Suspension questions - oxymoron a tracked cabrio

[JeremyD]

Ok - Before my last track day my strut towers were nice and smooth - now it becomes evident that a strut tower is in my future



This is the first DE that I have been to that I feel like my driving was starting to be limited by my suspension. (Which is basically stock at this point - 59,000 miles).

So my goal is to tighten the suspension up a little bit - yet retain some of the stock feel of my car.

Any suggestions here - I'm definitely thinking new monoballs/strut tower base (I like the rennline integrated monoballs and triungulated strut base) and I have some bilstein HD's on the way. How about bushings? Will new netrix be enough - I think the elephant racing poly bronze will probably be overkill -

Thoughts?? Recommendations? And no, I do not want rock hard suspension, I don't plan on increasing torsion bar size.

Post your opinions please

[JeremyD]

No comments on this? Not even a should of bought a coupe?

[PPilot]

Jeremy, great to see you enjoying your Cab, I have an 84 that is very envious of yours slowly making improvements!! best, Gordon.

[charleskieffner]

we went with hollow torsions front and rear,adj. sway -away spring plates and bushings, new bushings everywhere else, beefed up rear sway bar mts, cambermeister strut bar up front, 930 turbo tie rods, lowered to euro height, 7 & 9's fuchs w/yoko's, after putting 250 miles on like i had mentioned. we have to roll front fender lips and thats it. drives a hell of alot better than first track days. very happy with ride and handling. probably on next cash infusion drop some adj. sway bars and whatever elephant/patrick racing recommends.

girlfriend loved the ride and that says alot. hates my SCORE CLASS 8 truck on the street(too stiff), on the dirt its acceptable to her, despite big buck bilsteins w/resevoirs on it! so there is a point where it works real good on track and everyone hates you when you drive it on the street. this was the way my SCCA DATSOON 280-Z was. unreal on track, horrible to anyone in stock passenger seat. i had racing seat so it wasnt too bad, but it wasnt great for street. im kinda like you, love the track aspect of car but still enjoy going on roadtrips w/g/friend.

[charleskieffner]

torsions were sway away also 23mm and 30mm G-50 hollow. try it you'll like it!

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by charleskieffner
torsions were sway away also 23mm and 30mm G-50 hollow. try it you'll like it!

Is it harsh on the road with those torsion bars?

[sjanes]

Jeremy,

I have an 87 targa with a track suspension, so I can offer some insight.

I've had monoballs (front and rear) and 23/30 torsion bars on my car for 6 years, and I've done a lot of street driving with it. My wife and I took a week driving vacation a few years back with it. No complaints with a harsh ride. It can however, but a bit tiring on fairly rough roads.

It is however, a lot siffer than the stock suspension. A friend of mine has a stock 87 Targa, and I find it too spongy, even compared to my Volvo. So if you enjoy the current ride of you car, 23/30 torsion bars and monoballs are a big change.

Also, as everyone knows, the Targa/Cab chassis is flexible. So if you go really stiff on the suspension, the entire chassis becomes an undampered spring. I ended up installing a rollcage in my car to lessen the flex.

So, if you do a bit of track, but drive the car on the street a lot, I'd suggest the monoballs and softer torsion bars than the 23/30.

Oh, BTW, I have a set of smart racing front monoballs that used to be on my car for sale (shameless plug ). I replaced them with monoballs like the Elephant racing one that allows more front neg camber.

[charleskieffner]

i am 100% happier with the ride! 250 miles of hauling A$$ and like i mentioned only complaint is having to roll front fender lips. im 6'3 200# and have pole position recaros and it is GREAT! mono balls next and adj. sway bars and im done as per PCA/showroom stock rules for my 3.2-F-CLASS.

[Bobboloo]

If you replace bushings go with the Elephant bushings in the front and if you can swing it get the Wevo springplates for the rear or atleast Elephant for the rear as well. Not only does it improve handling but it improves the ride. The ride becomes less harsh.

If your budget can't include new bushings for the rear from Elephant or Wevo then just flip your stock springplates for now. I think anything less than those two products are a waste of time and money.

I think you would be very happy with 21/28 Torsion bars for the street.

One more thing. You need a strut brace up front. Just the simple one piece that ties the towers will work. I don't know first hand but I heard that, while the triangulated is better, it's not that much better. Particularly as it pertains to Cabs and Targas. The most important thing is to tie the towers.

[JeremyD]

Thanks Bobby for the input...

[aj88cab]

Jeremy,

This is what I have done suspension wise to my '88 cab. I track it about 5- 6 time a year.

ER Polybronze Front Bushings
ER Front Monoballs
Turbo Tie-Rods
Strut Brace
Bilstein Sport all around (not too harsh in my opinion and a great benefit/requirement for tracking the car)
A really good alignment and corner balance that leans slightly more to the track than the street.
7&9 x 16's with RA1's

I will tackle the rear bushings, monoballs, etc, when I get inspired and/or need to drop the engine.

But right now with stock torsion bars, stock sway bars and original rear bushings it will chase down 964's and an occational 993 at the DE's (and Carrera Coupes-sorry guys, had to throw that in). Setup correctly a Cab can be a very fun car, it will never be a race car, but it will perform.

It really doesn't take much to tighten up these 18 year old suspensions and the results are spectacular. Every instructor I had (pre solo days) commented on how tight it was (and I haven't done the rear end yet). Take it a step at a time and grow your skill with the car.

FYI - My power upgrades include Dansk pre-mufler, M&K 1in/1out, and chip.

Apparently you have quite a package in the rear of your cab, with all that power you might want to go ahead and do the rear bushings/monoballs.

And maybe think about beefing up the t-bars and swaybars at some point. Others can probably speak to merits of those upgrades with your power better than I, since I have no experience as yet with those items (or that much power!).

Love your cab by the way, but then again, I am very biased to Diamond Blue Metallic cabs

Andrew

[JeremyD]

Thanks Andrew for the input - yes she has some scoot in her caboose...

This is the direction I am leaning -
ER Polybronze Front Bushings
Rennline integrated Front Monoballs (works with strutbrace)
Already Installed - Turbo Tie-Rods
Rennline triangulatedd Strut Brace
Bilstein HD all around
A really good alignment and corner balance that leans slightly more to the track than the street. - yeah after the work done...
8&9 x 16's with RA1's

I'm going to leave sways and torsions alone right now. I'll tackle the rear at a later date.

[84CAB]

should have bought a coupe....just kidding - keep us posted on what you decide and what the outcome is like.

[aj88cab]

Sounds like you've got it covered. You'll be very happy with the results.......

Andrew