Somewhat confused by all of the options out there.
 

Ok, I have been going through the forums, and reading through a lot of threads. I am really a bit confused by everything out there. I plan on doing auto-X, probably STX class, and as such plan on running 17X9 wheels.

As such, can I run different springs and dampers, or do I have to get actual coilovers?

And with all of the stuff out there, it is hard for me to really tell what the best product is for the money. Obviously the KWs and such are the best product, but are PRICEY.

Just really not sure what to do with a lot of this stuff, the engine bit is not too difficult, but suspension stuff I am lost.

lets start with the basics and go from there.

daily driven AND autocross? how often and serious on autocross?

What do you feel are the shortcomings of the car as it sits now?

What is done to the car's suspension at this point in time?

I do plan to DD and autocross. As to how often/serious, that I am not completely sure on yet. I am just getting started in it, so will likely be a little while before I am truly competitive.

As to shortcomings, I really haven't found much yet, other than just the obvious tires, but am still breaking in, so haven't been able to get it anywhere to really put it through its paces yet.

And I have done nothing to the suspension yet. My biggest concern is that if I want to get wider wheels and tires, what I will need to actually accomodate that. I know that is something that I am going to do, and don't want to have to do that bit twice (once with slight suspension mods like struts+springs, and another with coilovers and such).

I'm curious to hear the answer. No clear winners have been identified, and alot of manufacturers are still coming out of the woodworks.

At the moment, I'm leaning towards the double-adjustable Ground Control setup + whiteline front sway bar. The GC setup includes KONI inserts, Eibach springs, camber plates, and a strut brace... which is a reasonable deal for the 2500 asking price.

RaceComp would be my second choice. Alot of quality engineering goes into their products.

Waiting for Bilstein would be my third choice.

You can run the wider wheels and tires on stock dampers and springs.

IMO until you exhaust what the stock parts are capable of and know what you want to fix, just leave the dampers and springs alone.

What he said. If you are just starting get the factory crash bolts for front camber and call it a day.What I did for the first year and I have been doing this for 6 years.

or you could stay with 17x8 wheels, crash bolts and go CS. Autocross to have fun either way, but the general rule is if you enter a class the car should be set-up to the full limits of the rules, in the STX case, wider wheels, good street tires, coilovers, sway bar, crash bolts, engine tune, etc. SO if you throw on wider tires only and race STX, dont expect to be competitive. For some this is discouraging, but if you are out for fun go ahead. Otherwise I would stay with CS on the 17x8 wheels.

17x8 wheels aren't legal in CS IIRC. 17x7 is the stock size.

My mistake, I meant the stock wheel size. I do want some 17x8's though.

I think I will stay stock with the suspension, and go with 17X9 wheels probably. I won't be competitive in STX, but I won't likely be competitive in any of the classes for quite a while anyhow, being new to it and all...

Thanks!