There isn't enough help being provided new and inexperienced users in the Wheel and Tire and Suspension Forums.

As suspected when those forums were created, they are attracting the new and inexperienced users while the OG are staying in their marque forums.

If you have time to just take a glance in those forums with a view toward helping the inexperienced users, that would be a tremendous aid to them.

 

I browse the suspension forum from time to time. It's as informative as the Appearance/Cosmetic forum.

Sadly, I think the ITR and RR/AX forum are the only places to find good suspension related information.

Perhaps the suspension forum is not meant to be a place for actual suspension tech and useful, track feedback on various setups. Maybe it is only a place where people can learn how low they can make their car with certain coilovers and how to make their car do the "JDM 3 wheeling" over driveways.

EDIT:

For the people who aren't tracking their cars, ride quality and height adjustment seem to be the determining factors when making a suspension related purchase. Those of us who change to track oriented suspension setups usually have a bit more tolerance when it comes to ride quality. My point? The suspension experts on this site, don't have the type of non-factual opinions that most people are looking for.

Then you have the JDM showkar people who think stiff suspension and 10 strut bars are uber cool, but never track their cars.

Cliff notes:

Perhaps the forum is doing fine the way it is. Those who want good suspension tech/information know where to look for it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Perhaps the forum is doing fine the way it is. Those who want good suspension tech/information know where to look for it. </TD></TR></TABLE>
My problem is that innocents going there for good advice might get bad advice. I am not sure a new person is going to know to look in RR Forum instead of Suspension Forum, and he will come away with little in the way of good advice.

 

While I can't say I know that much about suspension stuff, I think I know more than most of the goobs in there. That being said, I do pop in now and then to try and help out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My problem is that innocents going there for good advice might get bad advice. I am not sure a new person is going to know to look in RR Forum instead of Suspension Forum, and he will come away with little in the way of good advice.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most people who are looking to change their suspension expect it to simply "handle better". They have no idea what aspect of handling they are even trying to change or improve on.

The ones who DO know what they are trying to change are the ones who are autocrossing or doing trackdays. They will easily spot the ignorance of those giving bad advice in the suspension forum, and probably find their way to the RR/AX forum.

Basically, I think it's fine for the lost to lead the lost. Don't you? I don't see anyone making any dangerous recommendations.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Basically, I think it's fine for the lost to lead the lost.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, that was a disappointing thing to read.

I think it's the site's mission to provide sound technical advice, and if we are clearly failing that in any area, the mission is a failure.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
sound technical advice</TD></TR></TABLE>

I seem to recall PVC "Sp00m" spacers being used with Spoon springs on someone's car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, that was a disappointing thing to read.

I think it's the site's mission to provide sound technical advice, and if we are clearly failing that in any area, the mission is a failure.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Perhaps I worded that poorly and failed to explain it completely. I just think that every thread would erupt into a flame battle between the track drivers and the street ricers.

Here's what I imagine would happen in just about every thread:

Thread titled "Tein Flex vs. D2 coilovers"

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Tein Flex has adjustable shock body length, which I like, but the D2's are 36 way adjustable. Which would you get and why?"

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "What aspect of handling are you trying to change?"

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "I want to lower it maybe 2" and make it handle better."

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "Yes, but what specifically do you find flawed in the current setup? Do you drive on the track? If not, I would recommend learning how to drive. A fast driver is far more important that a fast car."

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Nah, man, the track is too far away. But my friends and I have these canyons we like to run every night."

<FONT COLOR="green">Regular #2</FONT>: "Get 2000# rear springs and a 40mm rear swaybar, for your canyon runs. "

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "Please keep your spirited driving on the track before you hurt someone innocent."

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Look, I just wanted to know which suspension is best. I don't need you telling me to drive on the track. We only run the canyons at night, when no one else is on the roads, so it's safe."

<FONT COLOR="grey">A/C forum regular</FONT>: "Man, F these haters. If they want to talk about track driving, they should go back to their own forum. I got the D2's and they ride smooth, even with my 3" drop. My EG6 handles better than my friend's ITR now. "


and so on, and so forth...

 

It's already happening. From this thread:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmoua &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">D2's...you save money and get the 36way adj damper..i've read plenty of good reviews for them....the teins do have the name behind them..but the D2's are good too..</TD></TR></TABLE>

When asked to explain his suggestions, this was his reply:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmoua &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its called a opinion....plus i've heard nothing but good things about them...read alot of feed backs about them..and believe they are pretty good..coilovers</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I have visited that forum from time to time, the misinformation turned me away. When I have posted valid info, the "knowitalls" start arguing and flaming. I can try visiting it and posting again but i cannot assure myself staying there

 

I'm lending a hand when I see a question I can answer, if theres no one replied help them out!

 

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

Perhaps I worded that poorly and failed to explain it completely. I just think that every thread would erupt into a flame battle between the track drivers and the street ricers.

Here's what I imagine would happen in just about every thread:

Thread titled "Tein Flex vs. D2 coilovers"

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Tein Flex has adjustable shock body length, which I like, but the D2's are 36 way adjustable. Which would you get and why?"

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "What aspect of handling are you trying to change?"

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "I want to lower it maybe 2" and make it handle better."

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "Yes, but what specifically do you find flawed in the current setup? Do you drive on the track? If not, I would recommend learning how to drive. A fast driver is far more important that a fast car."

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Nah, man, the track is too far away. But my friends and I have these canyons we like to run every night."

<FONT COLOR="green">Regular #2</FONT>: "Get 2000# rear springs and a 40mm rear swaybar, for your canyon runs. "

<FONT COLOR="blue">Regular #1</FONT>: "Please keep your spirited driving on the track before you hurt someone innocent."

<FONT COLOR="red">Threadstarter</FONT>: "Look, I just wanted to know which suspension is best. I don't need you telling me to drive on the track. We only run the canyons at night, when no one else is on the roads, so it's safe."

<FONT COLOR="grey">A/C forum regular</FONT>: "Man, F these haters. If they want to talk about track driving, they should go back to their own forum. I got the D2's and they ride smooth, even with my 3" drop. My EG6 handles better than my friend's ITR now. "


and so on, and so forth...</TD></TR></TABLE>

i want the role of regular#2

but seriously it is kind of sad over there. it follows a typical pattern for each thread and there is little useful information. occasionally there is a decent thread and i like the one with the shock dynos. i'm on there often though but really just reading since the op rarely wants to hear the answer to the questions that they really should be asking

 

Well it's sometimes hard to ask real racers and track drivers to aggrevate themselves and waste time on deaf ears to discuss whatever 110 way adjustable pretty colored, sub $1,000. flavor of the week suspension the "Thread Starter" may be asking about.

There's a reason most of the Racers stay in the RRAX forum just like there's a reason many of us stay in here or even bounce between here and the RRAX and GDD forums.

I think there needs to be more of a consistant knowledge base there. Be it a more dedicated forum mod or specific forum techs.

Because, like it or not regardless of all the bad information passed around there, many of those people are just regurgitating what they've heard from whereever they've migrated from.

And I also have to be honest that many older more knowledgable members just may not want to waste their time with that complete B.S.

When dealing with a forum as such, it's very similar to dealing with say the General Integra forum in that many of the folks there asking questions about mods, already have some muddy preconceived notions they've heard from SHO or Club SI preached to them as gospel. And more often then not, they are into the "street scene" where looks are the most important thing with next being budget and last unfortunately actual performance gains.

There's no simple solution without a large group of experienced members adopting that forum and spending time to revamp it.

But we never really completed what we set out to do here recently did we? I mean this forums rules were never finalized and posted above.

 

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

I seem to recall PVC "Sp00m" spacers being used with Spoon springs on someone's car. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn. Have you been here that long?

 

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

Damn. Have you been here that long?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Indeed I have.

On other fronts, I think you'll find ignorance breeds with ignorance. Those who want the best will take the time to do their research.

I will say the archived search feature continues to be underutilized - perhaps advertising the research aspect even more will help people.

Titles also need to be search-friendly. "Yo check dis stuf ow" should read "J's Racing CF Intake ITR B18C5 install" &lt;-- can search start catalogging 2-character words? Like half of the automotive library is two letter words or less.

 

Unfortunately those forums are ruled by cool over functional. We can throw at them data sheets, track records, etc and preach till we are blue in the face but they won't believe a word we say. Its like the kids that waltz into RR/AX and post something like: Hi I am new to autox what tires, shocks, springs will make my car faster.

 

I thought nsxtacy had the Wheel and Tire forum handled singlehandedly

Hell, all the questions seem to be the same, and he's made several very informative posts.

 

perhaps the suspension forum's creation was a mistake.. along with the wheel and tire forum..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mstewar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">perhaps the suspension forum's creation was a mistake.. along with the wheel and tire forum..</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think so, Im still waiting on a thread to be responded to. Doesnt somebody from Tirerack work there in that forum?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by erikiksaz1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought nsxtacy had the Wheel and Tire forum handled singlehandedly

Hell, all the questions seem to be the same, and he's made several very informative posts. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks! But I've been absent for the past five days, for my trip to VIR...