Stiff
 

Alright, I'm new to suspension mods in the 8.

It's not daily driven, and I don't care about ride harshness. Might even be tracked some next year.

I need some input about this setup; If you guys could point out something better for me, that would be great.... or, if you think i'm good to go with this, let me know. I'm just throwing ideas around for this spring/summer.

17" wheels with 255/40 tires (of course, one of my concerns will be lowering the car enough to make 17" wheels look ok.)

Koni yellows/S-tech combo (front and rear)

Racing Beat Sways (front and rear)

What else? I want this car to be stiff. Bracing? Tie bars?

I'll have some money to work with, but I'd like to make it go a long way (in other words, don't suggest a $1,200 coilover setup)

people say stechs are too soft...

I had S Techs.

For ONE DAY.
Too hard for me.
Took 'em off and sold.
Even RB springs were softer....


S

HMMMM there you go, some insight...i wouldnt know, ive got RSRs, and to me they are stiff...

there is no such think as too stiff or too harsh for me.

Stiff doesn't always mean better handling.

i understand that, and obviously performance is my first priority.

i just wanted to make it clear that comfort does not precede performance in my case.

my 2 cents
 

i have 245/40/18s, stech springs, and i just ordered the konis but they're not on yet. oh, and rb sways.

i noticed a big difference over stock w/ just the s techs and the sways. what was a pretty forgiving ride that still really stuck in the corners, now is noticeably stiffer, but by no means uncomfortable. i can feel the rb sways help straighten out the car in turns too. i'll comment on konis once i get them on, but mostly great feedback w/ this set up that i've read.

i don't track or race, just daily driver. there might be/probably is a better set-up out there, but i think it depends on what type of racing, etc. you're doing. ie some want it dead stiff, but like someone said, stiff isn't always better and you need some give in the suspension. anyway, it's a great set-up you're looking towards. only you can comment on if it fits YOUR needs/wants, but from a purely general pov, it's a great way to really tighten down the 8 w/o going overboard or spending too much, i think.

edit: check your local area and see if anyone has this set-up or part of it or something similar. you can probably find someone that might be nice enough to let you check it out. if you're even in austin, you're welcome to *ride in* mine :)

edit 2: i too wonder about the extra stiffening, undercarriage ties, strut tower bars, etc. maybe someone can chime in. i don't need them b/c it's just my dd, so they're low on my list, but i'd like to try them out. maybe once my car isn't my dd anymore...whenever that will be!

Yeah that. Too many people automatically equate stiffness with better handling. The opposite ,as a general rule of thumb, will give you better traction. The caveat is that you must control roll, squat, and dive, and oscillations. These are best controlled with anti-roll bars for roll, and dampeners, for squat, dive, and oscillations. Carroll Smith in "Tune to Win" says you want the softest springs that will keep the wheels off the bumpstops and the ground and you control the rest with sway bars and dampeners. For smooth tracks you can use stiffer springs and get away with it, but on bumpy tracks and for the street, your car will handle better with softer springs, as long as you deal with the items discussed above.

but if you lower the car for aesthetic reasons you will need stiffer springs to keep the tires off the bump stops.

also, a lower car is a more aerodynamic car. :)

i agree with everything you said though.

by your name you should get Tiatanium springs lol j/k

I have just stechs, it feels like my car understeers more than it did stock.

has anyone else had this problem with them?

maybe the solution is to use slightly softer springs in the front?

also, can anyone tell me where i can find that epic underbody brace i've seen?

i think it's a 4-point.

Did you align the car after the spring install?

Appropriate alignment settings would help offset any excessive understeer you're currently experiencing.

Tire pressure adjustments help as well.

With the use of adjustable Koni dampers, further inputs can help dial in the car as needed.

No I did not, thats why Im not flippin out about it too much. Ill wait till I align it after I pull it out of storage in the spring and see how it is.