autocross suspension questions

944freak · 01-05-2003, 03:42 PM

Im going to start autocross this season. I want to upgrade my suspension first. I am planning on dropping around 1000 maybe a little more just on struts/springs. Should I go with Koni yellow adjustables all the way around? Should I put new springs on the front (200lbs or 250)? Should I lower it any or get the spacers with the springs? Also I want new sway bars, should I just go with some 951 sway bars. I have 17 inch porsche twist rims 7.5 front 9 rear. I'm trying to get a good balanced suspension.

thanks,
Steve

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Well the easiest way to enhance suspension is to install stiff rear sway bars, lower the rear end from the stock height, and stiffen up the front with Weltmeister autocross springs.

944freak · 01-05-2003, 06:48 PM

I'm thinkin Koni Yellows all the way around, 250# springs, 28mm torsion bar, and 95 front and rear sway bars. Will that balance out pretty well? Would it be better to go with even bigger than 951 sway bars n the front and rear?

Frank B · 01-05-2003, 07:53 PM

951 sway bars are very tight.. I'm gonna get them they rule, saw some in a custom shop about 5 blocks from my house, the guy getys em from his friend at a salvage yard, he'll finish em anyway you want .. these were ricer chrome.. a little too bling-bling for me..

Dantilla · 01-05-2003, 09:27 PM

Step one- What class are you going to run in?

Step two- What is allowed?

Question for self- Do I have driving skills above what the car is currently capable of?

944freak · 01-05-2003, 10:05 PM

Im not sure which class I will run in yet, but it will be one of the stock classes. As far as whats allowed- I can chang shocks springs, Im not sure about sway bars.
Im pretty good with my car. My front 2 shocks are blown so I'm gonna go ahead and replace everything. I'm also attending some driving schools in the spring time.

Dantilla · 01-06-2003, 08:54 AM

Here in the Seattle region, to stay stock you can only upgrade to what was available from the factory. When I changed shocks on my old S2, I went for the M030 front struts with 250# springs and yellow Konis. Anything else would have bumped me into the prepared catagory. Most crucial? Get a proper competition alignment.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Just letting you know, if you swtich to 250s, I would guess your ride would be *very* harsh

gearhead290 · 01-06-2003, 02:03 PM

What are the stock spring rates?

944freak · 01-06-2003, 05:00 PM

140

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

honestly, I would get new sway bars and stiffer springs before I worried about shocks. How do I come to this conclusion? It is what I was advised to do by the pelican majority when I brought it up a couple years back

(and now all I have to show for it are a pair of autocross springs that I got for christmas... not even installed yet! That's what a 16 month accident repair does to your hopes and dreams of upgrading. The moral? Watch out for those slippery road/wooden mailbox combinations)

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

What organization will you be playing with? PCA? SCCA? NASA?
Your current setup may already bump you out of stock classes (your 17" rims prob. make you inelligible for running in stock)
Check with the organization you're running with for a complete breakdown of classes.

To give you an idea, for PCA NNJR (North Jersey region), in order to stay stock, here are the rules regarding suspension:
-Any size sway bar may be used.
-Any shock absorber may be used, but the stock mounting points must be retained.
-Ride hight can be adjusted but springs or torsion bars may not be changed to adjust the ride height. Larger springs or torsion bars are not allowed. Springs cannot be cut to change the ride height.

Regarding wheels and tires:
· Wheelsize, width and diameter, must be as available from the factory for that model. Aftermarket wheels of the same size may be used.
(Note: since the 944 never came with 17's as even an option, that would put in automatically into Improved class).

The following will automatically put you into Improved class with NNJR:
· Adjustable spring plates if not stock for your car.
· Springs or torsion bars other than as delivered from the factory.

My $0.42 regarding upgrading: work on the loose nut behind the wheel before you do anything! Seriously: keep you car stock. Upgrade your shocks (since your fronts are dead), but keep everything else as close to stock as possible. If you start upgrading EVERYTHING before you know what you're doing, you don't know what upgrades are helping or hurting your driving! (No offense, but you don't have any seat time!)
I've been autocrossing for a few years now, and I still run in the stock classes, and other than a thicker rear sway bar, I haven't touched a thing! (Took 2nd place in championship points this year, so I have an idea of what I'm doing; plus I track my car). (And I'm still working on the loose nut behind the wheel!)

Regards,
-Zoltan.

PS: One more thing: worry not about how you do compared to others, but focus on your own improvement! Log your progress, and analyze where you did well, and where you need improvement. Also: pick up the book: Secrets of Solo Racing by Henry Watts. The autocross bible.
Oh, and have fun! hehe...

Dantilla · 01-07-2003, 09:34 AM

I had the 250# springs in the S2 a bit before I sold the turbo. When going somewhere with my wife she would ask if we could take the black car because it wasn't as bumpy as the white one.

Only noticable on rough pavement, which means the last 1/4 mile to our house. I liked the 250# springs on the road, and the track.