Ohlins Road & Track for FRS/BRZ suspension install/review thread

[churchx]

".. then he should .. choose a suspension that is far from the range of" - then they shouldn't have "& Track" in product's name, simple as that.
"giving 'as good' lap times and response" ... i find it hard to believe, that suspension riding on bumpstops will be "as good".
"more of a 'drift' setup and they received numerous comments and complaints about the balance" - so why not fix/improve balance instead of overall rates softening that was done?
answer - to limit used tire grip? When those who go to track want more grip to enable going faster/corner better?
I just don't get it at all.

[DocWalt]

I would never call the old setup "drift" but it is definitely no real loss on the camber plate side. Their camber plates were pricey and lower quality than Raceseng or Velox.

[Sleepless]

Hmmm. I’ve had the original setup for 3 years and 7k hard track miles and have loved the setup. I’m about to try the 450# springs.

[nikitopo]

It looks that the majority of the owners had "issues" and they don't join forums. They will use daily their car and ocassionally join a track. The Road & Track term makes a real sense. Everyone says that the first car generation was drift focused on day to day driving. Second generation (+'17) is more mature and planted by lowering the rear spring rates. Aftermarket companies used the same approach. They lowered also the rates in front to keep the balance. Another solution could be to use wider tires on the rear, but it would change the balance a lot. Similar problems if you have a squared 235+ setup. You gain in cornering and grip, but you lose on acceleration and then blame the car that has no power. Besides, most users won't change the tire size. They'll upgrade to a better tire compound and that's all. Maybe some of us here have unrealistic expectations on specific products.

[ajc209]

Originally Posted by Sleepless

Hmmm. I’ve had the original setup for 3 years and 7k hard track miles and have loved the setup. I’m about to try the 450# springs.

Did you have the dampers rebuilt? That's quite a lot of a track miles.

Ive had the MI20 for getting on 2 years and about 1600 track miles. As a dual road and track package I wouldn't want them any softer.

[ajc209]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

I would never call the old setup "drift" but it is definitely no real loss on the camber plate side. Their camber plates were pricey and lower quality than Raceseng or Velox.

People calling it a drift setup dont actually have the MI20 kit fitted to their car obviously.

I still love my Mi20 as a road and track package. I wouldnt change anything other than to perhaps go a bit stiffer on spring rate like Sleepless has done.

Our UK B roads are pretty rubbish and it rides really well over all that stuff.

[Sleepless]

Originally Posted by ajc209

Did you have the dampers rebuilt? That's quite a lot of a track miles.

Ive had the MI20 for getting on 2 years and about 1600 track miles. As a dual road and track package I wouldn't want them any softer.

Mine is mostly a track car which is why I finally went for the stiffer springs.

In my experience, street driving is much harder on dampers than track driving. So, no rebuild needed yet.

[ajc209]

Originally Posted by Sleepless

Mine is mostly a track car which is why I finally went for the stiffer springs.

In my experience, street driving is much harder on dampers than track driving. So, no rebuild needed yet.

Ohlins quote something like rebuild every 20km or 10 hours of racing.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by ajc209

I've got FI ~250WHP on pump gas and Ohlins coilovers. Not had an issue on the stock wheels but I will soon be fitting 18x9 rims and was looking at the AD08R 255/35 (their recommended width for a 9 inch rim).

Originally Posted by ajc209

People calling it a drift setup dont actually have the MI20 kit fitted to their car obviously.

I still love my Mi20 as a road and track package. I wouldnt change anything other than to perhaps go a bit stiffer on spring rate like Sleepless has done.

Our UK B roads are pretty rubbish and it rides really well over all that stuff.

I'll say again that your expectations for the new kit are unrealistic. If you want to have 9 inch rims and 255 AD08R tires, then the issue is with you and not with the new product. The majority of users will use stock width tires. You cannot blame the product if you change so dramatically the behavior of your car.

[churchx]

Majority of users will use stock width tires? True. And majority of users won't be buying aftermarket suspension either.
So! Question is, if this updated product is targeted right to fit wishes/expectations/priorities for majority of those who buy aftermarket coilovers? I'm not so sure. Somehow most common view on these i've seen - they are too soft/don't bother/get something else.

Also 9" + 255 AD08R .. that sounds more of exageration, or like something for auto-x-er wishing maximizing grip no matter what within class rules for very specific use (and then maybe RE71R? ). For HPDE/track days most commonly i've seen mention 225 of something like MPSS/AD08R. BUT! if people are able to ride on bumpstops at track even on stock tires, even such less extreme grip upgrade will make it only worse.

Everything is compromise. But imho new ohlins have not chosen compromise well to become desirable product for many enough. Not just switched targeted consumer niche, bet also narrowed down it vs original kit.

[Sleepless]

Ive never seen anyone using stock size track tires... mostly see 235s. I’ll be on 245s shortly. The car is supercharged so not worried about speed loss due to tires. Basically trying wider AD08s vs narrower 225 R comps since the AD08s last almost twice as long and just as much fun (I’m not competing).

Point is, I disagree that most people stick with stock sizes. Frankly, I don’t really see why tire size is significantly relavent to the Ohlins discussion.

Also, I think in a properly designed street/track suspension, riding on the bump stops is not a big issue. Done right, the bumps stops are providing a progressive spring rate with out the need for compensating damping since rubber is self-damping. Whether one likes a progressive setup is a personal preference. I believe that most street/track kits rely on the progressiveness of the bump stops and/or springs.

[ajc209]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

I'll say again that your expectations for the new kit are unrealistic. If you want to have 9 inch rims and 255 AD08R tires, then the issue is with you and not with the new product. The majority of users will use stock width tires. You cannot blame the product if you change so dramatically the behavior of your car.

I'm not blaming anything and dont have any "issue". Its a preference after trying a few different spring rate on my MI20 setup.

I'm actually on 235s and have been for the year year (you dug up a very old post).

I dont believe the majority of users will spend £2.5k on a really nice set of coilovers and not change the the wheels. In fact wheels are usually the first thing people change and to at least an 8inch rim, which with a decent tyre like AD08R would work well with 60N springs.

In my opinion 60N is more of a street rate than ad track rate. I will look forward to hearing from thetyrant (also UK based) about his MP20 experience.

[thetyrant]

Ive just installed the new MP20 kit on my car at the weekend, couple of issue regards instructions and rear spring preload but anyone reading this fitting this kit and doing the same my opinion is look at installed spring length of 192mm (which is 38mm preload) and not the 28mm preload also mentioned which gives 202mm spring length, ive tried both and 28mm preload is not enough car sits too low at rear and very little bump travel.

Ive another issue with topmount location onto damper rod which im looking at with Ohlins now to see if can be improved, its ok just could be better imo.

Camber bolts wise, i already had Whiteline KCA416 which are designed to go in top hole (too larger for bottom hole, need a different bolt for that) i can say the ones i have are not a direct fit due to the larger diameter of the locating washer fouling on recess on damper body, easy fix i will just trim a touch off the washer so it can go in today.

Minimal testing so far as ran out time yesterday but once i increased rear preload it felt pretty good, obviously on softer side and also had it on -15 damping as a start point, i do think rear will need a stiffer spring before i hit track but i will test more on stock 40/30 setup to see how we go on road, im more interested in road ride at moment so its a good starting point for me on UK roads, i dont mind it soft on track as long as i get enough travel.

Ian

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by Sleepless

Ive never seen anyone using stock size track tires... mostly see 235s. I’ll be on 245s shortly. The car is supercharged so not worried about speed loss due to tires. Basically trying wider AD08s vs narrower 225 R comps since the AD08s last almost twice as long and just as much fun (I’m not competing).

Point is, I disagree that most people stick with stock sizes. Frankly, I don’t really see why tire size is significantly relavent to the Ohlins discussion.

Also, I think in a properly designed street/track suspension, riding on the bump stops is not a big issue. Done right, the bumps stops are providing a progressive spring rate with out the need for compensating damping since rubber is self-damping. Whether one likes a progressive setup is a personal preference. I believe that most street/track kits rely on the progressiveness of the bump stops and/or springs.

I use stock size track tires.