So I have a DD del sol and I decided to put a bit of money into my suspension so I can do some Auto-X next year.

However, I am un-happy with the results.

I was looking for a setup that was a smooth ride for a DD, and something that would let me compete in a few auto-x each year. I ended up with well, neither.

When I started I kept it simple. I order koni yellows and off the shelf GC rates. Dumped it. Rode around with just that for a few months after deciding the ride was CRAP, handling was CRAP, and tires were wearing like crazy (big mistake on my part)

I've since upgraded my setup, and raised the car to a decent ride height.

Setup:
-Koni yellows (set on 12 in the front and 14 in the rear - or 1.5 turns in the front and 1.75 turns in the rear for rebound stiffness)
-Ground Control Coilovers for Koni yellows (400 ft/lbs front, 450 ft/lbs rear)
-ST sway bars (front and rear)
-Skunk2 LCAs
-ASR brace
-FULL energy suspension bushing kit
-225/50/15 nitto neogens


Its still a rough ride for a DD. And the handling isn't that great of an increase, even when taking a turn moderately fast i sequel the tires.

My buddy also has a del sol, he is on stock shocks with tein S tech springs. Thats it.

It rides like its stock, and when i drive it it feels like it handles better around corners then mine does...

what gives?

Anyone have any ideas as to what to change? Upgrade?

I want a nice comfrotable DD, but still be competitive for autoX

 

when in all this did you ever get an alignment to fix your toe?

400-450 lbs springs? yeah, thats not ever going to be a soft ride.

get rid of the front ST bar. go back to stock.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when in all this did you ever get an alignment to fix your toe?

400-450 lbs springs? yeah, thats not ever going to be a soft ride.

get rid of the front ST bar. go back to stock.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah. I get alignments every few months.

The 280/320 GC's were rough as well, even after I raised it.

And whats the reasoning on the front ST bar?

 

front bars reduce performance by increasing understeer.

did you ever get printouts of your alignments? id like to see what the toe and camber wer before and after.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">front bars reduce performance by increasing understeer.

did you ever get printouts of your alignments? id like to see what the toe and camber wer before and after.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, if they reduce performance, whats the point of them? Haha, I've heard nothing but good things about the ST bars. But I am un-happy with them I guess =/

Heres the after numbers. Don't have the before numbers, sorry.

Left Front:
-3.0 Camber
+0.8 Caster
+0.03 Toe

Right Front
-3.2 Camber
+0.8 Caster
+0.3 Toe

Total front Toe: +0.05

Left Rear:
-2.6 Camber
+0.10 toe

Right Rear:
-2.2 Camber
+0.09 Toe

Total Rear Toe: +0.19
Thrust Angle: +0.01

 

is this your last printout?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is this your last printout?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah.

 

looks fine.

 

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

Thats what they keep telling me.

Still wearing through tires every 10k though.

Thanks for the input.

As for the swaybar, is it helping me in anyway?

I mean it has to provide some positive effects over the negative ones?

 

how low are you?

rear swaybar good, front swaybar bad. no benefit, only reducing front independent suspension ability.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how low are you?

rear swaybar good, front swaybar bad. no benefit, only reducing front independent suspension ability.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats crazy. I was un-aware of that. Al few of my local friends are also running front ST bars, they're cars handle alot different then mine though.

I'm not that low. Still some gap between wheel and fender. Here is the most recent pic:

 

try a little toe out actually. the toe in isnt much. but try a ltitle toe out. 1/16 total at most.

really, put the stock front bar in.

still looks kinda low, you must really have been "dumped" before....

squeeling tires could also mean the tires just suck.... never really heard of nitto neogens, but in general, nitto is just the rice brand of toyo, imo. and i dont think toyo makes any good street tires.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">try a little toe out actually. the toe in isnt much. but try a ltitle toe out. 1/16 total at most.

really, put the stock front bar in.

still looks kinda low, you must really have been "dumped" before....

squeeling tires could also mean the tires just suck.... never really heard of nitto neogens, but in general, nitto is just the rice brand of toyo, imo. and i dont think toyo makes any good street tires.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Alright. I'll try the bar and raise it up a bit. I was alot lower (fenders were @ rim).

I haven't heard of the neogens as well, they were recommended to me on a local bored.

Just got them to try out, they apparently don't wear as fast on lowered cars. I like them alot better then my falkin zeix and kumho asx tho