Suspension Settings - Looking for Suggestions

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Hmm. Looks like the biggest decision I need to make right now is 17x8 or 17x9...

I'm biased, but I have 17x9 720form GTF1s and they look way better than the 17x8 ones. More concave=more wet hunnies. Same with 17x9 RPF1s vs the 17x8.

Disclaimer: drunk post.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I've gone looking but I can't find the post by @CSG Mike. I think he stated there was one track where he was faster on wider (245?) tyres. Everywhere else 225 was the size to have.

I'm faster at SoWS CCW on 255 tires. Streets of Willow CCW has a section of 7 back to back corners where no production car can go faster than the limit of their tire's grip, which is why it's the exception.

Everywhere else, I'm fastest on 225 or smaller tires, assuming a NA car. Even most FI cars don't always benefit from wider tires.

I've been wanting to test at Autoclub Speedway on 195 tires, but haven't had the opportunity.


Now, keep in mind that this is for a track situation, and that this is only the case for someone who has the ability to get that good lap in one lap. Smaller tires also overheat faster, so the window of opportunity is larger with a wider tire that has more tire mass to help absorb the heat.

The downside of a wider tire at the track, is that the sheer contact patch can mask mistakes, and when you DO break traction, you were gripping more prior to breaking traction, so the loss in grip is (relatively) more sudden and abrupt.


For AutoX cars, the widest tire is the best tire.


@ OP: If you're unsure, go with the 17x9. Having too much tire is most likely better for you than not having enough, even at the cost of masking bad driving. 17x9 is also much easier to unload used, than 17x8.

Also, 6ULs are in stock in ALL colors, and ready to ship.

[strat61caster]

Everything here is pretty solid although i bet you will end up with front camber in the -3, -3.5 range. Great thing about camber plates is that it's easy as pie to arrive in the morning, Jack the car up add your hpde/autox camber, run all day and put it back to DD spec before you go home. Takes me all of 5 minutes to adjust my cascams and the toe change is unnoticeable from behind the wheel.

If your having a shop set the alignment it might take a more in depth explanation, or just have them align it as a racecar and you adjust the camber back yourself after you pick the car up.



Edit and if you want to be competitive in stx you have to go with a 9" wheel, rules actually say you can go to a 265tire but it's rare to see >245s on an 86. I've heard, and I don't know how true this is, that the 86 just doesn't have enough weight or power to get 255+ tires up to operating temperature. You might be able to work an 8/245 combo with some loss in steering feel, you'd likely be competitive at local events maybe even swinging for podiums if your setup and driving skills are good.

Weird thing is that it's really hard to beat 9" rpf1s on weight with an 8" of the same diameter on a budget and 235 options aren't great, so I'm kind of like fuckit, probably be on these 9s anytime I want good grip.

[drewbot]

All this great info and we haven't even gotten into the damper settings....

[cwpbrz-ji]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

I'm looking for some input

Wheels: Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 ~ Size 17” x 8.0” ~ Bolt 5 x 100mm ~ Offset +42mm ~ Hub 56.1mm

Tires: BFGoodrich G-Force Comp II (245/40R17)

Suspension: WORKS/Ohlins Stage III ~ SuperPro Rear LCAs

Alignment: Set for: “close to factory specs” and “grip”.

Current Alignment Front:

Camber: Left Front -0.8° ~ Right Front -0.8°

Caster: Left Front 5.3° ~ Right Front 5.7°

Toe: Left Front 0.01° ~ Right Front 0.01°

Front: Total Toe 0.02° ~ Steer Ahead 0.00°

Current Alignment Rear:

Camber: Left Rear -1.8° ~ Right Rear -1.8°

Toe: Left Rear 0.01° ~ Right Rear 0.00°

Rear: Total Toe 0.02° ~ Thrust Angle 0.01°

I have also been considering sway bars and have not decided, but liked what @DSOmegaX had to say:

Next up are the Cusco 16mm front and rear sway bar. With this setup and the rest of my suspension, the car corners extremely smooth. There's a slight hint of oversteer from going with the larger rear sway when pushed, but otherwise the car feels completely neutral, which is what I aim for. No discernible change in ride quality so no complaints whatsoever there.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=452

mentioned first here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=447

[xwd]

I would just go into the STX setup thread and copy what others have done, the setup will work well enough on the track as well. Nobody is doing anything really crazy specific to autocross. The driver and the tires make way more of a difference in either one.

I daily drive my car with -2.8 degrees of camber in front and the tires don't wear any faster.

If you are doing more track days, I'd maybe recommend the RS3v2s over the RE71s, more autocross the RE71 is really the only choice right now.

[Stang70Fastback]

I appreciate the feedback guys. Yeah this year it'll likely be mostly autocross with hopefully a track day or two thrown in, if I make it out to any. I'm honestly more interested in what is a good setup for the street more than anything. From the responses here, it sounds like I don't have to worry about uneven wear until I get past the 3-degree mark, at least. Which makes sense. I take enough entrance ramps at speed to make up for the uneven wear in a straight line

I just don't want to have to worry about screwing up my tires on a drive from, say, Chicago to New Jersey or something, that's all.