Ohlins TTX/TPX rally adapted for BRZ

[solidONE]

There's just too much beauty in the world. I can hardly take it.

[soundman98]

wow.

[DarkSunrise]

Damn those look gorgeous.

How do they drive on the road? Did you get the suspension compliance you were looking for?

[grumpysnapper]

Rears comparisons before final fitting

[grumpysnapper]

Front struts comparison

[soundman98]

this is one of those scenario's where i want to know how much at the same time knowing that i'll never pay that much, but still wanting them just as bad...

[grumpysnapper]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

How do they drive on the road? Did you get the suspension compliance you were looking for?

You know what, after I commissioned them about 6 months ago, I spent most of the time worrying that they might be good...but not sooo good that I could actually tell the difference in any meaningful way across a broad spectrum.

Suspension is a bit of a 'black art' that very very few people fully understand...and I'm that classic numpty who has some idea and no idea all at the same time.

Luckily I have some very talented professional driving friends that I can bounce dumb ideas off, or seek assurances that I'm not stark raving mad.

Its important to remember that I'm primarily talking about hard road use, back roads, dirt roads, rough roads....( I have zero track based experience, I grew up in the world of rally)

To me, WRC rally suspension (generally) is the best real world point 'A to point B' suspension there is. Everything I have ever read about anyone who has experienced it first hand are simply in awe at its capabilities...

I wanted as many of those capabilities as I could realistically get squeezed into the huge compromises of our BRZ/86 underlying fundamentals. Basically that means having to work with very limited travel.

But, it is possible to have amazing control over that short travel...and that control then allows you to be able to use all of that available travel to its best advantage.

To cut a long story short.... they are truly phenomenal. Mid corner vicious bumps, dips, ridges, undulations, are now simply driven over with almost zero effect on what you want the car to do. Suddenly you can actually feel that the tyres are able to do more of what they are supposed to do. To me, thats where (beautifully controlled) compliance comes in.

A vastly experienced driving friend once told me that the definition of good suspension...is simply that you shouldn't have to actually think about it at all while you are driving. I finally understand this.

But the dampers should be phenomenal, they were hideously expensive and took a huge amount of development time, by world experts. Valving was carefully chosen and testing was critical. Leo at Madeno Racing understood completely what I wanted, and could interpret that. (But being in Holland, I had to send him photos of the sorts of back roads that are common in Australia).

As an interesting aside, when I first spoke to Leo about the dampers he obviously asked me about the rest of the suspension components, I explained to him that it was fundamentally standard (save for an adjustable stiffer rear anti roll bar) but refreshed often, and I then explained my reasoning ...so I was prepared for a lecture about bushes, rose joints, arms, links, pick up points, etc etc! But, no... instead he said that actually sounded perfectly fine for the cars intended use, and would in fact offer some real benefits. He also said that world wide among the serious damper manufacturers there is a concerted move back to softer spring rates.

None of this is intended as a criticism of people who do things differently to me, and I stress this set up works for me and my uses... I am sure that it would not be ideal for others and their particular uses.

[grumpysnapper]

Originally Posted by soundman98

this is one of those scenario's where i want to know how much at the same time knowing that i'll never pay that much, but still wanting them just as bad...

Just over $17000 USD including (big) import duties and shipping.

But quite honestly, with the amount of work that went into them, and the quality of the custom construction they are true value for money.

I would imagine that subsequent copies could possibly be cheaper because I have effectively funded the development process.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by grumpysnapper

Just over $17000 USD including (big) import duties and shipping.

But quite honestly, with the amount of work that went into them, and the quality of the custom construction they are true value for money.

I would imagine that subsequent copies could possibly be cheaper because I have effectively funded the development process.

cars are a hobby. some just have a bigger sand box

they look as amazing as they must perform, and i'm completely jealous!

[Racecomp Engineering]

I just read the Ohlins TTX manual again. For fun I guess? It's good stuff. Also drove my car for the first time in a week. Thanks for the inspiration grumpysnapper.

That's about it for this rainy quarantine Saturday.

- Andrew

[solidONE]

You've just described what i'd like a set a dampers to do. Perfect.. ideal.. except for the $17,000 part. With exotic parts plus heavy customization, it comes with the territory. Definitely not my territory.

I'm sure they disclosed to you all the internal hardware, pistons, bleed and preload adjustment range with all the graphs and squiggly lines. Which piston and base valve was selected for your application?

[grumpysnapper]

Originally Posted by soundman98

cars are a hobby. some just have a bigger sand box

they look as amazing as they must perform, and i'm completely jealous!

Originally Posted by solidONE

You've just described what i'd like a set a dampers to do. Perfect.. ideal.. except for the $17,000 part. With exotic parts plus heavy customization, it comes with the territory. Definitely not my territory.

I'm sure they disclosed to you all the internal hardware, pistons, bleed and preload adjustment range with all the graphs and squiggly lines. Which piston and base valve was selected for your application?

This was a financial stretch for me too, at the end of way too much money already having been thrown at the BRZ... by any rational assessment (ie. by my wife...).
But the whole purpose of this project was to create my own 'ultimate' rear wheel drive car, and enjoy it, before things change so much that such things are either illegal, or so highly regulated and monitored that driving as we know it evaporates.
I have not left a single thing un-touched, and/or un-considered on the car. My philosophy was that anything and everything had to either improve function, decrease weight or simply make me want to drive more. Those fundamental principles were actually quite liberating.

In terms of the insides and the testing graphs, valving details etc, I undertook not to disclose any of that sort of detail to third parties, out of respect for the builders own intellectual properties. I hope you understand that both he and I are not trying to be precious about it though. ( I can say that the comparative testing graphs alongside those of the SUS MP21 units are, um, confronting in terms of relative performance 'abilities').

Ive always sort of thought this picture of my car pretty much sums up my thoughts about driving and cars.

[grumpysnapper]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I just read the Ohlins TTX manual again. For fun I guess? It's good stuff. Also drove my car for the first time in a week. Thanks for the inspiration grumpysnapper.
- Andrew

Thats great mate, you are dead right... the whole point is the car on the (hopefully great) road and driving!

And an Ohlins manual is good clean fun! (Actually as you would know, a lot of the 'simple' advice in an Ohlins manual would help people so much...if they took notice of it... even if they dont run Ohlins!)

[jah29]

I like your kind of crazy!!

This is what I want in an 86. I would have to sell some stuff and not tell the wife. Would your builder make me the exact same setup? Or is there secret information between the two of you that he can’t share.

Can you have them rebuilt closer to home or do you have to send them back to Holland?

Thanks,
Justin