How to screw up your cars handling and ride - step by step!

[Surok]

ahhh Andy, another fabulous post.

The RCE account is a gem of these forums!

[welllam]

I come across a set of used Work emotions cr at 18 X 8.5 Et 38 and 18 X 9.5 Et 38 as well at a good price. This set is for form over functions as I have a prf 17*8 for tracks.
Reading this thread gave me some doubt because of the disadvantage on staggered set up. If I mount 245/35/18 on front and back will be still a squared setup and doesn't affect much the handling?

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by welllam

I come across a set of used Work emotions cr at 18 X 8.5 Et 38 and 18 X 9.5 Et 38 as well at a good price. This set is for form over functions as I have a prf 17*8 for tracks.
Reading this thread gave me some doubt because of the disadvantage on staggered set up. If I mount 245/35/18 on front and back will be still a squared setup and doesn't affect much the handling?

are you still on stock power?

[hmong337]

Love everything in the original post!

[fooddude]

Another sure fire way to fck up this car's handling - swap a different engine into it...especially a tall/big/heavy LSx, V8, RB or 2JZ motor.. lol

[NissanGuy]

Haha fine, I'll dial in more than 35 minutes camber! I've just noticed my tires wearing outside edge first...

As for tire choice, I want OEM Yokohama Decibel E70 205/55R16. So, not entirely un-ruined.

[gramicci101]

1 degree is 60 arcminutes, for those at home.

I just had to google this and figured I'd share the wealth.

[Jyn]

Originally Posted by welllam

I come across a set of used Work emotions cr at 18 X 8.5 Et 38 and 18 X 9.5 Et 38 as well at a good price. This set is for form over functions as I have a prf 17*8 for tracks.
Reading this thread gave me some doubt because of the disadvantage on staggered set up. If I mount 245/35/18 on front and back will be still a squared setup and doesn't affect much the handling?

I would like to know this as well - especially in regards to the square setup and its effects on handling vs. stock.

[mit_peid]

How much more power before entertaining a staggered setup as an option? For example, if you have a ~250whp FRS/BRZ.... would going 18x8.5 (F) and 18x9.5 (R) be all that much understeer? AP2 S2K had a slight staggered setup and it only had 240bhp stock (but I'm sure I'm comparing apples with oranges at this point).

[hattrickey]

With a 1" drop using a 17x9 wheel, what would be the difference between a 245/45 and 255/40 tire?

[andrew20195]

Originally Posted by mit_peid

How much more power before entertaining a staggered setup as an option? For example, if you have a ~250whp FRS/BRZ.... would going 18x8.5 (F) and 18x9.5 (R) be all that much understeer? AP2 S2K had a slight staggered setup and it only had 240bhp stock (but I'm sure I'm comparing apples with oranges at this point).

I would think that with people fitting 265's on 9.5 wheels on the front of our cars, there's not really a reason to ever go staggered.

[welllam]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

are you still on stock power?

No sir. Mines vortech supercharged at pump.

[mit_peid]

Originally Posted by andrew20195

I would think that with people fitting 265's on 9.5 wheels on the front of our cars, there's not really a reason to ever go staggered.

For some reason I doubt most of the people going 9.5" square are maximizing overall performance (although I do agree it looks pretty good with 18x9.5" if you can make them fit). Problem is I believe generally you need coilovers with a smaller diameter than stock (and some camber adjustment) to make 9.5" fit up front. Everything seems to be a compromise with no real clear right answer on this if you're trying to 1.) maximize handling performance 2.) without impacting throttle response & MPG too much and 3.) look good doing it.

[Kostamojen]

I totally forgot I was going to start a thread like this!

Glad I don't have to now


Anyway, RCE's car is a car I tried to mimic a bit with mine. Of all the cars I've seen on the forums, it was one of the best looking and a simple setup as well (with the BBS's on the RCE springs).

I went with replica BBS's that look exactly the same but do weigh a couple lbs more, and actually decided to try a staggard setup (the tires are 245/35/18 all around, but the wheels are 18x8 front, 18x9 rear).

Yes it DID ruin the car at first. There was way too much understeer, big power loss from the larger wheels, etc. It required a couple additional mods to compensate, but I have to say now it handles pretty damn well...

BUT it doesn't handle like it did originally!!! And I don't recommend it if you want to keep the handling characteristics of the car or improve on them. To do that, you don't need to do much, and throw the idea of "form" out of the window:

A) Larger front swaybar, but not too large (Strano has the perfect size)

B) Front Crash bolts (to get more than -1 front camber)

C) 17" wheels with stickier tires no more than 225 in width

D) BRZ stock front springs, FRS stock rear springs


I ran that setup for awhile, and I have to say the car handled like a dream. I could throw it around at will and never had to worry about the car snap oversteering OR understeering, it was perfectly neutral!

As for wheels, IMO 17x7.5 wheels with ~+45 offset and less weight than the stock wheels are perfect for this car. Anything larger changes the car in ways its hard to describe... I miss the old setup, but at the same time enjoy the new one because the car really should look like this from the factory. I'm just glad I was at least able to improve the look of the car and actually increase corning speeds dramatically even if I did sacrifice the handling characteristics of the car.