RCE Tarmac 2 Daily Drivability?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by smg1138

@Racecomp Engineering How does ride height affect comfort? Like the lower you go on T2's does the ride quality become more harsh? I currently have mine about 45mm lower than stock and was thinking about raising it back up some.

The T2s do have a lot of compression travel, but lower ride heights will sacrifice that and will impact ride quality. IMO 45mm is too low and you might get both better ride and handling if you raise it up to say 30mm lower than stock. A little bit of rake (slightly higher rear than front) can benefit some applications as well.

- Andrew

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by smg1138

@Racecomp Engineering How does ride height affect comfort? Like the lower you go on T2's does the ride quality become more harsh? I currently have mine about 45mm lower than stock and was thinking about raising it back up some.

Depends on how big the bump stop is and how far into it you already are.

[C4RBON]

After installing the shorter end links, my sway bar is no longer hitting the control arm. No more clunking on low speed bumps.

[2Wavy]

I finally got around to buying these and getting them put on the car. The car is lowered an inch from stock, and the damper settings are set to the recommended settings from the install guide. I can honestly say the ride quality isn't anywhere near as harsh as I had expected. You definitely feel little bumps and any waviness in roads more, but they never feel harsh. On bigger potholes it feels like the T2s actually soak them up better than stock. I also had a friend with a 2015 WRX ride along and he said the ride quality doesn't feel any worse than the stock suspension on his car. Overall, definitely a daily driveable setup as long as you're not driving on insanely bad roads. The car does also feel more responsive in the corners and definitely more confidence inspiring when I'm pushing it hard in the twisties, but I'll wait to do an autocross before I make any further conclusions about handling.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by C4RBON

After installing the shorter end links, my sway bar is no longer hitting the control arm. No more clunking on low speed bumps.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but what endlinks did you go with, and are you running OEM LCAs?

[cmiovino]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

Sorry to revive an old thread, but what endlinks did you go with, and are you running OEM LCAs?

I'm actually also interested. I'm currently running the Perrin non-adjustable 'long' front endlinks with their 19mm bar and figured it might need shorter ones when moving to the T2's.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by cmiovino

I'm actually also interested. I'm currently running the Perrin non-adjustable 'long' front endlinks with their 19mm bar and figured it might need shorter ones when moving to the T2's.

Those Perrin front end links don’t work well. I had to bin a set. They also hit the inside of the body a lot. I think I have the 180mm white lines now and they don’t contact anything.

[strat61caster]

Yeah I've got the Perrins in the rear, the seem really sturdy and quiet, if they last a long time they will be worth it. However they are not ideal geometry or easy to adjust. Good sporty street parts, not sure if ideal comp autox/track parts.

The whiteline are decent, but I had the nuts loosen over time, not sure how to prevent that, locktite maybe. Megans were in the same boat, they seem slightly less durable on the ball joints, but it's not the end of the world.

[Racecomp Engineering]

I've been working on some endlinks.

We want something that can handle some weather and rod ends that actually last. Wasn't 100% happy with the first test set but they were almost there. I have a new revision on my car now.

Trying to make them easy to install, quiet, and strong. Good quality hardware, too. And of course proper lengths for our RCE coilovers and others.

No ETA yet, we've got a lot of projects at the moment. Still sorting a few details.

- Andrew

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I've been working on some endlinks.

We want something that can handle some weather and rod ends that actually last. Wasn't 100% happy with the first test set but they were almost there. I have a new revision on my car now.

Trying to make them easy to install, quiet, and strong. Good quality hardware, too. And of course proper lengths for our RCE coilovers and others.

No ETA yet, we've got a lot of projects at the moment. Still sorting a few details.

- Andrew

Flanged metal locknuts for the end links please.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Flanged metal locknuts for the end links please.

Indeed, that's important.

I have been using loctite on flanged nuts for the 2nd iteration...trying to figure out what makes sense for most people. For my use case, I've been swapping suspensions very frequently so a nut with a nylon insert isn't ideal.

- Andrew

[marco_mc22]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Indeed, that's important.

I have been using loctite on flanged nuts for the 2nd iteration...trying to figure out what makes sense for most people. For my use case, I've been swapping suspensions very frequently so a nut with a nylon insert isn't ideal.

- Andrew

The ideal are nord lock washers with standard or flanged nuts, they’re used in every application where bolts or nuts coming lose is a concern.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by marco_mc22

The ideal are nord lock washers with standard or flanged nuts, they’re used in every application where bolts or nuts coming lose is a concern.

Nord lock washers are cool, however there is some concern (even if it's silly) about the serrations damaging the paint on the sway bar. Not important to most people I'm sure, but someone will be upset. I may still try them.

- Andrew

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Nord lock washers are cool, however there is some concern (even if it's silly) about the serrations damaging the paint on the sway bar. Not important to most people I'm sure, but someone will be upset. I may still try them.

- Andrew

Disc-lock makes a similar style ramping washer that doesn't have as aggressive external serrations. I buy a couple sizes of their lock nut, we like them since their lock nuts have smooth flanges and don't tear parts up.