STX setup sharing thread (2022)

[95370]

I've been campaigning in SCCA STX and PCA events in my 2015 FR-S with:

bone stock suspension (I live in the mountains, where ground clearance and suspension travel are your friends);
18x8.5 Rota RT-5's with fairly craptastic Bridgestone S007A 245/35R18's (240 treadwear?) on them;
StopTech vented/drilled rotors in front and slotted/vented in rear, stock diameters both, StopTech pads (sporty composition, forget what they're called exactly), and stainless soft lines;
FTSpeedFactory catted UEL header;
full Invidia 2.5" diameter system behind it, Q300 cat-back;
OFT Stage 2 tune;
HPS post-MAF tube (sound tube delete); and
K&N filter element.

Even with stock suspension and on skatey tires, it's fun and I do fairly well. This is in Northern California where the autocross scene seems pretty competitive, FWIW.

Next year, I think I may bite the bullet and fit the SSC-spec suspension package (Koni yellows, etc.), and also proper 200-treadwear tires on lighter wheels (probably Enkei RFP1's in a 17" size for the weight savings). Or maybe revert to racing my old NA Miata in STS - it's actually the faster car on most of the courses we've run this year. Hmmm.

I've been doing autocross on and off since 1990 in all sorts of cars (AE86 GT-S, AW11 MR2, Mk2 Scirocco, Mk1 GTI, STS NA Miata, etc.) and have learned that usually the best performance gains are from driver training, not mechanical work. Get mentored by a friendly national champ (like I did), or do a pre-season driver school day. Many local SCCA chapters hold them, and doing car control for 6 hours straight on a Saturday will definitely show you what you need to master.

Also, FWIW, earlier this month, I tracked the car at Laguna Seca for part of a HoD event, and thought it worked really, really well in its above configuration. SUPER fun, very easy to drive at speed, and faster than a bunch of other hardware that was going around with me that ought to have left me behind. Definitely put a big smile on my face.

[DocWalt]

Amusingly, the SSC-spec suspension package is lower than many proper STX setups & rides worse because it's always on bumpstops... Fair warning.

[steverife]

My car rides better in STX trim.

However, ground clearance is more of an issue as the STX tires are shorter and I have to run a full exhaust to pass sound with a header. And the exhaust rubs.

[strat61caster]

And at ~$1500 for a new eibach +koni kit from Tirerack you’re 3/4 of the way to a nationally competitive coilover setup from Shaftworks, ProParts, or Redshift, all of which are capable of shipping you slightly softer spring rates like say 5kF/6kR to get a better compromise between Street/autox. You could also get RCE Tarmac 2 or KW V3 or Bilstein B16 for about $2k as well which are a little more Street oriented and with some dialing in can be pretty competitive too. On those coilovers you can set them to be less then an inch lower then stock, the eibach puts you at about an inch.

I’d rather have a good coilover and stock bars then a mediocre coilover and those big eibach sway bars in the SSC kit.

Maybe if you can snag a Koni+lowering spring combo for $1k it might be worth not getting pricier dampers, but might as well spend once instead of twice.

Edit: biggest gains on this car imho are alignment, the more aggressive you’re willing to go the better imho. -4F and -2.5R camber.

[jcaserta]

Originally Posted by 95370

I've been campaigning in SCCA STX and PCA events in my 2015 FR-S with:

bone stock suspension (I live in the mountains, where ground clearance and suspension travel are your friends);
18x8.5 Rota RT-5's with fairly craptastic Bridgestone S007A 245/35R18's (240 treadwear?) on them;
StopTech vented/drilled rotors in front and slotted/vented in rear, stock diameters both, StopTech pads (sporty composition, forget what they're called exactly), and stainless soft lines;
FTSpeedFactory catted UEL header;
full Invidia 2.5" diameter system behind it, Q300 cat-back;
OFT Stage 2 tune;
HPS post-MAF tube (sound tube delete); and
K&N filter element.

Even with stock suspension and on skatey tires, it's fun and I do fairly well. This is in Northern California where the autocross scene seems pretty competitive, FWIW.

Next year, I think I may bite the bullet and fit the SSC-spec suspension package (Koni yellows, etc.), and also proper 200-treadwear tires on lighter wheels (probably Enkei RFP1's in a 17" size for the weight savings). Or maybe revert to racing my old NA Miata in STS - it's actually the faster car on most of the courses we've run this year. Hmmm.

I've been doing autocross on and off since 1990 in all sorts of cars (AE86 GT-S, AW11 MR2, Mk2 Scirocco, Mk1 GTI, STS NA Miata, etc.) and have learned that usually the best performance gains are from driver training, not mechanical work. Get mentored by a friendly national champ (like I did), or do a pre-season driver school day. Many local SCCA chapters hold them, and doing car control for 6 hours straight on a Saturday will definitely show you what you need to master.

Also, FWIW, earlier this month, I tracked the car at Laguna Seca for part of a HoD event, and thought it worked really, really well in its above configuration. SUPER fun, very easy to drive at speed, and faster than a bunch of other hardware that was going around with me that ought to have left me behind. Definitely put a big smile on my face.

Don't do that, when my car was SSC I scraped everywhere and it felt terrible. With it STX prepped with good shocks it's much better now. Either stay stock or go all the way to real STX, don't do SSC suspension.

[95370]

Originally Posted by jcaserta

Don't do that, when my car was SSC I scraped everywhere and it felt terrible. With it STX prepped with good shocks it's much better now. Either stay stock or go all the way to real STX, don't do SSC suspension.

Appreciate the advice. What shock/spring setup are you using (and liking)? Other than stock, I mean - which for my daily driving up in the mountains near Yosemite makes a lot of sense.

[oinojo]

For all you 4.3FD Gen 1 cars.

Shaftworks USA Bilanx 2 Competition - Double Adjustable
6kg/9kg
OS Giken Super Lock LSD - Tuned by Shaftworks USA
Karcepts Front Swaybar - Smaller DS Style Bar (2/3)
Perrin 16mm 3-point adjustable rear swaybar (2/3)
CSG Touring 70mm Exhaust
CSG CE1 Brake Pads
Ace 350 Header
PLM High Flow Cat
Racer-X Upper Control Arm
Cusco Strut bar
OEM intake
OFT - Custom tuned by myself. 8000rpm redline

265/35R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
18x9 ET35 APEX EC-7R Forged 86/BRZ Wheel (Front)
18X9 ET47 Titan-7 T-S5 1 (Rear)

Alignment
-5.1 Front Camber
+7.5 Caster
1/16 total toe out

-2.7 Rear Camber
0 Toe

Second fastest car on Day 2 Solo Nats.

[Breezio]

More camber and 265's, interesting setup!

[doward]

Originally Posted by oinojo

For all you 4.3FD Gen 1 cars.
.....
265/35R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS

Yaaaas. I'm glad somebody finally did it. Thanks for talking me out of it a year ago :p

I would love an update/backdate 4.3 allowance in ST.

[doward]

I finally have my setup capable of winning locally, so I figure its worth sharing. Not too crazy different from the 'known formula'

949 Racing Xida, single adjustable w/949 camber plates/mounts
9kg/9kg(500/500lb)
Whiteline 22mm front bar, full stiff.
949 Racing front endlinks
Mann Engineering rear bar, middle
Whiteline rear endlinks
TRD intake
TRD dual tip exhaust
JDL EL 4-2-1 header
JDL "Ultra Quiet" over/mid pipe combo
OFT OTS stg2 tune
Whiteline rear diff inserts, subframe collars, trans mount insert

245/40/17 AO52
17x9 +40 949 Racing 6UL

Alignment
-4.9 Front Camber
0 toe
unknown caster
-2.3 Rear Camber
0 Toe

I have Whiteline rear upper offset bushings going into a second set of OE arms for mroe rear camber. Doing that instead of an adjustable arm to avoid the aftermarket arm penalty in NASA TT5 use. That will be the last bit of hardware, then its just more seat time and fresh tires for '23.

[SCFD]

A bit of a silly question, but would debadging the car be considered legal? I'm sure the badges have some weight to them but I don't know if they'd be considered to "materially reduce the weight".

[BarryOtt]

Originally Posted by SCFD

A bit of a silly question, but would debadging the car be considered legal? I'm sure the badges have some weight to them but I don't know if they'd be considered to "materially reduce the weight".

14.2 BODYWORK
.
.
C. Factory rub strips, emblems, mud flaps, bolt-on front valance lips/
spoilers, and fog lights (except those integral to a headlight or turn signal) may be removed. Rear wings may be removed so long as the vehicle
retains a third brake light.

[kraftyone]

So I am considering switching my first gen from DS to STX next season. I reached out to Shaftworks for coilover recommendations and this is what I got back. Anyone have thoughts about it?

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[strat61caster]

@kraftyone See post 175, they do good shit, if I was starting a new autocross build they’d be top of my list. Springs look a little pricey but I bet they’re hard to get a hold of these days, might be able to save $50-$60 with eibach or hypercos.

Don’t forget camber plates and rear top hats.