So I finally got around to playing with the dampers. Until now I've left them at the recommended 9/16 clicks towards soft like recommended by KW (including at the track day at Zolder). As I was to find out, I've been lapping there in Cadillac mode!
Anyway I started out changing them to 7, I didn't expect much of a change with only 2 clicks, but boy I was wrong!
Much firmer and better contact with the road! I then went down to 5, once again an equally surprisingly big change - that setting was really really hard for my taste and the backroads here. When I was done messing around I dialled them back to comfortable 9 clicks, that's plenty hard for spirited driving on the road. Especially where I live, though mostly good quality, it's a very hilly landscape and hence, uneven roads (think Nürburgring).
I am by far an expert, but from logical deduction seeing such big change on only a few clicks suggest to my that the valving is actually working well in the dampers. Which again logically must suggest that the valving is good quality.
Speaking of Nürburgring I will go to the Grand Prix circuit on Wednesday. I'll try the dampers in a harder setting of 7 or 6. Also at Zolder I was too busy driving to really think about tire pressure. I only set it before going on the track to 2.1 Bar (30 PSI) cold and only did one check after the first 3 rounds. At that point the pressure was 2.4-2.5 (34-36 PSI). But those were my first 3 rounds and I went a lot faster later on in the 3 sessions, so I suspect I ran far too high tire pressure, which would probably explain why the car was fairly loose.
So besides getting some more laps under the belt, the goal will be to try out the dampers at harder setting and watch out more for the tire pressures and temperatures.
To sum up Zolder: Too soft dampers, to high tire pressure, pretty lousy street tires and short shifting to keep the engine temps down, I still managed to do laps in approx 2:08 according to my video. Fast GT86/BRZ guys on UHP/Semis laps in just below 2 mins. So I definitely think I hit at good starting point to work from, especially when I change tires at some point. I can't really decide what to do with that - either new tires for my 18" wheels, or get some dedicated 17" wheels/tires? Of course thats a financial consideration too.
I am so thrilled with this overall setup! Not just the coilovers, but the combination with the swaybars, brakes etc.
