Trying to figure out a setup for my 99 civic coupe for track day at Gingerman Raceway in MI in a few weeks. This is my daily driver and I plan on a couple track events and maybe a couple of drags in '05. I don't want to run on stock shocks and Pro Kit springs (my current setup). Lookin into coilovers, strutbars, wheels and tires. Budget $2500

 

Leave it alone and drive it. You will learn more that way.

 

I thought about doing that, but I dont want to make too much of an *** of myself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exsleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but I dont want to make too much of an *** of myself.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That has nothing to do with wheel/tire or suspension set-up.

 

I saw that coming.

 

Its true. What suspension you have on the car will hardly be a limiting factor in how fast you go, and certainly not on how much you will learn and how much fun you have

I took my daily driver 325 out to VIR on its tired *** 115,000 mile suspension and had a blast last weekend!

 

You're right. I just didn't want to be fighting the car all day, but I guess I'll have plenty of time to assess its shortcomings one I get out there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exsleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You're right. I just didn't want to be fighting the car all day, but I guess I'll have plenty of time to assess its shortcomings one I get out there.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's a good start.

Just to let you know, while my car is on jack stands and awaiting cage install, I have done a couple local Auto-X's in my GF's 00 Civic DX Coupe 5MT. All 98whp of it. Bone stock except for Eibach Sportlines and 15" GSR fat five's with 195/55/15 Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 (yeah.....that's right). Had a blast. It's good to just get behind the wheel of a car or better yet a manual transmission. Still waiting for the O.K. (and if I even feel like driving 9-10hrs) to do CMP since Lowe's was canceled. If not I'm going to try and convince her to let me do Summit in June then. Just to get some more freaking seat time since some set backs (like living on my own instead of with a room mate) will push completion on the car further back.

Seriously you don't need anything really. The only reason the springs and wheels/tires are on there is for aesthetic purposes. She wanted alloy's and lowered. Otherwise I'd drive it stock. Now I will probably put Bobcat's on it and RBF600 before I do, but honestly you can do lapping days on stock everything. Especially if it is your first. The stock brakes will probably be the first thing you out drive before the suspension. I would upgrade tires next before I touch the suspension either.

I guess you just have to try it. Just getting out there is enough in itself. You don't need anything else really to have fun.

 

Its hard to beat the Koni Yellow strut/Ground Control coilover set-up. Add to that a Comptech or ASR rear sway bar set-up. And maybe some skunk2 or SPC upper control arms in front and SPC rear camber kit in the rear for camber adjustment. Add your choice of lightweight 15x7 wheels and some Azenis or Kumho MX (or r-compounds if thats in your budjet). Upgrade to some dedicated brake pads and fluid. Call it done.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr Hammond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Still waiting for the O.K. (and if I even feel like driving 9-10hrs) to do CMP</TD></TR></TABLE>

Do it! CMP is so much fun

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now I will probably put Bobcat's on it and RBF600 </TD></TR></TABLE>

You might be able to get away w/ those pads with under 100hp there... its hell on brakes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exsleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Trying to figure out a setup for my 99 civic coupe for track day at Gingerman Raceway in MI in a few weeks. This is my daily driver and I plan on a couple track events and maybe a couple of drags in '05. I don't want to run on stock shocks and Pro Kit springs (my current setup). Lookin into coilovers, strutbars, wheels and tires. Budget $2500
</TD></TR></TABLE>

What spring rates are the Pro Kits front/rear? It doesn't really matter, like it was pointed out, but an aftermarket shock would probably help out the handling. Stock shocks on stiff springs isn't always the best idea. If you don't like your current setup for daily driving anyway, just get some shocks (adjustable or stiffer anyway) or some cheap Omni coilovers.

There's something to be said for mastering what you have, whether it is a safer understeering setup, a wildly oversteering setup, or just something bouncy and tough to make smooth transitions. An underdamped setup will likely reward smooth driving, and that's a goal everyone wants to achieve on the track.

Hey, how come no one pointed out the new handy-dandy Suspension forum yet?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Do it! CMP is so much fun </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sure no problem. You drive, I sleep? Deal.

I might try and convince my buddy Gabe to work the event and ride down with me and trade off driving. That drive home from VIR Sunday night was killer after being dead *** tired and rainy.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You might be able to get away w/ those pads with under 100hp there... its hell on brakes.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I know it's one of the worst on brakes. I'm going to have to make due though. I don't like the idea of having just separate pads and not rotors. I'm to cheap to buy spare rotors for her car that won't get used but a couple times. So that leaves me with getting a compromised pad that will hold up on track a couple times, but not have her think she has a cat in a blender behind her front wheels. Bobcat's it is. I'd like to do P+'s because of the weight of the car (being a 6th gen coupe and all probably 2600+), but I think the sub-100hp top speeds should be fine. I love the sound of P+'s, but somehow I don't think she will.

 

Bah, rotors are so cheap! Just get autozone blanks ... hell you might be ready to throw them away after CMP anyways Get some XP8's also

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bah, rotors are so cheap! Just get autozone blanks ... hell you might be ready to throw them away after CMP anyways Get some XP8's also </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm, you do bring up a valid point. I'm a sissy and buy Brembo blanks. So the Autozone cheapos are always seem to elude me when considering rotor choices. I may just go ahead and do that and get P+. But then you figure ok so now you dropped another what $40 on rotors and now you want to get P+'s. Now you got to spend another what $40? Hmm so now I went from spending $70 on Bobcat's to $150 on P+'s and rotors. On second thought.....

XP8's? Pah! Don't get me started. Might as well buy some R compounds too. Might as well get some new Koni 8041's too. Might as well.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr Hammond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Might as well buy some R compounds too. Might as well get some new Koni 8041's too. Might as well.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now you're talking!

 

Like the other guys said, leave it alone for a while and just get out there. I've run 3 track days in my car and the setup is:

99 Civic DX Coupe, stock except for cat back (heavy AND slow all in one package)
Eibach Pro-kit springs
Koni Sport Shocks
14" Azenis on stock steelies (40 lbs at each wheel!)
Axxis Ultimate brake pads
Autozone rotors (still good after 2 track days and many miles on the street)
Castrol Synthetic Brake Fluid
Speed Bleeders (makes bleeding in between track days, or at the track, easy)

I had a blast and learned a lot in the process. I'm getting ready to do another track day and was thinking about putting some money into the car. Problem is, I don't know where to spend the $$. I think that I'll just stick with this setup until something tells me I need to change it. Sure I get passed by practically every car out there, but the fun is when I feel myself improving on my lines and getting faster. It's not a race so what do I care who goes by me?

So in short, just do it

 

Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your suggestions and experience. It's appreciated.