SilverEIGHT

Nope! We are not the entire gang as the club has 101 members listed on the garx8club.com web site. Many do not track so it would not work... BUT! There is nothing that keeps a new club from starting up with TA being the pres and I would want to be a member. The cool thing about that is it is not based on any one car which is one thing I really like about our informal group.

SilverEIGHT

Well, I've decided I just don't have the money to do the coilovers right now. The bank account is just too low and $2500 property taxes are due next month. So, I just have to focus on something else and forget it till next spring. That's really hard to do when you already had your mind made up and had vivid visions of flat cornering.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Silver
You do know you can do koni's and springs fr around $700? I will even help you put them on if you like. Cant adjust ride height etc like coil overs but corner weights are really good anyway.
OD

MoodDude

It is your Cross weights that are important and it makes a huge difference to how your car handles.

Just one thing I have learned - if you get aftermarket suspension parts - make sure you get adjustable endlinks for you sway bars, this is the only way to ensure you are not pre-loading the sway bars.

SilverEIGHT

Koni is the way you went, right?

TorqueAholic

If you want your car to corner flatter shocks aren't going to make much difference. Shocks control the speed at which your suspension compresses, not how much it compresses.

Springs and Anti-roll bars are what controls the amount of suspension deflection (and body roll) in a given set of conditions. Ask TA about his Racing Beat front ARB.

If you do want shocks though BILSTEINS Totally Rock! I have them on my car now and they are amazing. Also the monotube design is more efficient for heat dissipation (No shock fade) and the piston is much larger .

Some people say that Bilstein are built heavier and are more durable than Konis.

Bilsteins HD's are not adjustable but have self adjusting digressive valving technology. What that does is loosen the shock for high shaft velocity (Small Bumps on the road) and stiffen the shock for low shaft velocity (Setting up for a corner)

The end result is that the highway ride is firm but still perfectly acceptable and the car is extremely stable on the track without having to fiddle with *****.

Koni is a very well regarded shock brand and they are good too.

While you're at it you might want to look at Tokico Illuminas and D-Spec they are supposed to be good too and a bit cheaper

Shameless Plug:

If you want to go with the Tokico's I can get you a good deal as I sell them on my Ebay Store SuperMobile Performance

I just thought I'd give you another perspective since I researched them all before making my choice.

SilverEIGHT

Thanks guys for all your input. I think I'll just wait till spring and go with the Tein Flex coilovers. I know it's more money but I think it will be worth the wait.

MoodDude

Good choice SilverEight - Coilovers are definitely the way to go. I am really happy with my Tein Flex's! Just remember to tune them using corner weights to get perfect 50-50 cross weights!
TA'2 is right about body roll - springs and sways control that. Yet, the stiffer you go, the faster weight will transfer - the smoother you must be. That is why adjustable sways are always a cheap and great suspension upgrade (with adjustable end links).

SilverEIGHT

Charlie will install them and said he would set me up with the 50/50.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Cant go wrong with your choice Silver. Suspension is a matter of personnel preferance at times. Some like softer shocks, some like smaller bars, some like more overstar, some like more mid corner things etc. Teins are a balanceed set up as far as the shocks to springs go--i am not sure if the RB bars are too big for that set up or not. TA has been playing with the bars a little bit maybe he can offer some insight.
I like the koni, tein H springs (only 20% stiffer and not a LOT of drop) and the rb bars and end links.
You will find that the shocks are the weak point in our factory set up. Once you change over your braking and trail braking will be much more steady. Your dcs will become a little more sensitive also.
Torque, Koni also has the variable dampening shock you describe. The reviews I have read suggest for our lighter car anyway they are not as advantageous as the regular sport Koni's.
I have found that I dont have to do much adjusting on my Koni sports. The rears are set 1/2 turn from full soft ALL the time(they are hard to adjust) and i never have to change them. The front I have found to set 1 turn up from full soft for RA and 1/2 up from full soft for Roebling. The system rides very well on the street. Not so low it scrubs on the speed bunps or driveways or anything. Very satisfied. On the corner weighing station at Roebling my weights were as close to 50/50 as i would ever want, think i was 5 lbs off or something.
My total car weight ----get this----with 1/2 tank of gas and NO big butted driver was 2878 lbs! Woo Hoo! That was in track dress of course.
This car is capable of much more than the current driver is willng to push it!
One other thing that influenced my decision was if i got an adjustable set up i probaly would never stop messing with it! I'm just that way!
Do you have your R compounds yet?
OD

MoodDude

I think Lego wants to get rid of his R Compounds since he is switching to the 7 now and has different size wheels for it.

SilverEIGHT

No R's, Falken Azenis.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

They are really good tires and you can drive to the track on them. R compunds are a differant breed though. For example turning in on turn 7 at RA will be MUCH easier, HARD --oh my God--braking at 10A will be MUCH better--things like that. On the track R compunds in the RX8 will help you more than aftermarket suspension as far as track times are concerned. Together it will make even more of a differance. If you decide to get dedicated wheels and tires--lets met up. I want you to drive mine with the short 17's on. It makes a whole lot of a differance--less gear changes, faster accleration, less expensive, less weight etc.
At Roebling I only have to change gears once and RA only twice.
OD

TorqueAholic

Another Shameless Plug.

We just picked up a new supplier that Has Tein flex systems and I am pretty sure we can beat $1250 maybe not by a ton but we can, especially for you guys.

So Silver, when you are ready let me know, I'll work you up a price.

SilverEIGHT

Ta2, work it up and PM me.

SilverEIGHT

18 Days!

SilverEIGHT

Received my confirmation and forms from PBOC today! Yea Baby... Bring it on!

SATURDAY
- Instructors/Solo: 4 times
- Advanced/Intermediate: 3 times

SUNDAY
- Instructors/Solo: 4 times
- Advanced/Intermediate: 4 times

SilverEIGHT

Coilovers ordered!





























Am I the only one posting on this thread anymore?

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Yes --but we are thinking about ya!
Congrats on the coilovers! You are as bad bit as I am.
olddragger

SilverEIGHT

Yep, I got it pretty bad. I'm working on the driver mod as often as possible. I guess the next step is R compounds but that's not going to happen till I wear out my Azenis. I told TA today I'm thinking now about turbo but I will not be happy with that until I know it's as solid as OEM would be and certainly not until the warranty is up. Maybe I should just make the next mod a dedicated track car! . . . Lego, I'm jealous.

MoodDude

My recommendation is spend your money on making the car safer and lighter, don't do the turbo. Once you put a turbo on - you are going to find 20 other problems with your car that you need to fix. It will take you at least 2 years to get it right!

SilverEIGHT

Yea, I think you are probably wise!

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

FI can be bolt on and forget or it can be a royal pita. Our car is to soon have a install and forget system--i think. Once you do increase power by that much you will have to learn to drive it all over again.
OD

TorqueAholic

Agreed and then some. I am re-learning to drive my car all over again and I have not added 1 hp to the setup.

I did add a fair amount of giddy-up by changing the gearing but modding the suspension and steering affected the car dramatically and in every way to the extent where the braking points are different, corner entry approach is different, apex speed, exit, etc.

I am kinda glad I did not add more power, there is enough to learn and keep me entertained for a pretty good while.

With the better suspension setup I have so much more "Power" just from the fact that I carry more speed through the corners. Also, for corner exit I can put my foot in it earlier and more enthousiastically. The result of all that happy stuff is when I get to the next braking zone I have a lot more MPH to deal with. (It's all fun!)

When you read the recommendations for modding a track car the common theme is to do it in phases and I can definitely attest to that.

Stop&TurnFreak

32V Cobra did the same thing, he added no power to his stang, just kept modding suspension and brake. His car is SO much fun to drive, I can't wait for him to get it back from his pop's shop. It is amazing how much 'faster' one can make something with no additional power.

BTW, I bought something to do twisties with in the interim till I finish the 90LX Race car.

I am resisting the urge to get a turbo kit for it.......it is SO hard. This one is not mine, but the likeness is uncanny. Mine does have a four into one pipe, and a power commander. (I know, I can't leave anything stock).