.5 wheels, it may not be a great idea to use 27 lb steamrollers at each corner. Most of us don't need that much tire either. Keep it light and it'll feel like your dampers are much more capable. You'll stop and go faster too.

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

225/45/17.......
but because you'll get better respone out of the tire.

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

We started with skinny tires, and worked our way up, and found 225 to generally be fastest for us. Robispec also started with wider tires, and went even wider, before going narrower.

I am suggesting Enkei RPF1s (best compromise weight/strength/cost) 17x8 and change your traction level with the tyres.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Cole

A good starting point for camber (IMO) is -2.5F and -2R. As for suspension settings, you're going to just have to play around to find your sweet spot. I'd recommend just setting aside an hour to set them, drive, pull over, adjust, drive, adjust and so on until you find it.

Thanks for the input. What kind of camber will start to adversely affect daily driver use? Is -2.5F ideal for a DD car, or is that a suggestion strictly for autocross?

As for the suspension, I intend to do lots of driving around. I'm just looking for some sort of starting benchmark since I don't really know what to set them to - though I suppose they might have "ideal" settings in the instructions (I haven't gotten them yet.)

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

If you are interested in performance for your stock engined car then 18x9 are too big. If you are more concerned about aesthetics then disregard this.

The 18x9s are my DD wheels. I will not be using them for autocross or track days, so I allowed aesthetics to be a slightly higher priority. However, I'm still not about to put MASSIVELY heavy wheels on. These are only 20 lb each, which is actually a tiny bit lighter than stock BRZ wheels. Of course, the tires are slightly heavier, but I've already done the math, and I'm only increasing the unsprung mass by around 2.5 lb per corner. Of course, rotational inertia increases a bit more since more mass is concentrated further out, but they aren't too bad

I am suggesting Enkei RPF1s (best compromise weight/strength/cost) 17x8 and change your traction level with the tyres.

The only reason I don't want RPF1s is because EVERYONE has them, and I like trying to be a bit different, even with my "beater track wheels." I'm actually looking at the 6UL wheels instead, which are a close competitor to the RPF1s. Slightly heavier, but supposedly slightly more durable. I'm still undecided as to whether to get 17x8 or 17x9 to be honest. There are several considerations here. Everything from how they fit on the tire trailer, to what kinds of events I will be doing. If I was doing primarily track days as opposed to autocross, would I want 17x9s then, or would 17x8s still be the recommended size?

[Cole]

That's my conservative starting point as well. My car is mainly a weekend fun car, that doubles as a daily when I'm not working. Will see how it pans out. I've just noticed that anywhere between-2 and -3 up front feels great for steering feel

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

If I was doing primarily track days as opposed to autocross, would I want 17x9s then, or would 17x8s still be the recommended size?

I've gone looking but I can't find the post by @CSG Mike. I think he stated there was one track where he was faster on wider (245?) tyres. Everywhere else 225 was the size to have.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

The only reason I don't want RPF1s is because EVERYONE has them,

My mum doesn't have them.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

My mum doesn't have them.

Well your mum is pretty damned cool!

And yeah, if 17x8 w/ 225s is really the better all-around size, then I might just go that route. Definitely cheaper!

[cjd]

For AutoX in STX the 17x9 and a 245 is the way to go... For track days I might do 17x8 and 225, though it's possible 9" is still thr wheel to run. I really like the TC105's I have, 17x9 and 255 for now, though I road-trip on 225 PSS on 17x8, and don't do the track days...yet?

I also run over -3 camber up front and wear seems fine. I don't drive to work though.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

My mum doesn't have them.

she does now. I gave her a set lastnight while I was seeing her

hahahaha jokes

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Well your mum is pretty damned cool!

And yeah, if 17x8 w/ 225s is really the better all-around size, then I might just go that route. Definitely cheaper!

This is what I will be running this spring

[Stang70Fastback]

Hmm. Looks like the biggest decision I need to make right now is 17x8 or 17x9...

[Captain Snooze]

@Stang70Fastback

Originally Posted by cjd

For AutoX in STX the 17x9 and a 245 is the way to go...

My apologies. I lost sight of the fact that you are thinking of autoX as well. Track and autoX are 2 very different beasts. I was only thinking of track.