CSG Mike's observations on dampers/coilovers

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Vicious LED

...are you?

I'd need a place to crash and someone to carpool with... which shouldn't be too hard.

And maybe arrange a co-drive for s2k challenge.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by the.big.kahoona

Mike you still owe me an answer

What cars have you driven in the past? Which were you most comfortable with? What was the suspension, tire, aero, and brake setup?

[Vicious LED]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I'd need a place to crash and someone to carpool with... which shouldn't be too hard.

And maybe arrange a co-drive for s2k challenge.

I'm sure I could help you out with both/either, if you'd like!

[the.big.kahoona]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

What cars have you driven in the past? Which were you most comfortable with? What was the suspension, tire, aero, and brake setup?

Best car ive driven was my stock s2000. Loved that car because it jusy felt right. But then again i wasnt as much a track wannabe as im trying to be now

Last car was a 2011 sti. Sold it because it was a pig. Great car. Pig. Not for me. Had a bbk, various suspension bits, tein monoflex, and every bushing I could get my hands on because I wanted as much feedback from the car as possible. Maybe it was me, or my setup, but I didnt see the value in the teins.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by the.big.kahoona

Best car ive driven was my stock s2000. Loved that car because it jusy felt right. But then again i wasnt as much a track wannabe as im trying to be now

Last car was a 2011 sti. Sold it because it was a pig. Great car. Pig. Not for me. Had a bbk, various suspension bits, tein monoflex, and every bushing I could get my hands on because I wanted as much feedback from the car as possible. Maybe it was me, or my setup, but I didnt see the value in the teins.

I have extensive experience with both cars. Tell me about your likes and dislikes with both cars. Also, what do you like and dislike about your GT86? What exactly are you trying to improve, other than cornering grip?

How do you imagine your ideal handling car to be? What alignment, tires, and tire pressures are you currently running?

[the.big.kahoona]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I have extensive experience with both cars. Tell me about your likes and dislikes with both cars. Also, what do you like and dislike about your GT86? What exactly are you trying to improve, other than cornering grip?

How do you imagine your ideal handling car to be? What alignment, tires, and tire pressures are you currently running?

I like thay the gt86 is light and responsive. The steering is great. More feedback would be nice though. Ideal handling car would be similar to a cayman with a little bit less weight and proper bushings. So yeah I guess my 2 priorities are feedback and cornering grip. I like a car thay talks to me. Im not naive enough to think id maximize the potential of a great performing setup, but I know id do much better with a setup that talks to me

Factory everything now. 17x8 rpf1 wheels on the way. Tires will be sticky summer ones, 225 or 235 width depending kn some other factors.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by the.big.kahoona

I like thay the gt86 is light and responsive. The steering is great. More feedback would be nice though. Ideal handling car would be similar to a cayman with a little bit less weight and proper bushings. So yeah I guess my 2 priorities are feedback and cornering grip. I like a car thay talks to me. Im not naive enough to think id maximize the potential of a great performing setup, but I know id do much better with a setup that talks to me

Factory everything now. 17x8 rpf1 wheels on the way. Tires will be sticky summer ones, 225 or 235 width depending kn some other factors.

Try the Turn-in-Concepts steering rack bushings, and swap your rear bushings to brand of your choice. This'll improve feedback.

Did you feel the S2k was understeery or oversteery? What kind of setup did you run on that car? What about the Cayman?

[Racecomp Engineering]

You'll also like some of the front control arm bushings that are out there.

- Andy

[the.big.kahoona]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Try the Turn-in-Concepts steering rack bushings, and swap your rear bushings to brand of your choice. This'll improve feedback.

Did you feel the S2k was understeery or oversteery? What kind of setup did you run on that car? What about the Cayman?

S2k was oversteery, which was fine with me. Was stock. Would have preferred a more neutral feel. Too snappy

Cayman was stock as well. A 30 minute drive had me sold. I was close to buying one, but i preferred picking up something like the 86 and building it myself, hopefully into something better for my tastes.

I like TiC and have picked up stuff from them before since as yourself and RCE, they are very involved and add a ton of value to the communities theyre a part of (in my case the sti one).

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by the.big.kahoona

S2k was oversteery, which was fine with me. Was stock. Would have preferred a more neutral feel. Too snappy

Cayman was stock as well. A 30 minute drive had me sold. I was close to buying one, but i preferred picking up something like the 86 and building it myself, hopefully into something better for my tastes.

I like TiC and have picked up stuff from them before since as yourself and RCE, they are very involved and add a ton of value to the communities theyre a part of (in my case the sti one).

Given your smooth roads, I want to say you should go with a higher spring rate. Normally, it's not a recommendation I would make except to someone who's emphasis is a track focus.

Do you have any local shops that are capable of revalving dampers for you? You've got enough of a budget that a high end damper is within reach, and when you get into that range, you can't go wrong with any brand. Support for your damper is most important.

[the.big.kahoona]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Given your smooth roads, I want to say you should go with a higher spring rate. Normally, it's not a recommendation I would make except to someone who's emphasis is a track focus.

Do you have any local shops that are capable of revalving dampers for you? You've got enough of a budget that a high end damper is within reach, and when you get into that range, you can't go wrong with any brand. Support for your damper is most important.

For what its worth the monoflex coilovers rates were 10f and 8r and I didnt feel they were too harsh.

Unfortunatley no local suspension shops I trust that are capable of revalving dampers.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by the.big.kahoona

For what its worth the monoflex coilovers rates were 10f and 8r and I didnt feel they were too harsh.

Unfortunatley no local suspension shops I trust that are capable of revalving dampers.

For a less expensive solution, a RCE T2 with higher rates sounds like a viable option for you. A middleground would be Robispec'd KW CS or RCE CS, and a slightly more expensive solution would be a Tein SRC with a 10k/10k or 10k/11k set of springs.

The reasoning behind my recommendation is that you seem somewhat comfortable with a lively rear, but still prefer a more stable car, rather than one where the rear is always swinging out. 10k/10k will balance the car closer to the Cayman you enjoyed.

If the car is over or understeering more than you like, from there, you can fine tune by using either a front or rear sway bar, tire pressures, and alignment changes.

Given your budget, these are the ONLY choices I would consider.

All three options have some leeway in spring rate, and the dampers can be adjusted to accommodate higher or lower spring rates.

One thing to note is that the RCE/Robispec options are twin-tube type dampers, while the SRCs are monotube dampers.

Here's some brief reading on Twin-tube vs monotube:

http://www.kyb.com/service/monotube.php
http://kw-suspension.com/us/kw_damper_basics.php
https://www.tein.com/e/special/ni_toryu/index.html

[ultra]

@the.big.kahoona

If you're focused on lap times around the Autodrome then I'd focus on choosing your rubber and then choosing a suspension to match. I'm told we can get Pilot Super Sports here, which would seem to be the best rubber we can get here locally. If you're getting 8 inch RPF1s then I'm guessing you're looking at a 225 or 235 width depending on availability.

Ideal would be to stuff a 245 in there on some 17x9s but hey.

If you're getting double adjustable coilovers then I hope you can get somebody on here to help you set the bump and rebound up properly in order to maximize the effectiveness of them because the local shops know nothing. Learned that the hard way with the KW V3s on my Evo. Spent years fiddling with spring rates and bump/rebound and alignment settings.

That, and knowing that I'll never bother to run exotic compound street rubber or semi slicks, is why I felt like going with average single adjustable coilovers this time around.

Bad experiences with adjustable pillow ball mounts and our weird (surprise bump!) roads was the main reason I went with rubber top mounts even though camber adjustment then becomes limited (camber bolts and a few tricks will limit you to around -2 degrees of camber up front).

I think my RS*Rs work really well as is on track and street given 225 street rubber and a -2f camber limitation.

If I were more focused on lower Autodrome lap times I'd want 17x9s with 245 rubber all around and more than -2 degrees camber up front, at which point I think I'd be asking my RS*Rs to work well outside their limits.

I also second the bushing recommendations. I've got Avo caster bushings up front, Whiteline rear camber bushings and Whilteline positive traction kit bushings for the rear subframe so far. Big difference & looking for more.

Beyond all that I'm sure that the guys on here will be able to recommend the right coilovers and spring rates better than I can.

[the.big.kahoona]

Originally Posted by ultra

@the.big.kahoona

If you're focused on lap times around the Autodrome then I'd focus on choosing your rubber and then choosing a suspension to match. I'm told we can get Pilot Super Sports here, which would seem to be the best rubber we can get here locally. If you're getting 8 inch RPF1s then I'm guessing you're looking at a 225 or 235 width depending on availability.

Ideal would be to stuff a 245 in there on some 17x9s but hey.

If you're getting double adjustable coilovers then I hope you can get somebody on here to help you set the bump and rebound up properly in order to maximize the effectiveness of them because the local shops know nothing. Learned that the hard way with the KW V3s on my Evo. Spent years fiddling with spring rates and bump/rebound and alignment settings.

That, and knowing that I'll never bother to run exotic compound street rubber or semi slicks, is why I felt like going with average single adjustable coilovers this time around.

Bad experiences with adjustable pillow ball mounts and our weird (surprise bump!) roads was the main reason I went with rubber top mounts even though camber adjustment then becomes limited (camber bolts and a few tricks will limit you to around -2 degrees of camber up front).

I think my RS*Rs work really well as is on track and street given 225 street rubber and a -2f camber limitation.

If I were more focused on lower Autodrome lap times I'd want 17x9s with 245 rubber all around and more than -2 degrees camber up front, at which point I think I'd be asking my RS*Rs to work well outside their limits.

I also second the bushing recommendations. I've got Avo caster bushings up front, Whiteline rear camber bushings and Whilteline positive traction kit bushings for the rear subframe so far. Big difference & looking for more.

Beyond all that I'm sure that the guys on here will be able to recommend the right coilovers and spring rates better than I can.

Great advice Ryan, thanks.

I settled for 17x8 because Im gonna try to keep this car na. I feel 235s will do the job, but im no expert.

Also agreed on the local shops.

The sti had every bushing out there. This will be the same.

The roads are so good here that compared to other places (speed bumps aside) that a high spring rate is def the way to go. Im more concerned about valving. But as I mentioned before, im.far from being an expert