chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Thanks Mike. I'm 6/100ths back from Shawn (moxnix) in 2nd. This is my first event with the car on concrete (in STX trim), but I had the benefit of a STXL co-driver who ran before us. Her feedback made me decide to make a front shock change - otherwise I left my car alone. Shawn and I found the car a little on the looser side, but we both would take that any day over understeer.

Hope your changes work for you. Looking forward to tomorrow.

lycanthrope

hey thanks for all the info. was that list going from best to worst? and im not trying to push any buttons but whats wrong with tein? alot of people say not to use them but noone ever says why. Bad build quality? the only guy who runs an stx rx8 in my area uses the kw's and i like his set up. thanks for all your help again.

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Inconsistent..

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

The list was in alphabetical order.

I'd talk to some top autocrossers - especially those who have experience with several different systems...and then form your own opinion.
Meh. The rain today was a "cluster-f&ck"! My Hankooks have never been the best in the wet, and now that they're worn down to 2/32nds tread, they're absolutely horrible in any kind of standing water.

Oh well, I can't afford a 2nd set of wheels and tires at this time...but the more I think about it, the more I want to just stick with these RS-3's next season (instead of switching to the Dunlops).

--Chike

Btw, my co-driver stuck his MaxQ on the car this afternoon during his wife's runs in STXL. She's a very solid driver and finsihed 3rd in Ladies for the weekend (behind Denise Kugler and Donna Marx), and he saw a consistent 1.1g in steady state sweepers and the long showcase. They say the concrete at the ACU-4 site is very similar in grip level to Lincoln (but a step below the ultra grippy stuff found at Peru). I figured this was a pretty respectable number for a street tired car...

For those STX folks that run data acquisition, I'd be interested in hearing what consistent lateral g numbers you've seen on concrete (please post the site you were running on).

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Oh chike I was not saying you were Inconsistent, I was saying that Tein's were inconsistent with their range of dampning.

I wish it was dry today so I could see if the changes I made helped...But the car felt better today even in the wet. I guess I just run better when my car is a bit tail happy..

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Understood. Hope things work out for you at Nats Mike. Dave Ogburn (was in the black turbo mini) is also going. Hope to see both of you guys in the hunt for a trophy.

lycanthrope

thanks. is there a preferred place to buy any of these from? im having a little trubble finding a few(moton).

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

^If you were thinking about buying Tein's...I think Moton might be out of your price range...and a little unnecessary. Unless you are competiting Nationally...

Check out the Bilstein PSS9's.

lycanthrope

id say my price range would top out around 4k but if i can spend less id like that. also id say the tiens i was looking at were around 2k or so i also didnt see hks or mazdaspeed on the list. are they bad too?

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Do you still plan to drive your car on the street? If so, the PSS9's will be a great choice.

If you plan to trailer it, then spending 3-4K on some top-of-the-line AST's or Fat Cat Bilsteins or some Moton Club Sports would make sense.

docgatorx8er

iTrader: (10)

Also consider if you plan to track the car and time trial. Struts with external reservoirs use precious points if you decide to NASA time trial.

lycanthrope

it will be my daily driver and nationals may be in the future but not untill i get at least one year under my belt at the regional leval. so far it looks like the pss9's are a good bet and they are really cheap but id still like to get some more info. like i said the only other guy who has a stx rx8 in my area runs kw variant 3's(and loves them) but i dont want to base my purchase on just what one guy thinks.

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

If you want to learn more about the RX-8 PSS9's, read this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/anyone-here-run-bilstein-pss9s-140733/

Even if you were daily driving the car, I'd still consider the Fat Cat Bilsteins. They seem to be a well-engineered system and he has many happy miata customers. GeorgeH is on a set and might have something to add about them.

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

GeorgeH ran the KW Variant 3's last year at Nationals and placed 9th out of 44 drivers. I would say they are a great choice.

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Chike did you take video at all this weekend? I only got my camera working on Sunday...Here are my last 2 runs.

http://vimeo.com/14370368

kster

I mostly do track days (not auto-x) but I'm running Ohlins DFVs which you should also look at. At full soft, for daily driving, they were more comfortable than my OEM (R3) Bilstiens. But once stiffened for competition, they feel very responsive. They are also rebuildable.

And like Motons, Ohlins are used by many professional race teams (if you care about this).

Their street product: http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/en/

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Unfortunately, no video Mike.

I actually don't own a camera...the videos I've previously posted have all been due to co-drivers with them. Shawn has one, but the mount is broken.

Kennetht638

iTrader: (2)

My co-driver for the Toledo Pro stuck a MaxQ on my dashboard and we saw between 1.10g and 1.16g going around the big sweeper at the end of the course. This was on Dunlops with my homemade Koni Yellow coilovers and stock bars.

murph1379

I'd say just the opposite. Good shocks will handle high spring rates much better and will be more reliable, making dual street/autocross use much more enjoyable. My ASTs ride better on 650lb front springs than the OE struts on 150 lb stock progressive springs.

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Interesting. Toledo has that brushed concrete that tends to be grippy in some turns and ultra grippy in others. Good data point though - thanks.
Agree 100%.

lycanthrope

well ill let you guys know when i decide to buy. if anyone can think of anything else i should know id love to hear it. thanks again.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

True, which is why it would make more sense to run the Koni 2812 shocks for NASA. Remote reservoirs don't make a quality shock.

BruceLeeJKD

You could try upgrading to an E36 M3 suspension(and whole car while you're at it).

Just kidding, but I did look up the AST's you were talking about. According to Vorshlag's website the only suspesion offered for the RX8 is the 5000 series kit. It's a single adjustable, monotube setup with remote resovoirs. The list price is about $2,800. I haven't heard anything about that particular kit, but most guys on Bimmerforums have said that AST coilovers are the best for the money on street cars.

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

Mike,

This was the only pic I came across of you from this past weekend taken by Alan Claffie from the DC region:



And since I'm posting pics, I'll post a few of my co-drivers and I (taken by Martin from my local region and Cameron from TSCC):

Shawn




Katie




Chike

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Chike, that actually looks very similar to this one taken by Jon Krolewicz.



He took some more, but I'm still waiting for him to upload them.