Performance shocks with stock springs, worth it ?

[Sylvain44]

Hi,

I'm doing autoX-like races in Switzerland (called Slalom here), and the only modifications alllowed, if I want to stay in the L1 class, are DOT tires, wheels and shocks, but the car must stay at the stock height.
I got some Yokohama AD08R 225/45R17 on OZ Alleggerita 8x17 wheels, and I was wondering if putting aftermarket shocks (like Bilstein B6), while keeping the stock springs, would improve the handling and transitions (and the times) ?

I'm new to these stuffs, so thank you for your lights

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Sylvain44

Hi,

I'm doing autoX-like races in Switzerland (called Slalom here), and the only modifications alllowed, if I want to stay in the L1 class, are DOT tires, wheels and shocks, but the car must stay at the stock height.
I got some Yokohama AD08R 225/45R17 on OZ Alleggerita 8x17 wheels, and I was wondering if putting aftermarket shocks (like Bilstein B6), while keeping the stock springs, would improve the handling and transitions (and the times) ?

I'm new to these stuffs, so thank you for your lights

Drive the car as it sits and figure out what you want the car to do from there. You may want to add a Subaru crash bolt if possible as it is an OEM part. This will give you extra front camber without penalty. Once you have identified what the car may need after trying different methods of taming the car, you may want to look into a high end upgraded set of shocks. Bilstein B6 is a small upgrade and for your application on stock springs, may not be sufficient to improve overall performance significantly.

Can you change bushings without penalty?

[Sylvain44]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Drive the car as it sits and figure out what you want the car to do from there. You may want to add a Subaru crash bolt if possible as it is an OEM part. This will give you extra front camber without penalty. Once you have identified what the car may need after trying different methods of taming the car, you may want to look into a high end upgraded set of shocks. Bilstein B6 is a small upgrade and for your application on stock springs, may not be sufficient to improve overall performance significantly.

Can you change bushings without penalty?

Thanks for your answer, the rules are "All modifications and changes that improve the weight, engine power, the handling, the steering or braking systems or increase noise are prohibited if they are not explicitly authorized by this regulation.", so I don't think so but I'll try to ask about camber bolt and brushing...
Could you give me some examples of high end upgraded set of shocks please ?

Here is my run from saturday if you are interested. I was 6s slower than the first from my group.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N84GulpdtVI"]Slalom de Genève 2014 - Subaru BRZ - 2:33.69 - YouTube[/ame]

[wparsons]

Honestly, just keep practicing and go for ride alongs with more experienced people.

What tires do you have? They can make a HUGE difference.

Unrelated, what are you using to give the overlay of the cluster, love that it looks like the actual cluster.

[Racecomp Engineering]

That course is INSANE.

Good shocks do make a big difference even on stock springs, especially in transitions. Koni Yellow or Bilstein B6 would be your two choices.

Practice makes the biggest difference though.

- Andy

[Sylvain44]

Of course I need (and want !!) some practice, that was only my 4th race

Originally Posted by wparsons

What tires do you have? They can make a HUGE difference.

I said it in the first post, Yokohama AD08R 225/45R17 on OZ Alleggerita 8x17.
I could move to semi-slicks like Toyo R888 or Yoko AD048 for the next set, but they are twice the price and lasts half...

Originally Posted by wparsons

Unrelated, what are you using to give the overlay of the cluster, love that it looks like the actual cluster.

I'm using RaceRender 3 ! I did the gauges design myself to match the car (european version), if you want I can send you the template.

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

That course is INSANE.

Good shocks do make a big difference even on stock springs, especially in transitions. Koni Yellow or Bilstein B6 would be your two choices.

Practice makes the biggest difference though.

- Andy

Okey, thanks for the answer !

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Sylvain44

Thanks for your answer, the rules are "All modifications and changes that improve the weight, engine power, the handling, the steering or braking systems or increase noise are prohibited if they are not explicitly authorized by this regulation.", so I don't think so but I'll try to ask about camber bolt and brushing...
Could you give me some examples of high end upgraded set of shocks please ?

Here is my run from saturday if you are interested. I was 6s slower than the first from my group.

They won't know that you changed the upper bolt. It is verifiable as an OEM component so they can't give you any sort of grief about it.

[vroom4]

You are running wider than oem wheels, that is an upgrade to the handle system and probably not class legal.

[drewbot]

THAT COURSE

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Sylvain44

I'm using RaceRender 3 ! I did the gauges design myself to match the car (european version), if you want I can send you the template.

That would be GREATLY appreciated! What are you logging with?

[Firestorm_86]

Damn... we need AutoX like that here...

[Turdinator]

That course looks a ton of fun.

If you are running better than stock tyres you will need more front camber. Get the crash bolts and a performance alignment

Another thing I would think about is getting a tune. While it is probably not strictly allowed under the rules you mentioned it would be hard for them to prove you have one.

[KKaWing]

That's not autocross... that's a Ken Block video in the making @_@ it's practically a rally stage it's so long :p

[Sylvain44]

Originally Posted by vroom4

You are running wider than oem wheels, that is an upgrade to the handle system and probably not class legal.

It's explicitly said that wheels and tire size are free, as long as, if you look from the top, you don't see the wheels going wider than the car.

Originally Posted by wparsons

That would be GREATLY appreciated! What are you logging with?

You can find the template in my topic here:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...84#post1654484
For the logging, I usually use RaceChrono, but it needs the GPS signal to log, so it wasn't working in the inside part of this race, so this time I used Torque.

Originally Posted by Turdinator

If you are running better than stock tyres you will need more front camber. Get the crash bolts and a performance alignment

Okey, too bad I did an alignment last spring but everything was put to 0.
What would be a good starting point for a DD + autoX alignment ?

Originally Posted by Turdinator

Another thing I would think about is getting a tune. While it is probably not strictly allowed under the rules you mentioned it would be hard for them to prove you have one.

They won't be able to see it, but for me that's cheating
I don't know it the other driver are doing this but I won't !

Originally Posted by KKaWing

That's not autocross... that's a Ken Block video in the making @_@ it's practically a rally stage it's so long :p

Haha, actually that's one of the short ones.
We've got only 4 runs so that's not easy to remember everything and do a good time !
The one I did in april was even longer and more like a rally stage:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rghpy-oPxz4"]Slalom de Bière 2014 - Subaru BRZ - 3:19.460 - YouTube[/ame]