Coilovers and springs for tack duty

[Kulebrero1]

Looking for recommendations on coilovers for track duty for a GR86. I prefer my suspension on the stiffer side, but not rock solid…I still have to drive it to/from the track.

What are you using?

[RToyo86]

Budget?

RCE SS1 and CSG flex A are good street/track coils.
RCE does tamrac Clubsport for track focused setup.
949 racing does XIDA Coilovers if you want to ball with 4k setup.

[Evil Rocky]

Following. Time to change my current coilovers. Want something more for track. I occasionally drive it around town. But mostly track car.

[Racecomp Engineering]

What size and what type of tire do you use?

- Andrew

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

What size and what type of tire do you use?

- Andrew

Does it make that much of a difference between 17 or 18 inch tires as long as they are close to stock circumference? Does wider tread make that big a difference?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Does it make that much of a difference between 17 or 18 inch tires as long as they are close to stock circumference? Does wider tread make that big a difference?

Mostly asking about tire width here, but the the tire type (compound) makes more of a difference than width anyway.

- Andrew

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Kulebrero1

Looking for recommendations on coilovers for track duty for a GR86. I prefer my suspension on the stiffer side, but not rock solid…I still have to drive it to/from the track.

What are you using?

Can you elaborate on why you prefer stiffer?

[Kulebrero1]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

Budget?

RCE SS1 and CSG flex A are good street/track coils.
RCE does tamrac Clubsport for track focused setup.
949 racing does XIDA Coilovers if you want to ball with 4k setup.

$2k or so.

What spring rates do people run on track cars?

The 949 Xida page says 500/500. Goodwin racing offers 400/350. I thought you’re supposed to run a higher rate in the rear because of the suspension geometry. 400-500 sounds low as well.

Not sure where to go to learn more.

[Kulebrero1]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

What size and what type of tire do you use?

- Andrew

I plan to run 17x8 wheels with 245/40/17 or 225/45/17, RS4s…or some other 200TW tire.

[Kulebrero1]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Can you elaborate on why you prefer stiffer?

I don’t know…I feel like stiffer feels more communicative and responsive. I’m not talking super stiff, but definitely stiff enough a normal person wouldn’t drive it daily.

I have a 2003 Miata running Feal 441 coilovers with 600/500 springs and front/rear sway bars on 225/45/15 RS4s. I love it….feels just right…not terribly stiff, but certainly not soft.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Kulebrero1

I don’t know…I feel like stiffer feels more communicative and responsive. I’m not talking super stiff, but definitely stiff enough a normal person wouldn’t drive it daily.

I have a 2003 Miata running Feal 441 coilovers with 600/500 springs and front/rear sway bars on 225/45/15 RS4s. I love it….feels just right…not terribly stiff, but certainly not soft.

The way the suspensions are designed on a Miata vs 86 those 600/500 springs on your Miata are effectively softer then a 500/500 setup on an 86.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9936

Then you account for having a chassis that is actually stiff and well here we are.

Generally 86s without aero don’t go past 500/500, sometimes up to 600, but past that and you’re trying to get aero and slicks to work. Sounds like you would be plenty happy in the 400-500 range.

Stiffer rear springs makes sense for multiple reasons, but most off the shelf kits on a budget have either an internal compromise or assume you aren’t actually chasing perfect handling. Get a decent damper with range and don’t be afraid to change springs imho.

imho the chassis is far more sensitive to alignment then spring rate changes so a lot of “different” things can work. And most companies don’t publish their bump stop rates so don’t judge a coil over solely on the springs, you’re really buying a damper, springs sand bump stops are cheap and easy to change.

[Kulebrero1]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

The way the suspensions are designed on a Miata vs 86 those 600/500 springs on your Miata are effectively softer then a 500/500 setup on an 86.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9936

Then you account for having a chassis that is actually stiff and well here we are.

Generally 86s without aero don’t go past 500/500, sometimes up to 600, but past that and you’re trying to get aero and slicks to work. Sounds like you would be plenty happy in the 400-500 range.

Stiffer rear springs makes sense for multiple reasons, but most off the shelf kits on a budget have either an internal compromise or assume you aren’t actually chasing perfect handling. Get a decent damper with range and don’t be afraid to change springs imho.

imho the chassis is far more sensitive to alignment then spring rate changes so a lot of “different” things can work. And most companies don’t publish their bump stop rates so don’t judge a coil over solely on the springs, you’re really buying a damper, springs sand bump stops are cheap and easy to change.

Great info.

What are some popular setups? 400/400?

[strat61caster]

400/400 is pretty popular, starting rates on the RCE T2, I’ve driven as split as far as 300/500