Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
I'm slowly getting my '89 Hatch up to reliable daily driver status and will then occasionally take it to the track (maybe 1-2 events a year) just for some fun when I'm instructing. I will also eventually swap out the d15b2 for a b18a / b engine.
I've started researching setups and found the following:
I don't want something overly harsh on the street.
I do not need coilover. I do not want to slam the car (maybe a 1 inch drop maximum).
I do want an basic adjustable strut so I can set it to firm setting for when at the track (compression / rebound) - but I don't want to have to crawl under the car to do this.
I do have a set of eibach front / rear sways I will eventually install to reduce roll.
I don't want to spend too much but will pay for quality.
Street wheels on car will be 15 inch Enkei RPF1s with Toyo Proxies and probably a set of track rims with some scrub 225/50/15 R888s / RA1s from my Spec series race car.
What do the gurus here recommend?
I've started researching setups and found the following:
I don't want something overly harsh on the street.
I do not need coilover. I do not want to slam the car (maybe a 1 inch drop maximum).
I do want an basic adjustable strut so I can set it to firm setting for when at the track (compression / rebound) - but I don't want to have to crawl under the car to do this.
I do have a set of eibach front / rear sways I will eventually install to reduce roll.
I don't want to spend too much but will pay for quality.
Street wheels on car will be 15 inch Enkei RPF1s with Toyo Proxies and probably a set of track rims with some scrub 225/50/15 R888s / RA1s from my Spec series race car.
What do the gurus here recommend?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 873
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Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
Koni yellow/GC combo
These guys are more guru :
https://honda-tech.com/forums/road-racing-autocross-time-attack-19/
These guys are more guru :
https://honda-tech.com/forums/road-racing-autocross-time-attack-19/
Rainman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,979
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From: Kills, Utah
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
For the height you want, i would go Eibach Pro kit springs and Tokico Illumina shocks.
For what you want, you wont like the GC/koni combo everyone will tell you about.
For what you want, you wont like the GC/koni combo everyone will tell you about.
B*a*n*n*e*d
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
If you are going to run a race tire, I would recommend a spring rate that will be slighty harsh on the street. I'm currently running a 450/650 rate with stock front sway and 22mm rear sway. It is quite harsh on the street...but is great for on track. I would go something a little softer maybe 350/500 and use a bigger sway than an OEM bar up front.
I am very happy with my Progress Time Attack Kit, but you said you wanted adjustability of the shock. Honestly, I had a Neuspeed/Koni Yellow setup on my 5th Gen Prelude, and once the suspension was set for my track/autoX runs, I never softened them for the street. That being my experience, I would check out Progress' Type-II setup. They give you the option of choosing your spring rate and the shocks are already shortened and valved for your chosen rates. ...plus, coming in at ~$650, you'll have a difficult time finding a seperate spring and shock combo for cheaper.
I am also not a fan of the Koni/GC combo. OTS Koni's just don't seem to handle the higher rate springs...even though they say they are rated up to 600#.
I am very happy with my Progress Time Attack Kit, but you said you wanted adjustability of the shock. Honestly, I had a Neuspeed/Koni Yellow setup on my 5th Gen Prelude, and once the suspension was set for my track/autoX runs, I never softened them for the street. That being my experience, I would check out Progress' Type-II setup. They give you the option of choosing your spring rate and the shocks are already shortened and valved for your chosen rates. ...plus, coming in at ~$650, you'll have a difficult time finding a seperate spring and shock combo for cheaper.
I am also not a fan of the Koni/GC combo. OTS Koni's just don't seem to handle the higher rate springs...even though they say they are rated up to 600#.
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Thread Starter
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From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
Thanks for the info so far. I posted it here b/c the car will be 90% street driven and my previous race car was an H5 '89 Civic hatch but it was set up as a track only car.
Thread Starter
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From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
Just even looking at the coilover kits - there are so many different brands and levels. Pricing from $600-$2000 depending on the kits. Anyone know if Skunk2 is a good kit? I may go with a coilover kit if I can get it not to drop the car too much and provide a nice ride. Skunk2 Nex Ksport Tein Megan Racing Function Form D2 If not then it looks like Koni Sports and Eibach Pro Kit.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 357
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From: nowhere, CA, USA
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
i have been doing a lot of research on this most of this information comes from honda challenge racers
there are two setups for beginners and for the more experienced the hands down choice for both setups where the gc/koni setup and they don't go bellow a 4 inch ride hight
setup 1 good for aggressive street driving, canyons, auto x, occasional track day, and the track beginner
koni yellow sports with ground control top hats or
koni sp3's with ground control top hats
ground controls
400-500lbs front spring rates
500-600lbs rear spring rates
(generally they have a 100Lb difference between them)
stock all around sway bars or a thicker rear can be used too
setup 2 too aggressive for street only for the track
koni yellow sports with race valving and ground control top hats or
koni race shocks (do to the shorten koni body ground control top hats are unnecessary)
ground controls
600-700lbs front spring rates
800-900lbs rear spring rates
no front sway bar
very thick rear sway bar
after all this research there is no doubt that gc/koni combo is the best setup but i'm still torn i can get ksports for 500 with custom springs rates i'm most likely going to spend twice the money and get the gc/koni setup thought from what i hear from a lot of racers i will not be sorry hope this helps some ppl
Modified by NlCK B at 7:14 AM 5/28/2008
the only thing is 400 lbs springs might be too stiff for what you want i'd suggest going with 350lbs front spring and a 300 lbs in the rear and the run a st 22mm rear sway bar or the asr 24mm rear bar that will be come out this summer and keep your stock front sway bar
the thicker sway bar will make it handle like it has heavier springs in the corners well still maintaining the softer ride from the softer springs
now the unfortunately with r888 on a track you are going to need stiffer springs so you wont rotate like you want to but you cant have the best of both worlds the above setup will be ok not the best but still fun to drive and comfortable on the streets
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 357
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From: nowhere, CA, USA
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
if you are looking for a coilover kit i'd suggest going with pic's they are really good but i'd defiantly run a aftermarket rear sway bar kit on of the ones i mentioned above no matter which route you take
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
My setup is VERY comforable and quite competitive. The key is to use alignment just as much as you use springs to get your rotation.
http://www.dmcknight.net/setup.htm
My third HPDE event is coming up in March...also I think the Kumho XS is a great cheap arrive-n-drive tire if you are inclined towards that.
http://www.dmcknight.net/setup.htm
My third HPDE event is coming up in March...also I think the Kumho XS is a great cheap arrive-n-drive tire if you are inclined towards that.
Thread Starter
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From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Re: Street / Occassional Track Suspension Setup
Thanks guys for the info. I'm leaning towards the koni / eibach pro kit avenue. Want a little lower drop in height / firmer springs and adjust damper / rebound.
fireant - i added some toe in on my fronts as it helped the car turn in better than when i had it at 0 degrees.
I also decided to upgrade to the 11" front brake kits from fastbrakes - Figure since I now have 15" wheels and eventually a b series engine a beefier braking system will eventually be needed (have to do pads and rotors in front anyway)
(Why can I no longer have paragraphs in my responses on Honda Tech anymore? - have to use html to get paragraphs i.e. < br >)
fireant - i added some toe in on my fronts as it helped the car turn in better than when i had it at 0 degrees.
I also decided to upgrade to the 11" front brake kits from fastbrakes - Figure since I now have 15" wheels and eventually a b series engine a beefier braking system will eventually be needed (have to do pads and rotors in front anyway)
(Why can I no longer have paragraphs in my responses on Honda Tech anymore? - have to use html to get paragraphs i.e. < br >)
Last edited by jaje; Feb 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM.
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