Multipurpose and multi-surface suspension - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Wonderbar · 09-20-2014, 10:50 AM

Looking for personal experiences of people who are running their cars in multiple forms of racing.

I am looking at rallyX, autoX, road racing, hill climb, and possibly a stage rally or two.

Leaning towards Ohlin or Bilsteins.

Anyone have experience in this situation, what were your pros/cons? What would you change?

Insight from @CSG Mike or any other suspension nerds.

xwd · 09-20-2014, 02:10 PM

You want one suspension to do all of those? You would want something you could adjust to have stock-like shock travel for rally-x. Stage rally it would really depend on the rally, street/track shocks aren't really meant for a stage rally with large bumps, jumps, etc.

You might be better off just using the stock suspension for that since it's cheap to replace, or use the bilstein/koni rebuildable struts.

gramicci101 · 09-20-2014, 02:30 PM

If you don't mind changing suspension for different activities, TRD makes rally suspension that's a little taller and softer.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57564

Gunman · 09-20-2014, 03:37 PM

I'm not sure you'll find a "one size fits all" that will work right for all those events. Something that works adequate for all might be possible. As much adjustable as you can get/afford would be the key, so you can tune for all the different conditions, without too many tuning options, so that you're always chasing the setup.

Wonderbar · 09-20-2014, 04:59 PM

I understand all of the differences.

And I don't expect a setup that will be a champion of all. My intent is for my own driver skill increases, without buying 2-3 suspension setups to play on different surfaces.

I know I can't be the first, and I know I can't be the only one who doesn't race ONLY one form or skillset.

CSG Mike · 09-20-2014, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonderbar

Looking for personal experiences of people who are running their cars in multiple forms of racing.

I am looking at rallyX, autoX, road racing, hill climb, and possibly a stage rally or two.

Leaning towards Ohlin or Bilsteins.

Anyone have experience in this situation, what were your pros/cons? What would you change?

Insight from @CSG Mike or any other suspension nerds.

RallyX/rally and autox/roadrace are mutually exclusive.

Hill climb will depend on the event.

Racecomp Engineering · 09-20-2014, 10:23 PM

For light non-competitive and just for fun autox/rallyx/street...just do Bilstein HD shocks, stock springs, and some upgraded bushings. Maybe swap in stiffer sway bars for tarmac events but the focus will be on driving and learning. There isn't a serious one size fits all set-up for all of that.

- Andy

rs999 · 09-27-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

For light non-competitive and just for fun autox/rallyx/street...just do Bilstein HD shocks, stock springs, and some upgraded bushings. Maybe swap in stiffer sway bars for tarmac events but the focus will be on driving and learning. There isn't a serious one size fits all set-up for all of that.

- Andy

Anyone have Andy's setup?

How do the Bilstein HDs ride?

I had black Bilstein touring shocks and they made my Volvo ride pan hard even on stock springs.

cdrazic93 · 09-27-2014, 06:34 PM

I mean since you suggested ohlins how much are you willing to pay?

Shankenstein · 09-28-2014, 12:14 AM

I keep wanting to reply to this thread... because it's an important question to be asking. There's just really no good answer.

You have some options (though I can't recommend any of them):
- get coilovers with a wide range of damper adjustment and swap out springs
- get coilovers with progressive rate springs and fiddle with the pre-load
- get adjustable dampers and crank it to 11 when you want a stiffer ride
- get an adjustable sway bar and keep a soft suspension
- make an air ride + damptronic setup
- make a McLaren-style hydraulic system with heave bar Link to Edmunds article

cdrazic93 · 09-28-2014, 01:12 AM

Or...........…...........

Wait for DougW to finish his Bilstein SmartDamptronic testing and find a way to release it to the public...

09-27-2014, 06:34 PM	#9
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I mean since you suggested ohlins how much are you willing to pay? __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

09-28-2014, 12:14 AM	#10
Shankenstein Frosty Carrot Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: The Atomic Carrot Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 513 Thanks: 272 Thanked 431 Times in 199 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I keep wanting to reply to this thread... because it's an important question to be asking. There's just really no good answer. You have some options (though I can't recommend any of them): - get coilovers with a wide range of damper adjustment and swap out springs - get coilovers with progressive rate springs and fiddle with the pre-load - get adjustable dampers and crank it to 11 when you want a stiffer ride - get an adjustable sway bar and keep a soft suspension - make an air ride + damptronic setup - make a McLaren-style hydraulic system with heave bar Link to Edmunds article __________________ If you think you're nerd enough, join in the discussions about Suspension and Aerodynamic modelling! Wall of Fame - JDL Auto Design, Raceseng, Vishnu Tuning, Penske Shocks, Nameless, Perrin, RaceComp Engineering, Essex/AP Racing, Verus, RacerX Wall of Shame - aFe Takeda, Wilwood, FA20Club

09-28-2014, 01:12 AM	#11
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Or...........…........... Wait for DougW to finish his Bilstein SmartDamptronic testing and find a way to release it to the public... __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

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09-20-2014, 02:10 PM	#2
xwd Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 2013 DGM Subaru BRZ (Subie #9) Location: ATL, US Posts: 2,667 Thanks: 123 Thanked 861 Times in 552 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You want one suspension to do all of those? You would want something you could adjust to have stock-like shock travel for rally-x. Stage rally it would really depend on the rally, street/track shocks aren't really meant for a stage rally with large bumps, jumps, etc. You might be better off just using the stock suspension for that since it's cheap to replace, or use the bilstein/koni rebuildable struts.

09-20-2014, 02:30 PM	#3
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	If you don't mind changing suspension for different activities, TRD makes rally suspension that's a little taller and softer. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57564

09-20-2014, 10:23 PM	#7
Racecomp Engineering Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2016 BRZ, 2012 Paris Di2 & 2018 STI Location: Severn, MD Posts: 5,520 Thanks: 3,542 Thanked 7,416 Times in 3,034 Posts Mentioned: 311 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	For light non-competitive and just for fun autox/rallyx/street...just do Bilstein HD shocks, stock springs, and some upgraded bushings. Maybe swap in stiffer sway bars for tarmac events but the focus will be on driving and learning. There isn't a serious one size fits all set-up for all of that. - Andy

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