Robispec Suspension Installed: A Review
 

Intro:

This platform is incredible. It is just so light and nimble and comes very well set up from the factory (except for tires). It really put a grin on my face lap after lap at the wonderful road courses here in California.

Despite being so good already in stock form, there were a few areas I wanted to further improve upon.

1. First thing was tires + wider rims. While the later of the two was not required, grippier tires were. What a world of difference they made in cornering G's and the size of my grin. :thumbup:

2. The next area I wanted to tweak for better performance was camber. More negative camber adjustability would further enhance the "this thing is on rails" factor.

Enter Robispec Front Lower Control Arms: I selected these as my target for achieving more negative camber in the front as well as all the other benefits this piece gave (lighter, roll center correction, track width, anti-dive, etc). This is one fine piece of work! Very high quality and track tested/beated on. These arms have been on his race FR-S for many many track days + time attacks. They performed very well for me at Laguna Seca last weekend! We were able to get -3.0 in the front and widened the track width a bit. The roll center correction allowed the car to be dropped substantially reducing center of gravity without increasing body roll.

For an explanation on Roll Center Correction see: http://www.meganracing.com/tech/faqs...er%20Adjusters

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps6abd7091.jpg

Being installed in my car:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...50097215_n.jpg

Installed:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...53233336_n.jpg

3. Dampers: While I was at Robi's shop I made the mistake of riding in a car equipped with Robispec KW VIII coilovers. Oooopse. After experiencing how planted and stable the car felt combined with how much more comfortable it was than stock or with just lowering springs, I had to have them.

Enter Robispec KW VIII coilovers (custom spring rates and valving). Love these things. They were amazing at Laguna seca where it gave me more grip. The dampers really allow the tire to stay in contact with the asphalt compared to the stock dampers.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...49304827_n.jpg

4: More rear shock travel: Along with these coilovers and the drop that we wanted to achieve, we added Robispec Rear Top Hats which give the rear dampers an extra 2 inches of travel. The stock setup has very short travel which prevents lowering the car while retaining grip in the rear. This solves that problem.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psb9beb778.jpg

Installed in my car:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...81699796_n.jpg

5. More front shock travel: Robi suggested getting Ground Control Front Camber Plates because they actually give an extra 3 inch of shock travel in the front (as well as all the other benefits of camber plates).

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...29113470_n.jpg

6. Stiffen the bushings: And to polish off the handling of the car we installed Whiteline rear camber, sub-frame, and diff bushing inserts.

Service:

Robi installed all of these components and aligned the car at his shop in Hesperia CA. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robispec/180542078631882

His prices are more than reasonable and he is extremely friendly and passionate about this platform. In an industry where I continually find myself dissappointed in service, support or professionalism, it was refreshing/revitalizing to deal with someone very professional who cares so much about his products and service. He is willing to talk to you about anything and will discuss his exciting new ideas to further improve the car. 5 out of 5 stars.

Future Plans:

I made another mistake... this time I rode and drove his Twin Screw equipped FR-S. Oooopse. Now I want this kit. To go with this kit I will be installing the Robispec Total Cooling Solution which has been thoroughly tested on CA tracks (including 105 deg Chuckwalla Valley Raceway with the AC on)

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps06b23050.jpg

(reserved for pics of version 2.0 of his cooling solution)

Fun track pics of the setup:

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I'm glad you like it.
The car is way more fun with the Inovate kit...

Jealous

Nice setup

If I understand good if I keep my oem shock and spring and install robispec rear top hat and ground control front camber plate then my car will drop of 2 inch in the back and 1 inch in front and keep stock travel. Did I understand good.

Then I have two question:

- does robispec make 1 inch rear top hat?
- Or what would I need to get 1 inch more front drop with oem spring and schock ?

I believe it does not drop your car, just adds more shock travel.

P.S.

Where can I buy this kit?? I live in FL

Really digging those rear upper mounts!

Awesome!! I wana do the same but with Ohlins set up

I don't understand how that is possible? Can you explain?
I try to make picture in my brain but every time i see the car dropping if you do not adjust some coilover to compensate.

For me if you make the top position where spring and shock are attached higher then the car will drop.

http://www.whiteline.com.au/susp_ident_images/17.jpg

Or does it just move the point where top of schock is attached but don't move the point where spring are seating on top?

There you go! ;) spot on. Spring location doesn't move.

Thank's I didn't work that much on that car suspension yet so had a hard time to get a picture in my mind. I'm far from my car at the moment because Thailand business trip so couldn't look under.

The robi spec rear top hats don't work with stock springs. At least that's what I read when they were released. The extra travel up front with the camber plates is nice, but I think it is the rear that is in need of extra travel. I wish someone would make them for stock springs....

Just got off the phone with ground control. They said their plates add about 1/2" of travel. They said most camber plates take away shock travel which is why they designed theirs as they did. Cool stuff.