DIY Suspension Work
07-25-2012, 08:58 AM
#1
DIY Suspension Work
Alright, I know this looks like it's in the wrong section, but that's the point for right now. My goal with this thread is to gather information from the people who track their cars and turn that knowledge into something that can be used by anyone on the forum.
What I'm particularly interested in is how to tune the suspension on these cars, descriptions of what the different components do, and what changing them will do to the cars handling/grip/streetability. I will be adding to this thread as I have time with what I know, but feel free to post anything you think would be helpful(after all isn't that the point of a forum) and I will add it to this post.
Also, if you have any tips/tricks/methods for adjusting alignment on your car without a trip to the tire store, this would be a great place to put that information as well. I know some of that tweaking can have a huge effect on the track but not many people know how to correctly adjust it without shelling out money.
Anyways, thank you for your help and let's see this turn into something useful!
What I'm particularly interested in is how to tune the suspension on these cars, descriptions of what the different components do, and what changing them will do to the cars handling/grip/streetability. I will be adding to this thread as I have time with what I know, but feel free to post anything you think would be helpful(after all isn't that the point of a forum) and I will add it to this post.
Also, if you have any tips/tricks/methods for adjusting alignment on your car without a trip to the tire store, this would be a great place to put that information as well. I know some of that tweaking can have a huge effect on the track but not many people know how to correctly adjust it without shelling out money.
Anyways, thank you for your help and let's see this turn into something useful!
07-25-2012, 12:53 PM
#2
my friends and i have been racing for abut 10 years now, and we've used all kinds of ways to align the car.
even though we've had an Rx8 in the group since 2003, we've never touched it, so the Rx8 chassis would be new. we've run the integra's since 2005, so that one we setup with toe plates, you will find the more you are familiar with the car, the easier this becomes.
the other thing is that you need to try some different things, and keeping notes is really good here. with the integra, we've tried everything, and so we know what each adjustment does to the car, because we've tried it. it was frustrating, and took a long time.
the Rx8 chassis is new to us, and since its RWD the rear thrust angle is important, so ideally we'd start on an alignment machine. since the Rx8 is good stock, its tempting to just align it to stock with more camber in the front, and go from there.
once you have the rear centered, then toe plates make aligning the car in the driveway really easy.
hope that helps! i guess i mean to say you need a square baseline to start from, and then tweaking from there is easy. you shouldn't be afraid to try different settings either.
even though we've had an Rx8 in the group since 2003, we've never touched it, so the Rx8 chassis would be new. we've run the integra's since 2005, so that one we setup with toe plates, you will find the more you are familiar with the car, the easier this becomes.
the other thing is that you need to try some different things, and keeping notes is really good here. with the integra, we've tried everything, and so we know what each adjustment does to the car, because we've tried it. it was frustrating, and took a long time.
the Rx8 chassis is new to us, and since its RWD the rear thrust angle is important, so ideally we'd start on an alignment machine. since the Rx8 is good stock, its tempting to just align it to stock with more camber in the front, and go from there.
once you have the rear centered, then toe plates make aligning the car in the driveway really easy.
hope that helps! i guess i mean to say you need a square baseline to start from, and then tweaking from there is easy. you shouldn't be afraid to try different settings either.
07-26-2012, 09:33 AM
#4
I'm currently working on a spring section to put into the first post, hopefully it will be done tonight.
Thanks for the insight j9, I don't know squat about that aspect and yours as well as others knowledge will be the only way that section gets put together. I think holding off on alignment and tweaking tricks until the end is the best plan.
9k, I do realize that there are a lot of threads that have useful info in them, but the point of this is not to compare product, or even give information on different products given, but to explain what the numbers mean and how they affect the car in general so that people can make more informed decisions when upgrading and tweaking. The reason I decided to start this is because I've spent the last week reading up on it all and could not find anywhere that had a concise explanation of what suspension components do. There is plenty of information out there, but it's buried 4 pages deep in a thread about a specific product, not easy to find and easy to use.
Thanks for the insight j9, I don't know squat about that aspect and yours as well as others knowledge will be the only way that section gets put together. I think holding off on alignment and tweaking tricks until the end is the best plan.
9k, I do realize that there are a lot of threads that have useful info in them, but the point of this is not to compare product, or even give information on different products given, but to explain what the numbers mean and how they affect the car in general so that people can make more informed decisions when upgrading and tweaking. The reason I decided to start this is because I've spent the last week reading up on it all and could not find anywhere that had a concise explanation of what suspension components do. There is plenty of information out there, but it's buried 4 pages deep in a thread about a specific product, not easy to find and easy to use.
07-26-2012, 07:10 PM
#5
this deserves a longer write up, but quickly for further reading start here: Autocross to Win (DGs Autocross Secrets) - ATW Home Page
the caveat is that for a car that is NOT a race car, ride quality is a much bigger concern than a race car. i've found that shocks have a HUGE impact on ride quality, and when you get the dampening right, the ride actually can be quite good, even with stiff springs, to a point.
my friends FC is on koni yellows, and springs on the stiff side and it actually rides (and handles) better than my stock 70,000mile FC, its a great dual purpose car.
of course the integra, being FWD and having all the weight in the wrong places, needs springs that are so stiff in the rear that a normal bump on the street just launches the thing in the air, its totally unstreetable.
the caveat is that for a car that is NOT a race car, ride quality is a much bigger concern than a race car. i've found that shocks have a HUGE impact on ride quality, and when you get the dampening right, the ride actually can be quite good, even with stiff springs, to a point.
my friends FC is on koni yellows, and springs on the stiff side and it actually rides (and handles) better than my stock 70,000mile FC, its a great dual purpose car.
of course the integra, being FWD and having all the weight in the wrong places, needs springs that are so stiff in the rear that a normal bump on the street just launches the thing in the air, its totally unstreetable.
07-26-2012, 09:24 PM
#6
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Yes, you are right on it not being the right section.
I'm not thinking of the Do It Yourself Subforum however, but the RX-8 Racing Subforum. Not really sure why you wouldn't create it in the right section to begin with it you know that you aren't creating it in the right section
Moved.
I'm not thinking of the Do It Yourself Subforum however, but the RX-8 Racing Subforum. Not really sure why you wouldn't create it in the right section to begin with it you know that you aren't creating it in the right section
Moved.
07-26-2012, 10:07 PM
#7
Thank you for moving it, I didn't think of this one when I was going through which one to put it in. I was meaning this for more of a general population than just people looking to race their 8's, but it does make more sense here.
And I'm working on the longer write-up as we speak, any information you think should be included can be posted here. That website has a LOT of good info for sure.
And I'm working on the longer write-up as we speak, any information you think should be included can be posted here. That website has a LOT of good info for sure.
07-27-2012, 01:16 PM
#10
Grrr. I'm not looking for answers, I know what the stuff does, I know how it works together. I'm attempting to do a decent write-up to help people who want to know those things without comparing products and turning it into another thread full of product placement. It's supposed to be the theory behind it all if you will, so then people can go to the stickies that have products listed and know what the numbers mean and what they are looking at. If you think this is a bad idea, let me know, but if you think it's a good idea, help and ideas are always appreciated.
07-27-2012, 01:24 PM
#11
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It is sort of a bad idea because the information you wish to compile and post in this thread is here already, probably multiple times. And a lot of the information is debatable even amongst the "experts". If people are too lazy to read it there and elsewhere, they will be too lazy to read it here.
For those who will take the time to read, then the book BSE linked is a good starting point. I just recently ordered that book after I saw it recommended elsewhere.
For those who will take the time to read, then the book BSE linked is a good starting point. I just recently ordered that book after I saw it recommended elsewhere.
07-27-2012, 01:26 PM
#12
That is a good point, I just thought I'd start it because I spent a long time looking for the information I needed when looking to spend money and not get the generic "this is a better product" answer that you find everywhere on here. The information is here, but not in an organized or easy to find manner.
07-29-2012, 05:25 PM
#14
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Common knowledge to who? I use it daily and it works just fine. Learn to use it. A good example of why this thread is unneeded is the linking of the farnorth write up. That write along with may others has been linked and discussed already in my coilover/suspension knowledge thread.
07-31-2012, 07:49 PM
#16
Voids warranties
07-31-2012, 09:00 PM
#17
I drilled the rear ARB for a more rearward LLTD (more weight on inside front) and slotted the front UCA chassis side holes to get an acceptable amount of front camber (~-1.75 to -2.5 deg). Net result...car used to push like a pig and now it's pleasantly loose. Rear camber is ~-1.5 deg. Everything else is stock. I may set the RARB back to stock because trail braking can get a little hairy with the current setup.
Last edited by cwatson; 07-31-2012 at 09:05 PM.
08-03-2012, 10:00 AM
#18
The "advanced" options can be really useful if you're searching for a specific thread or post (e.g., "I remember Isley describing his exhaust setup"), but it's less helpful if you are looking for specific subject matter. What would be most useful is Boolean searching; it doesn't appear to support that. It also doesn't support phrase searching.
08-03-2012, 05:27 PM
#19
Voids warranties
That says that a search function exists; it doesn't say anything about its quality. In fact, if that is the extent of the function's ability, I'd agree that it sucks (which isn't the site's fault).
The "advanced" options can be really useful if you're searching for a specific thread or post (e.g., "I remember Isley describing his exhaust setup"), but it's less helpful if you are looking for specific subject matter. What would be most useful is Boolean searching; it doesn't appear to support that. It also doesn't support phrase searching.
The "advanced" options can be really useful if you're searching for a specific thread or post (e.g., "I remember Isley describing his exhaust setup"), but it's less helpful if you are looking for specific subject matter. What would be most useful is Boolean searching; it doesn't appear to support that. It also doesn't support phrase searching.
No search engine is exactly perfect. But they can get you close. Then you still have to do a bit of looking to get it right. Provided its there to find.
08-06-2012, 09:26 AM
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Common knowledge to who? I use it daily and it works just fine. Learn to use it. A good example of why this thread is unneeded is the linking of the farnorth write up. That write along with may others has been linked and discussed already in my coilover/suspension knowledge thread.
So i still stand by my opinion of this sites search function.
08-06-2012, 09:29 AM
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It's also common knowledge that most people on this sight don't really care what you think.
Last edited by ReV2ReD; 08-06-2012 at 09:31 AM.
08-30-2012, 03:27 PM
#24
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Obviously this thread is already dead and has been shot down by the old trolls that have been doing this for years and know exactly what they are searching for. Not to be rude because I have a very high respect for the "vets" that do this every day and are posting useful information daily.
I just want to state that this could have been a very useful thread to people that yes might actually know how to use the search function but might not actually know what they are searching for. As I know all too well that there is a ton of information out there that I will never find out because I dont know what it is and in turn cannot search for it.
I just want to state that this could have been a very useful thread to people that yes might actually know how to use the search function but might not actually know what they are searching for. As I know all too well that there is a ton of information out there that I will never find out because I dont know what it is and in turn cannot search for it.
08-30-2012, 03:38 PM
#25
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All of the "vets" had to learn on their own and were not spoon fed. The information you seek if easily found here and there are several existing threads on different suspension topics as well as several links to more detailed information through other sources. The topic of suspension is very deep and will require a ton of work to fully understand it well. My suggestion is to start with the most popular book son the subject.