CSG and RCE tag-team suspension Q&A thread! Ask us anything!

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by rs999

I have been reading up on Sam Strano's AutoX setup on this forum and he uses a relatively simple setup of summer tires, Strano front sway, and Koni Sport shocks.

What I want to know is how important are shocks in this setup? Are they necessary to control additional body roll or to tune out undesired body dive?

Would Bilstein B6's work better or would it be better to use RCE Tarmac Zero's?

I am looking for simple AutoX, Track, and spirited driving setups. I don't really care about lowering as well.

And Sam's setup looks to be the most simple and best bang for the buck.

Sam's set-up you mentioned is for C stock where you're extremely limited in what you can do.

For STX class you would want to coilovers to be competitive.

Are you out to be competitive in a certain class or just trying to have fun?

- Andy

[digital_assassin]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

How does the car feel? Hard to make suggestions without knowing where you think you're slower. Alignment specs sound good.

- Andy

Sorry, was in a hurry. I was pushing entering corners and did a temporary remedy of letting air out of the tires but I had to take them down to 28PSI hot to do anything. It helped but I'm needing to srub off more speed to keep things in check. The rear is wanting to step out as well. I've gotten it to lose grip with less speed than I was exiting with before. My current rear camber is -2.2 so I'm hoping adding a bit will make it stick a bit more. I've thought about going to full soft on the sways or even unhooking it.

[rs999]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Sam's set-up you mentioned is for C stock where you're extremely limited in what you can do.

For STX class you would want to coilovers to be competitive.

Are you out to be competitive in a certain class or just trying to have fun?

- Andy

I'm competing in C class now in my FR-S. However, I do more track days and time attacks than autocross. Also, I only do AutoX for fun but it would be nice to place in the top 75 instead of the bottom 75 of Tidewater Sports Car Club's AutoX events.

Would a STX build be better for that? I would prefer a neutral setup instead of a tail happy car like the FR-S is stock or with a rear sway bar only.

I did read this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52755

And it looks like the Tarmac 0's are a good choice but with the stock bars or only front upgraded bar.

Should I instead start with the Tarmac 0's then add a front bar or start front bar then do T0's?

Sticky summer tires will be on both setups.

[Shark_Bait88]

So I am currently debating between running in CS or STX for the next season of autocross (my first full season).

For CS, I like the idea of being able to make my car fairly competitive (not factoring in the driver mod lol) for relatively cheap. I already have a 2nd set of OEM wheels for winter that would function as track wheels during the autox season.

However, I also like the idea of being able to modify my car even more to my liking with STX. One of my concerns with STX comes from changing between daily wheels (17x7 OEMs) and track wheels (most likely 17x9 RPF1s).

Once I get coilovers (planning on SACHS since I get a significant discount) will I run into any issues with the tuning of the suspension or ride quality going back and forth between such different sized wheels?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by rs999

I'm competing in C class now in my FR-S. However, I do more track days and time attacks than autocross. Also, I only do AutoX for fun but it would be nice to place in the top 75 instead of the bottom 75 of Tidewater Sports Car Club's AutoX events.

Would a STX build be better for that? I would prefer a neutral setup instead of a tail happy car like the FR-S is stock or with a rear sway bar only.

I did read this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52755

And it looks like the Tarmac 0's are a good choice but with the stock bars or only front upgraded bar.

Should I instead start with the Tarmac 0's then add a front bar or start front bar then do T0's?

Sticky summer tires will be on both setups.

IMO an STX build is more fun since you aren't as restricted. You can dial in the handling quite a bit more to the way you like it. So if your focus is fun and your track days are more frequent than auto-x days I'd go with an STX type build.

RCE T0 are a great choice and work well for track and auto-x. If you know they're in the plans then I would start with them as that will be the most dramatic change. You may like them without changing bars at all.

One note, a hardcore, dedicated, nationals level STX car may not be ideal on the track. BUT a well set-up track car will still be pretty quick for auto-x.

- Andy

[yomny]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Best to measure from center of hub to fender for ride height measurements. Get one side right and measure threads or something so you can get the other side the same. Measure twice. Corner balance if necessary then align.

You should be able to adjust without removing endlinks.

- Andy

The situation is that if I go by strut measurement and get both sides even then when I measure the hub-fender distance, it'll be different or the car won't look even. I opted for adjusting coil over so it's visually when and disregard strut length.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by digital_assassin

Sorry, was in a hurry. I was pushing entering corners and did a temporary remedy of letting air out of the tires but I had to take them down to 28PSI hot to do anything. It helped but I'm needing to srub off more speed to keep things in check. The rear is wanting to step out as well. I've gotten it to lose grip with less speed than I was exiting with before. My current rear camber is -2.2 so I'm hoping adding a bit will make it stick a bit more. I've thought about going to full soft on the sways or even unhooking it.

Some quick armchair thoughts:

1. I would think about softening the rear sway if you raised the rear (and I do think that raising the rear was a good call).

2. The slight bit of extra rear camber you added also is probably good.

3. I was a little confused on what you did for your damper settings. I would soften the front rebound a bit if you're understeering on entry.

4. Can you not reach your rear adjusters?

- Andy

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by yomny

The situation is that if I go by strut measurement and get both sides even then when I measure the hub-fender distance, it'll be different or the car won't look even. I opted for adjusting coil over so it's visually when and disregard strut length.

That's fine and it happens. Doesn't always come out visually even and you can adjust to get it perfect.

- Andy

[yomny]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

That's fine and it happens. Doesn't always come out visually even and you can adjust to get it perfect.



- Andy

Thanks for your time and believe it or not a means the world to some of us that you guys take the time just to answer. Any time I need parts your webpage is the first visit. Got my track pads from David at csg.

[gramicci101]

@rs999, @Shark_Bait88,

Check this thread out.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72735

This would put you in STX, but it's a good deal. Especially with the upgraded springs included.

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

@rs999, @Shark_Bait88,

Check this thread out.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72735

This would put you in STX, but it's a good deal. Especially with the upgraded springs included.

Thanks for the suggestion! Saw those earlier, but I really need to get wheels and tires first. haha Plus, I can get a better deal on a brand new set of SACHS Performance Coilovers.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Shark_Bait88

Thanks for the suggestion! Saw those earlier, but I really need to get wheels and tires first. haha Plus, I can get a better deal on a brand new set of SACHS Performance Coilovers.

I mean, I suppose that'll work too.

[digital_assassin]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Some quick armchair thoughts:



1. I would think about softening the rear sway if you raised the rear (and I do think that raising the rear was a good call).



2. The slight bit of extra rear camber you added also is probably good.



3. I was a little confused on what you did for your damper settings. I would soften the front rebound a bit if you're understeering on entry.



4. Can you not reach your rear adjusters?



- Andy

Thanks. I did soften both compression and rebound. They were previously set nearly at full firm by GC so I moved them right into the midrange on each setting. I can't do the rears because I can't see the adjuster. The instructions show doing it out of the car with the shock in a vice. Ain't gonna happen today. If I'm missing something about how to adjust the rears please tell.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

@rs999, @Shark_Bait88,

Check this thread out.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72735

This would put you in STX, but it's a good deal. Especially with the upgraded springs included.

Not a bad deal at all!

- Andy