Track advice on a budget
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Track advice on a budget
So I've been looking at how to maximize my budget all winter. I track the car a few times a year, and where I really want to improve the car is in the corners. I've got more than enough power and I'm happy with the brakes.
245/275 Super Sports are a sure thing, but I've got about another $1000 I'd like to use on suspension.
Would it be better spent on LCA bushings, sway bars and Swift springs?
or
BC Racing coilovers?
or something else? The Swift springs have some drop it looks like and I'd really like to stay at stock ride height so the suspension geometry isn't sacrificed and save my front bumper from speed bumps.
Any opinions are welcome.
245/275 Super Sports are a sure thing, but I've got about another $1000 I'd like to use on suspension.
Would it be better spent on LCA bushings, sway bars and Swift springs?
or
BC Racing coilovers?
or something else? The Swift springs have some drop it looks like and I'd really like to stay at stock ride height so the suspension geometry isn't sacrificed and save my front bumper from speed bumps.
Any opinions are welcome.
#2
Lexus Test Driver
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So I've been looking at how to maximize my budget all winter. I track the car a few times a year, and where I really want to improve the car is in the corners. I've got more than enough power and I'm happy with the brakes.
245/275 Super Sports are a sure thing, but I've got about another $1000 I'd like to use on suspension.
Would it be better spent on LCA bushings, sway bars and Swift springs?
or
BC Racing coilovers?
or something else? The Swift springs have some drop it looks like and I'd really like to stay at stock ride height so the suspension geometry isn't sacrificed and save my front bumper from speed bumps.
Any opinions are welcome.
245/275 Super Sports are a sure thing, but I've got about another $1000 I'd like to use on suspension.
Would it be better spent on LCA bushings, sway bars and Swift springs?
or
BC Racing coilovers?
or something else? The Swift springs have some drop it looks like and I'd really like to stay at stock ride height so the suspension geometry isn't sacrificed and save my front bumper from speed bumps.
Any opinions are welcome.
My BC coil's were way too soft on the corners of Mosport, even at the hardest settings I just couldn't prevent the front end from nose diving and banging my fender liners..yes I was probably a smidgeon too low. The rear was fine. The coils are great for the street, but I would save a little and get the KW - V3's. Next time we meet you can drive my car and feel the BC's in comparison...anytime. My rear F-Sport sway bar, is really a neutral thing, and it only feels different on turn in ...IMO,not worth it for what you are trying to achieve.
Digger08
Last edited by digger08; 03-15-13 at 08:21 PM.
#3
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Hey Carbon,
My BC coil's were way too soft on the corners of Mosport, even at the hardest settings I just couldn't prevent the front end from nose diving and banging my fender liners..yes I was probably a smidgeon too low. The rear was fine. The coils are great for the street, but I would save a little and get the KW - V3's. Next time we meet you can drive my car and feel the BC's in comparison...anytime. My rear F-Sport sway bar, is really a neutral thing, and it only feels different on turn in ...IMO,not worth it for what you are trying to achieve.
Digger08
My BC coil's were way too soft on the corners of Mosport, even at the hardest settings I just couldn't prevent the front end from nose diving and banging my fender liners..yes I was probably a smidgeon too low. The rear was fine. The coils are great for the street, but I would save a little and get the KW - V3's. Next time we meet you can drive my car and feel the BC's in comparison...anytime. My rear F-Sport sway bar, is really a neutral thing, and it only feels different on turn in ...IMO,not worth it for what you are trying to achieve.
Digger08
I really loved the car at the Mosport driver development track last time I went, but found the rear was a tad too hard? I'm not sure how to explain it, but it felt too happy to slide out. My biggest problem was oversteer or hopping on the gas too quickly out of the corner.
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Also, how did the BC coilovers hold up over the winter? Thanks for mentioning the rear sway bar, I was wondering if that was worth it.
Edit: Not to rule out the KW V3s, that would be my first choice, but I'm dumping enough on the car this year as it is, I can look at upgrading later if this track season teases out more problems with the setup.
Edit edit: The last set of PS2 tires were worn more on the outside than the inside, so a camber adjustment is certianly something to consider. Maybe Fig's mega arms would help this. I'd probably run even lower tire pressures next season, around 32 PSI.
Edit: Not to rule out the KW V3s, that would be my first choice, but I'm dumping enough on the car this year as it is, I can look at upgrading later if this track season teases out more problems with the setup.
Edit edit: The last set of PS2 tires were worn more on the outside than the inside, so a camber adjustment is certianly something to consider. Maybe Fig's mega arms would help this. I'd probably run even lower tire pressures next season, around 32 PSI.
Last edited by CarbonISF; 03-15-13 at 09:30 PM.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Have you considered getting figs MEGA ARMS?
http://shopfigs.com/v1/index.php?rou...&product_id=55
I have heard good things about them. You could also go with a few of the TOMS braces to try and stiffen up the car. Its kinda hard to say what to do when we dont know what is done to the car so far.
http://shopfigs.com/v1/index.php?rou...&product_id=55
I have heard good things about them. You could also go with a few of the TOMS braces to try and stiffen up the car. Its kinda hard to say what to do when we dont know what is done to the car so far.
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Have you considered getting figs MEGA ARMS?
http://shopfigs.com/v1/index.php?rou...&product_id=55
I have heard good things about them. You could also go with a few of the TOMS braces to try and stiffen up the car. Its kinda hard to say what to do when we dont know what is done to the car so far.
http://shopfigs.com/v1/index.php?rou...&product_id=55
I have heard good things about them. You could also go with a few of the TOMS braces to try and stiffen up the car. Its kinda hard to say what to do when we dont know what is done to the car so far.
Ideally I'd buy everything Figs makes but the arms seemed like overkill for my purposes. Although now they are starting to look more worthwhile for the camber adjustment.
Regarding chassis bracing, which ones are worth doing?
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i love my swift springs...the car turns in much better than before and doesn't sacrifice and ride quality. With new bushings and sway bars i think that should be the best bang for you buck. have fun!
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#8
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How much was it to get the springs installed. Or did you do it yourself?
If Figs/Swift does custom sizes and spring rates, that would be ideal...
#9
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So far all I've done is PPE headers, Takeda intake, Stoptech SS lines, Motul RBF600 Dot 4 brake fluid, and new rotors all round with Stoptech performance pads.
Ideally I'd buy everything Figs makes but the arms seemed like overkill for my purposes. Although now they are starting to look more worthwhile for the camber adjustment.
Regarding chassis bracing, which ones are worth doing?
Ideally I'd buy everything Figs makes but the arms seemed like overkill for my purposes. Although now they are starting to look more worthwhile for the camber adjustment.
Regarding chassis bracing, which ones are worth doing?
#13
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Front springs are where you can make the biggest difference. Shocks need to be matched to the spring rate. The inside rear wheel lifts with the stock springs on the '08 - '09 models for sure, I have experienced this at the track. Honestly, you have a very difficult decision to make - do you want the car to work well at the track, or do you want it to ride nicely on the street. These two things to not go together.
#14
Hey Carbon,
My BC coil's were way too soft on the corners of Mosport, even at the hardest settings I just couldn't prevent the front end from nose diving and banging my fender liners..yes I was probably a smidgeon too low. The rear was fine. The coils are great for the street, but I would save a little and get the KW - V3's. Next time we meet you can drive my car and feel the BC's in comparison...anytime. My rear F-Sport sway bar, is really a neutral thing, and it only feels different on turn in ...IMO,not worth it for what you are trying to achieve.
Digger08
My BC coil's were way too soft on the corners of Mosport, even at the hardest settings I just couldn't prevent the front end from nose diving and banging my fender liners..yes I was probably a smidgeon too low. The rear was fine. The coils are great for the street, but I would save a little and get the KW - V3's. Next time we meet you can drive my car and feel the BC's in comparison...anytime. My rear F-Sport sway bar, is really a neutral thing, and it only feels different on turn in ...IMO,not worth it for what you are trying to achieve.
Digger08
My advice is get BCR's and lower it a little... that will give you some more negative camber and give you adjustable dampening for track/street use. In the future then you can add mega arms, etc as $$$ becomes avail. (i'm getting mine installed today! ... along with toe links, rear upper links and 2-piece rotors front and rear!)
Can't go wrong with the sway bar IMHO either... I have all the Tom's chassis bracing stuff except the rear shock tower bar. I definitely feel that it helped with the stiffness of the car etc, but as lobux will point out are the differences measurable in faster lap times?? IDK... I have made more than one change at a time in general to my setup between track days, so pinpointing differenced to one component changed is impossible. The increase in negative camber was measurable however and certainly reduced the insanely bad outside tire wear (especially the front) at the track.
Last edited by ERDoc74; 03-17-13 at 10:45 PM.
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