SUSPENSION:
1) Apex'i N1 type V coilovers (i think f: 12k r: 9k)
2) Stock front sway (24mm)
3) Mugen rear sway (26mm)

here's my problem. I'm running two different set ups .... have higher spring rates in the front induce understeer, but then my bigger rear sway induces oversteer ...
so basically i'm running both set up (i've noticed that people tend to match bigger spring rates in the front with bigger front sways and vice versa)

so basically my ? is ... what should i do .. i'm asking because i really don't know. when i take it to the track it feels fine, but i have nothing to compare it to.
i want to try and stick with a single set up.

was wondering what you guys think... either sell my rear sway and get a JDM type R.... and then buy the mugen 26mm for the front .... or change the spring rates to larger in the rear.
BTW if i change the spring rates is the dampening from the softest setting the same compression from front to rear?
Please help. i'm kinda lost and need advice.
p.s. i'm open minded .. all criticisms are welcome
Brian

 

well whats your car doing...

 

car is just very neutral ... because of the understeer in the front/ oversteer in the rear.

i would like match setups so i can power through with understeer
or rotate properly with oversteer.

 

Tuning is solving issues to make the package better. What does it need? If you can't target anything that it needs, maybe it needs a better driver, a better goal or it is fine for your needs just the way it is.

Find the weakest link in the chain and fix it then find the next weakest link, etc., etc. until the entire chain gets stronger. Simply bolting on popular parts isn't necessarily the way to being better. There is no problem with your spring and sway bar combination if it works well for your needs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whitenameseboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm running two different set ups .... </TD></TR></TABLE>

While I understand what you're trying to say, but get out of that mindset. You're running ONE setup, not two. Only one setup fits on the car at a time. If you're truely going to evaluate your suspension and tweak it appropriately you need to drop the idea that you're mixing and matching setups and just describe what the car is doing. So far, you haven't given us a reason to change anything.

 

to be honest i haven't tracked the car much (just a few open track events) and have no prior knowlege to compare it to. so in essence i really dont' know what the car is doing or what i want the car to do.

actually i do kinda know the direction that i want to go in. That is given that i'm trying to maximize the suspension for the track while street driving it, i would say that i prefer it to have more understeer overall just so that i can get on the throttle quicker and also so it's not so much work keep the car aligned due to excessive oversteer.

any comments ? thank you

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whitenameseboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">car is just very neutral ... because of the understeer in the front/ oversteer in the rear.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whitenameseboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">to be honest i haven't tracked the car much (just a few open track events) and have no prior knowlege to compare it to. so in essence i really dont' know what the car is doing or what i want the car to do.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then leave it alone.

 

Sounds to me like you need to spend most of your time and effort on seat time. That is the most fun and rewarding part of the package when you get to drive, have fun and make yourself a better driver. As you get better, you will begin to notice what the car's primary issues are. If so, then deal with then, etc. ad infinitum.

Go have fun. Let us know when you have a problem and we'll be glad to help. Chasing someone else's set-up isn't going to really do you any good if it doesn't really do anything for you.

 

sounds good. i see your philosophy....there is no right or wrong set up, just what works best and well with the driver.

if you dont' know what you want then leave it alone til you know what changes need to be made ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whitenameseboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
if you dont' know what you want then leave it alone til you know what changes need to be made ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes and no. Even though I would agree that you shouldn't make changes to a suspension setup without knowing why or how, it's still important to have a reasonable starting point as you are learning to drive. If you had your 12K springs in the rear and had an OEM setup up front (or any similarly retarded setup) I might suggest some changes before you actually learn to drive a car set up that poorly. However, in this case you have a reasonable starting point and your decision to keep the understeer makes for a safer experience on and off the track. I would argue that understeer is NOT the way to be on the gas earlier at exit, but we'll save that discussion for later.

 

hm.... ic.....
well is anyone out there willing to fill me in on what they run.... and why they like it set up like that (coilovers and sway bar thickness)

what about getting a smaller adjustable rear sway such a comptech ?

recommendations
p.s. again all is appreciated.

 

If the car is generally neutral for you now and you are pretty happy with it, don't buy anything but event entries, good tires, and good safety equipment (helmet, belts, roll bar if appropriate, etc.). As you learn, the car will tell you what you need next.

 

It's kind of hard to tell you what someone else runs since I don't see anything stating what car this is all on. I assume a Civic or Integra based on what info I do see. I would suggest getting a known good driver in the car and see what he thinks. If the setup is fairly stable and does not do anything evil, leave it alone and work on the driver for a while. Don't forget that alignment makes a huge difference in handling. I'm always shocked at the people willing to throw a few thousand dollars at a car but won't spend $50 to get the alignment checked.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mohudsolo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">won't spend $50 to get the alignment checked.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont forget corner weighting.