Advice for coilovers
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2,577 Posts
Depends what you want to achieve
Having pushed the car at a dry Silverstone recently, I'm going to revise the springs for a little extra stiffness and slightly reduced ride height.
Small adjustments.
Having pushed the car at a dry Silverstone recently, I'm going to revise the springs for a little extra stiffness and slightly reduced ride height.
Small adjustments.
Joined
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5,798 Posts
Would anyone else agree that full on coilovers would seem a little overkill unless you were planning on it being used mainly on track?
From what I can tell, the standard setup is pretty good.... maybe some lowering springs, which I would choose the Eibach or STi. Not toolow to destroy the standard dampers, but to complement them. The above two seem to keep fairly good ride qualities on the road.
Don't forget the standard setup is very good, and once you go down the coilover route, especially the adjustable one, you will startmessing with the handling ALOT andto get it setup correctly is very hard... That's a job for suspension specialists. Then what is suited for track wont be for the road, so you'll have to either find a middle ground, which is a waste on adjustable ones, or know how to set it up every time you track it and then back when you finish.
As you can probably tell I don't think it's a great idea for a road car
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I've done it before on previous cars and ruined the handling in search of "that race car feel." I now value my spine and a car that actually feels nice to drive. Also, don't fall into the trap that all aftermarket suspension is better..... it most certainly isn't.
From what I can tell, the standard setup is pretty good.... maybe some lowering springs, which I would choose the Eibach or STi. Not toolow to destroy the standard dampers, but to complement them. The above two seem to keep fairly good ride qualities on the road.
Don't forget the standard setup is very good, and once you go down the coilover route, especially the adjustable one, you will startmessing with the handling ALOT andto get it setup correctly is very hard... That's a job for suspension specialists. Then what is suited for track wont be for the road, so you'll have to either find a middle ground, which is a waste on adjustable ones, or know how to set it up every time you track it and then back when you finish.
As you can probably tell I don't think it's a great idea for a road car
Joined
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2,577 Posts
Spot onKodename47 said:Would anyone else agree that full on coilovers would seem a little overkill unless you were planning on it being used mainly on track?
From what I can tell, the standard setup is pretty good.... maybe some lowering springs, which I would choose the Eibach or STi. Not too low to destroy the standard dampers, but to complement them. The above two seem to keep fairly good ride qualities on the road.
Don't forget the standard setup is very good, and once you go down the coilover route, especially the adjustable one, you will start messing with the handling ALOT and to get it setup correctly is very hard... That's a job for suspension specialists. Then what is suited for track wont be for the road, so you'll have to either find a middle ground, which is a waste on adjustable ones, or know how to set it up every time you track it and then back when you finish.
As you can probably tell I don't think it's a great idea for a road carI've done it before on previous cars and ruined the handling in search of "that race car feel." I now value my spine and a car that actually feels nice to drive. Also, don't fall into the trap that all aftermarket suspension is better..... it most certainly isn't.![]()
Well set up as stock.
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2,140 Posts
With a really good setup you can improve the ride and the handling. What you are basically doing is swopping to much higher spec dampers.
So, it's worth doing for the road (though once you've spent that much, you'd be mad not to go and exploit it on track) if you have the monies.
I had a long chat with Adrian at Fensporthttp://www.fensport.co.uk/He's currently developing performance parts and have been doing some work with BC Racing. He's completed work on the road setup, but will be moving on to the ER series (external reservoir). Following that he's looking at the top end stuff which is AST. So he will have options available that he's spent time testing on track and the road. He's also testing Whiteline roll bars and has already changed many suspension parts.
Adrian commented that the stock bushings stop the suspension moving freely so he's replaced all his with poly bushes and upgraded the lower wishbones.
I did ask him to do a blog as it's all interesting stuff. You can follow Fensport on FB as there are some updates on there.
So, it's worth doing for the road (though once you've spent that much, you'd be mad not to go and exploit it on track) if you have the monies.
I had a long chat with Adrian at Fensporthttp://www.fensport.co.uk/He's currently developing performance parts and have been doing some work with BC Racing. He's completed work on the road setup, but will be moving on to the ER series (external reservoir). Following that he's looking at the top end stuff which is AST. So he will have options available that he's spent time testing on track and the road. He's also testing Whiteline roll bars and has already changed many suspension parts.
Adrian commented that the stock bushings stop the suspension moving freely so he's replaced all his with poly bushes and upgraded the lower wishbones.
I did ask him to do a blog as it's all interesting stuff. You can follow Fensport on FB as there are some updates on there.
We will have the Zeta-R coilovers for the GT86 soon, will post up pics. 
We will also have a set of SRV coilovers that are co-developed with Nitron Racing in the UK.
These are custom build to order, and we will be getting a set build for an owners from USA.
Lots of other goodies from us in the near future, will update with some pictures shortly.
As for adjustable suspension, it depends on what owners are looking for.
Having personally driven the GT86, I found the rear too "lively" for me.
Adjustable suspension is a great solution for the driver to fine tune their suspension to their personal preference.
By adjusting the damping force, you can adjust traction bias to the rear... depending on if you want the car to be more stable, or to be more lively.
For some owners (like myself) who prefer a more planted and stable rear end because I don't like the rear end to kick out on my unexpectedly; a good set of coilovers will give me more confidence to push the car harder on the road or on the track.
You don't want to be pushing your limit all the time (especially on the road), but if you do hit that limit... having the confidence that the car will do what you (the driver) want is a huge plus.
We will also have a set of SRV coilovers that are co-developed with Nitron Racing in the UK.
These are custom build to order, and we will be getting a set build for an owners from USA.
Lots of other goodies from us in the near future, will update with some pictures shortly.
As for adjustable suspension, it depends on what owners are looking for.
Having personally driven the GT86, I found the rear too "lively" for me.
Adjustable suspension is a great solution for the driver to fine tune their suspension to their personal preference.
By adjusting the damping force, you can adjust traction bias to the rear... depending on if you want the car to be more stable, or to be more lively.
For some owners (like myself) who prefer a more planted and stable rear end because I don't like the rear end to kick out on my unexpectedly; a good set of coilovers will give me more confidence to push the car harder on the road or on the track.
You don't want to be pushing your limit all the time (especially on the road), but if you do hit that limit... having the confidence that the car will do what you (the driver) want is a huge plus.
Joined
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66 Posts
Have a search for "
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (Milliken & Milliken)" that might help to understand suspension more prior to tempering.... Although Haynes did a easier to read suspension book " Competition Car Suspension" By Allan Staniforth whom has designed many hillclimb single seater. Have met him during my uni years and very very knowledgeable chap!!!
If anyone willing to measure all the suspension geometry, then I can use the software that I got to predict what the suspension actually doing under different scenario, e.g pitch, dive, roll.... etc or combination of all.</font>
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (Milliken & Milliken)" that might help to understand suspension more prior to tempering.... Although Haynes did a easier to read suspension book " Competition Car Suspension" By Allan Staniforth whom has designed many hillclimb single seater. Have met him during my uni years and very very knowledgeable chap!!!
If anyone willing to measure all the suspension geometry, then I can use the software that I got to predict what the suspension actually doing under different scenario, e.g pitch, dive, roll.... etc or combination of all.</font>
I have posted new details of the MeisterR Zeta-R Coilovers for the GT86.More details here: http://www.gt86ownersclub.co.uk/forum/meisterr-zetarr-coilovers-for-gt86-brz_topic1007.html
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Edited by: MeisterR
Edited by: MeisterR
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