STX Rules and Setup Questions

[Nerfbacon]

First off I want to thank all of you for the information in this thread. I read it starting on page 1 over the course of a few days and it has given me some info along with other topics here and on other forums. I plan on autocrossing in the St Louis region this year and my previous experience is just co-driving a Miata one event and an Integra in another event several years ago. The current plan is to do the Evo School, Starting Line, and Novice School here and im not really concerned with being competitive, just enjoying myself. That being said there are things that I want to change on the car that from my understanding will put me in STX so im just planning on it from the start and going to make sure things I buy keep me there. Now comes some questions, if anyone has any insight it would be much appreciated.

Brakes: In previous cars for just street use I have always enjoyed having better brakes. I have seen the DS2500 recommended a few times for Street/Autocross use and was going to pick those up front and rear with stainless brake lines and DBA rotors for the front. Would I need to get new OEM style rotors for the back in order to bed the pads correctly?

Alignment: Currently looking to just do crash bolts up front for as much as possible.

Wheels/Tires: I have narrowed my wheel choice to the Mach-V Awesome or the RPF1(both 17x9) and Dan has said in other posts that the Mach-V fits the stock suspension. Will the +35 or +45 RPF1 fit the stock suspension with a 245 tire(Z2 most likely)? If I installed RCE Yellows would they still fit?

Suspension: I would like from an aesthetic standpoint to lower the car about an inch(any lower than that and the roads would kill the car). I have bounced back and forth between coilovers and RCE yellows multiple times and have decided I would prefer to wait until next year to get coilovers if at that time I felt they were needed. From reading other posts here I have a feeling that the car will oversteer more than I would like when autocrossing and it seems as though a larger front sway bar like the Strano hollow would help. I also noticed that RCE has a kit with their front and rear swaybar and the yellows. Is that something that I should wait until after the Evo school to decide on?

Is there anything I missed or any changes/insights that anyone can think of?

[vroom4]

I suggest doing the strano FSB, crash bolts and tires on OEM wheels for your first season. Buy the Mach V and run them as your DD wheel if you want to upgrade wheels. Then learn the car, and upgrade to STX next season!

[jprice130]

Originally Posted by Nerfbacon

Wheels/Tires: I have narrowed my wheel choice to the Mach-V Awesome or the RPF1(both 17x9) and Dan has said in other posts that the Mach-V fits the stock suspension. Will the +35 or +45 RPF1 fit the stock suspension with a 245 tire(Z2 most likely)? If I installed RCE Yellows would they still fit?

Suspension: I would like from an aesthetic standpoint to lower the car about an inch(any lower than that and the roads would kill the car). I have bounced back and forth between coilovers and RCE yellows multiple times and have decided I would prefer to wait until next year to get coilovers if at that time I felt they were needed. From reading other posts here I have a feeling that the car will oversteer more than I would like when autocrossing and it seems as though a larger front sway bar like the Strano hollow would help. I also noticed that RCE has a kit with their front and rear swaybar and the yellows. Is that something that I should wait until after the Evo school to decide on?

Is there anything I missed or any changes/insights that anyone can think of?

If you're going to stay with stock sized springs (including the RCE Yellows), 17x9 +45 wheels with 245/40 tires might rub the spring perch in the front. If you install the camber bolts, it will definitely rub since the camber bolts will allow the hub assembly to tilt in closer to the spring/strut. A 5mm spacer up front can solve this, but that may also require extended lug studs so that you can get enough lug nut engagement.

The +42 offset of the Mach V wheels will give you a little more spring/strut clearance but may still rub slightly with the camber bolts. You can solve this with 3mm spacers and you will still have plenty of lug nut engagement with the stock lug studs.

+35 offset will definitely clear the springs/struts, but it may be closer to the fenders than you would prefer; especially if you don't have a method for running more negative camber so that the top of the tires can "tuck" inside the fenders.

All 3 wheel/offset options will be fine in the rear.

For the suspension, I'd just get the RCE Yellows as you planned and see how you like them with the stock sway bars. The reason a lot of folks run a larger front sway bar to combat oversteer, is because the stock spring rates (and a lot of coilovers) are more biased toward the rear of the car (which can promote oversteer). The RCE Yellows actually have an even spring rate between front and back, so you may find that this feels fine to you. If not, sway bars can easily be added later to help you fine-tune how you want the car to perform.

[fstlane]

Here's what the perch clearance looks like running RCE Yellows with 17x9+42 wheels and 245/40 ZIIs (no bolts).
Here's the same setup with maxed out oem camber bolts.
Surprisingly neither configuration rubbed during autocross runs. However, I did go ahead install longer studs and spacers to have a little more breathing room. I agree with jprice130 on sticking with the stock sways for now. The car is very capable and neutral on the stock bars.

[sosick]

Smaller battery and lca in the rear?

[EN2_Squirrel]

Originally Posted by sosick

Smaller battery and lca in the rear?

LCA= STX. smaller battery also= STX

[sosick]

Aluminum drive shaft?

[jprice130]

Originally Posted by sosick

Aluminum drive shaft?

Sorry, not legal for STX.

[piknockout]

First STX mod on the car. Installed the Perrin pulley after I did the oil change. It's sad how much of a difference I actually notice from it. Definitely feels a lot more driveable in everyday conditions.

Also got an "upgraded" rear bumper last night...some girl bumped into me at a redlight coming out of the gym. Very minor, but put some indentions into it. Unfortunately she wasn't hot/cute, so a complete waste of a potential opportunity. :unamused:

[xDanger_208x]

What are the recommended swaybar diameters if I'm running RCE Tarmac 2's w/400 lb. springs?
Suggestions?

[jprice130]

Originally Posted by xDanger_208x

What are the recommended swaybar diameters if I'm running RCE Tarmac 2's w/400 lb. springs?
Suggestions?

Have you competed on your RCE T2 setup yet? If so, how did the car perform? Understeer? Oversteer? Awesome?!

The ideal sway bars with your coilovers will depend on personal preference, alignment, tires, and typical course conditions. Some national level guys run only the stock sways, some will run only an upgraded front bar, and some have run only an upgraded rear bar. Sorry I can't be more specific, but this is really one of those "it depends" kind of questions.

[SubiePig]

Originally Posted by xDanger_208x

What are the recommended swaybar diameters if I'm running RCE Tarmac 2's w/400 lb. springs?
Suggestions?

Stranos 22mm front and probably leave the stock in the rear.

[autoXracer]

I just recently made the move from CS/RTR setup to STX. After keeping the car 1.5 yrs in stock setup, I wanted to change thing up. I won't be going full STX prep, it's my daily and just want to keep running at local events.

First got the KW V3's, 17x9 rpf1 and 255 Rival's. I also had the Strano front bar and oem camber bolts from before.

What are your opinions on this alignment settings? No front camber plates or rear LCA yet.
Front-
Camber: -2.3
Caster: 5.6
Toe-out: 1/16 total

Rear-
Camber: -2.0
Toe-in: 1/16 total

[SubiePig]

Originally Posted by autoXracer

What are your opinions on this alignment settings? No front camber plates or rear LCA yet.
Front-
Camber: -2.3
Caster: 5.6
Toe-out: 1/16 total

Rear-
Camber: -2.0
Toe-in: 1/16 total

Might find you need more front camber.