cletus11

I just bought a 98 LS that I will be using as a daily driver and autocross car. I have some questions about setting it up for autocross. I have been autocrossing for about 11 years and have run a variety of different cars. I have been driving a Miata in ES for the last few years and got tired of transporting and changing race tires. I am planning on running my Integra in ST.

1. I would like to run the 225/45/15 Hankook RS3s. I know that there are 15x7.5 wheels out there (Rota Slipstreams, 6UL). What offset is necessary to make these fit? What other options/brands are out there? Does anyone have any for sale?

2. What is a good coilover set-up? I assume that I want stiffer springs in the rear. I am leaning towards the Progress CS1 350/500 coilovers. Does anyone have any for sale?

3. I know that I want to run a bigger rear sway bar (at least 22mm). What is the popular rear bar and brace? I am leaning towards the 24mm Progress bar with the reinforcement brackets. There seem to be a lot of options. Does anyone one for sale?

4. I want replace all the suspension bushings with poly when I install the coilovers and rear bar. Is there anything else that I should install/replace when I have it all apart?

I welcome any other suggestions or tips.

90_EX_Civic

you sir, are pretty much set. everything you asked if you should do, do it. only changes i would say.

rim choice, that's a hard one to pick. I'd say which ever one is cheaper, and spend the rest on entry fees.

more spring rate in the front. like 400/450/500. a teg is a lot heavier then a miata. the rear, you could go higher on that too 550 or 600

other then this, you sound like you're set.

cletus11

Those spring rates are what Progress recommends. This post has a lot of information in it about their products. https://honda-tech.com/forums/wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-48/progress-coil-over-special-promotion-2692801/

I am leaning towards the TR C1 15x7.5 (42ET) wheels. They are $99 each at Tirerack. I would like to find some used rims.

racebum

would lean more on koni/gc with the same rates. the lifetime warranty is worth it by itself

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Cletus.... take your list here and start searching.
One word searches and read read read.
Seems we just had a lengthy discussion about shocks and springs.
Tires and wheels are always ongoing.
Read over the stickies and the For Sale threads too.
You'll find what you need.
There is no "correct" set up. its what you decide feels right while your behind the wheel of your teggy.
11 years of experience you should know where to start?

cletus11

I have only autocrossed in stock classes for 11 years. This will be my first experience with having set up options. I did a search and was a little overwhelmed by the results. I have also been checking the for sale section. I know that there is no correct set up. I am just looking for some advice on what works well.

90_EX_Civic

that is a INFINITE answer sentence. what may work for others, might not work for you.

i run front sway bar(a big one) when others say not to. i run a 205 size tire when others say run 195. i run on skunk2 coilover sleeves, while others run ground control.

this has worked for me. this might not work for you.

since you have a teg, i can say just run what the civics run in ST. just up your spring rates a little to adjust for the 500lbs difference between cars.
they might be lighter, but you have more hp, and tq. plus imop, having been able to drive both. the teg feels like a more solid car.

/.02

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Overwhelming is the correct term here.
But thats where you need to start, and begin your new "modified" education.
Start slow, see what small changes make the car do.
Not all changes will have a positive effect on the car.

VTECIntegra9

1 - Look for used wheels without a doubt... the season hasnt started yet (in the north) you have time to find what you like.. I'm not going to say what offset because I'm not educated enough on whats run on 225/45's that works... I will know in a couple months when my hoosiers are on. But note with 225 you will have to remove your fender liners and roll your fenders. I've always ran 205's and done well... others will know more about this tho (search!)

2 400-550 front rates and add about 100lb+ in the rear (compared to the front). Also, I agree with those similar rates on a ground control and koni setup because if you're driving it on the street also that warranty and adjustment will be a big help. If you're worried about ride quality you could reduce spring rate but any lower than 400 in the front i've found to be too soft and when lowered you run into bottoming out issues (it's party my shocks but still too close for comfort)...

3 I love my progress rear sway and it's mounting methods.

4 Many prefer hard rubber over polyurethane. Poly's are easier to install and work but they are not very durable... I'm no expert, I have some in my car and they're working great - had em for years.... But different components will react differently.

Good Luck! p.s. what region will you be competing in?

VTECIntegra9

Note: I have more rear roll-stiffness than I need... These pix from a random auto-x I took the teg out to last summer... Looks cool tho - good thing I have that wing or both rear wheels would be airborn.

p.s. You should get a big wing too - makes you go faster :-o









Ignore the tape, tape numbers kuz i forgot mine, zip-tied Kia front lip w/ rivets holding it together, teal color, and team-tuna decal

cletus11

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to get the progress set-up that I mentioned in my first post. I will figure out the wheels as well. I will give an update after I get it all installed and let everyone know how it works.

Todd00

Why do you feel that you have more rear stiffness than you need?

variable

iTrader: (1)

As far as rea sways go, last season I swapped out the stock bar on my 01 GSR for a OEM ITR rear sway bar and ASR brace and it has worked great. Im sure there are better setup out there but for the money its great

Steve85

I am also preparing my DD 99 GS for some autox and track days with ST class in mind. Here is a shot from my first autox.



Why is a higher spring rate and thicker bar desirable for the rear? This is opposite of what I'm used to in my other car, it has a much heavier engine in the front but still, I imagine the the Integra is heavier in the front. Probably a very elementary perspective but that's all I have for now!

TunerN00b

Have fun with this one...

https://honda-tech.com/forums/road-racing-autocross-time-attack-19/rr98itr-responds-wais-original-critique-no-insults-step-right-up-231870/

An Integra has around a 62/38 front/rear weight distribution.

Actually, it is a very complicated topic, with much disagreement, even after years of debate.

My ST class 2000 GSR is running around a 30% rear bias in roll stiffness, and I don't feel it is rear stiff enough. Other people (including many "much more successful than me") run the opposite. I won't say one is correct, but I will say which I prefer.

cletus11

I competed in my first autocross last Sunday in my Integra. I had a lot of fun driving it. So far I have my Progress CSII 350/500 coilovers, 24mm Progress rear sway bar, and Energy Suspension bushings installed in the rear. I had to run on the all-season Kelly Charger tires that came on my car. I have a set of 15x7.5 wheels with 225/45 RS3s on order from tirerack. The car was very neutral and had no problem rotating the rear. I can't wait to see how the car is with all the bushings, alignment, wheels and tires. Then I have to figure out how to drive it fast.

CivicSiRacer

Personally I agree with higher rates. With my 00 Civic Si I wish I went higher than the 350/400 I had. If I had the funds at the time I would have went 500f/600r to make it turn better. I had a lot of nose dive since I like to brake in a straight line and use all the tires to slow the 2500lbs Civic down. I'd go with the Koni SPSS3s (shorten shocks) with custom rate Ground Controls.
I ran the Comptech rear sway bar/tie bar combo and it was awesome. The next best thing I've seen is the ASR unit.

cletus11

I finally got my car 100% ready for autocrossing in September and competed in the last three events of the year. I noticed several things.

1. The 350lb springs are way to soft for the front. The front suspension bottoms out in some fast corners. I am going to upgrade to 450lb or 500lb springs in the front. I am leaning toward 500lbs.

2. The rear tires take forever to warm up. They seemed to get good grip on the 4th or 5th runs. I had two 1st run off track excursions because the rear tires were cold. I am either going to have to find a permanent co-driver or switch to a rear tire that heats up quicker.

3. The crappy brake pads I have on my car suck. I have new Hawk pads in my garage.

4. I have a long way to go figuring out how to drive this car and get it tuned properly. I think the potential is there, I just need to figure out what I am doing.

sonntag

I've only auto crossed with re'11 on my integra however I have heard good things about Kumho xs. They are pretty cheap too, just not 225's. I know grassroots has an article on some of the extreme perf tires you should check it out! http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/top-tires/

90_EX_Civic

run higher then that in the front. like 550-600 for the front. you won't regret it.

for the tires, i can't give you any advice on the rs3's, but you did run them on the colder days of the season. my advice, take it easy on your 1st run. let your tires warm up. plus, 1st runs are usually your scrub run anyway. learn the course and warm the tires up.

cletus11

Does anyone have any 500lb 8" x 2.5" coilover springs for sale?

I will figure out some way to get heat in my rear tires early.

90_EX_Civic

giant tub filled with hot water with towels soaking it. when your in grid, cover the tires with the tires. to keep the heat in, instead of it dissipating, cut up a windshield sun/uv deflector screen to the shape of the wheel well. well help to keep radiant heat in. but don't leave towels on that they actually cool the tires off. once tires are warm, keep using the "heat" shield to keep heat on the tires.

CivicSiRacer

I had a 00 Civic Si (which is basically same weight, chassis, suspension) back in the day from 00-06 and had 350/400 springs and I personally didn't think it was enough. Lots of people recommended it but I think 500-600 front and 550-650 rears would have made a HUGE difference plus not using OTS Konis but instead should have purchased SPSS3s.

I think the biggest thing that helped my car was going from 205/50x15 to the 215/45x16" (shaved) tires.

I had mine mildly prepped, needed to replace seats, and some lighter components. Had mine down to 2550lbs or so. Not going to be the most competitive in the Integrea with the newer rule changes but have fun first!

cletus11

I know that I am not going to be nationally competitive in the Integra. My local ST competition is a 2000 Celica, 2010 Yaris, and a 2010 Fit. We are all about even.

Does anyone have any 8"x2.5" 500lb coilover springs laying around? I am looking for a pair to buy.