revert to stock susp. to shed weight for class?

[ZDan]

Currently on RCE SS-2 coilovers with 7 kg/mm front 9 kg/mm rear springs. Given ever-escalating "performance points" applied to FT86 in my time-trialing club COMSCC (thanks a lot, *me*!!), I'm currently adding close to the max allowed 150 lb. (!) ballast, most in the spare tire well. Good news is, better weight distribution! 51.5%F/48.5%R

But my comp weight is 3187 lb.!!! Damn...

*IF* I were to revert to stock BRZ suspension, with Pedders offset mounts, my comp weight would be -200 lb. at 2986 lb.

But stock springs are *so soft*, less than half my current spring rate at 3.1F/3.6R according to my info...

BUT, last year at Watkins Glen, when I broke a brake rotor in my MX-5, I got to borrow friend's *stock-suspension* (camber bolts only) GR86 (thanks #smoltz !). With just camber bolts and decent tires (RE71RS), my second lap in that car was fastest T50 time of the event in the time trial, just 1s off my best time in the BRZ the previous year

That said the stock BRZ suspension is more understeery (stiffer front springs and sway, softer rear springs and sway) so that gives me some pause...

Anyway, thinking about it!

[gnarjunkie]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Currently on RCE SS-2 coilovers with 7 kg/mm front 9 kg/mm rear springs. Given ever-escalating "performance points" applied to FT86 in my time-trialing club COMSCC (thanks a lot, *me*!!), I'm currently adding close to the max allowed 150 lb. (!) ballast, most in the spare tire well. Good news is, better weight distribution! 51.5%F/48.5%R

But my comp weight is 3187 lb.!!! Damn...

*IF* I were to revert to stock BRZ suspension, with Pedders offset mounts, my comp weight would be -200 lb. at 2986 lb.

But stock springs are *so soft*, less than half my current spring rate at 3.1F/3.6R according to my info...

BUT, last year at Watkins Glen, when I broke a brake rotor in my MX-5, I got to borrow friend's *stock-suspension* (camber bolts only) GR86 (thanks #smoltz !). With just camber bolts and decent tires (RE71RS), my second lap in that car was fastest T50 time of the event in the time trial, just 1s off my best time in the BRZ the previous year

That said the stock BRZ suspension is more understeery (stiffer front springs and sway, softer rear springs and sway) so that gives me some pause...

Anyway, thinking about it!

Quality suspension is the last thing I'd consider cutting in order to save on points.

I would bet quite a bit of money that you'd be substantially slower with stock suspension and 200lbs less weight. Unless you had something really set up wrong with the SS2s.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by gnarjunkie

Quality suspension is the last thing I'd consider cutting in order to save on points.

I would bet quite a bit of money that you'd be substantially slower with stock suspension and 200lbs less weight. Unless you had something really set up wrong with the SS2s.

Yeah, but still I was *amazed* at lap times I set with stock-suspension GR86 vs. my RCE SS-2 coilovered BRZ from the year prior...

[RToyo86]

At the end of the day if you are comfortable on stock suspension that may work for you. 200 pounds isn't a insignificant amount of weight.

I've seen some guys be lightning fast on stock suspension with 255 RE71s. Watching from behind the car is all over the place but clearly they're comfortable/mastered how to hustle the car around a track.