Advanced Suspension Mods

[Advancedynamix]

Yeah, I've seen about a dozen electric road race cars now, but that's a great topic for another thread.

[SiliconSoul]

You should know that I hold you personally responsible for the ridicule and harresment I receive for my five Festiva collection... :p

Electric starting to show up at all on the track?

[Advancedynamix]

Taking a short break from building my own cars for a bit to focus on my career and personal life. Still instructing at the track and enjoying driving though. I will build a specifically dedicated track Festiva when I get the itch again. I have 2 more Festy's just waiting their turn

[SiliconSoul]

Thankful to see you're still around! Moving on to a different platform?

[Advancedynamix]

Hey nice job..!

Advancedynamix... the pic of your strut and brake assembly is very interesting..
Have you ever thought of documenting all the parts and machine work that has been done in the strut/ brake mod and offered it for sale?
I'm talking parts list of all the strut/brake stuff and machined dimensions/details in a dxf for sale..? i'd be interested..
thanks
silver

There is such documentation in this thread already. I have built around 20 sets of this setup for different members here on the forum, and friends, but no longer build these. I was selling them to help offset the cost of my development, but have now moved on to different projects. The suspension mods depicted by me in this thread work magic on a Festiva. I typically charge more than these cars sold for new to tune a suspension like this for someone, and this info I have given freely to help everyone out. Your car can easily out handle a Ferrari F430, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman, BMW M3, or just about any other exotic car you can think of with this simple advice. Here is proof of that.

This car helped me fill a couple of shelves with trophies, and it was made possible with the exact setup that I have described in this thread. What's even more amazing is the car is easier to drive and more comfortable than stock (aside from the stiff clutch pedal and racing seats).
Also, nothing really special about the brake setup. Stock rear drum brakes, aspire fronts with cheap ebay cross drilled rotors and Performance Friction Pads (not a good street pad) and NA miata master cylinder and brake booster.

[silverknight]

Hey nice job..!

Advancedynamix... the pic of your strut and brake assembly is very interesting..
Have you ever thought of documenting all the parts and machine work that has been done in the strut/ brake mod and offered it for sale?
I'm talking parts list of all the strut/brake stuff and machined dimensions/details in a dxf for sale..? i'd be interested..
thanks
silver

[defprun]

need to do my fronts now

[defprun]

if you can dump your front hard go with 2005~ nissan maxima rears

[bhazard]

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=502434&cc=1081314

Theres the info on the KYB for a 90 Dodge Colt GT

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=502434&cc=1207224

And thats for a 90 Mitsu Mirage.


Edit: Same thing...lol

[bhazard]

Oh, I see. There's gotta be a better choice than a stock strut though. I have Mitsu Mirage AGX struts in the back of my turbo car but not sure if the length is right.

[defprun]

the shock bodies are too long, so you dont get the same amount of travel before you hit the bumpstops if you remove spring length.

[bhazard]

So whats the reason to not use the Raceland rears?

[nitrofarm]

OMG, MOZ you just answered my issue without even knowing it! Thanks you so much I didnt know that the top of the stoke is dampened differently! HA HA HA No wonder my front feels like it has no dampening when I push the front bumper. My car is gonna love you MOZ. I'm now certain once I get my rake correct my car is really gonna make me smile when cutting through heavy traffic.Right now I can pass 18 wheelers in the rain and snow at 75 no problem. Bridges and bumps in the rain at 75 no problem. The car is solid it just feels spongy during high speed lane changes when its dry. Like I have the wrong sway bar up front. Gotta get more weight on the front struts and get them in the engineered operating range. Hallelujah, thanks Mate!

[moz]

Youll need taller shock absorbers for starters. The reason for the abrupt weight transfer is that the valving on your shocks are set up to be active at approx half to 3/4 of the full shock travel. The top 3" on festiva shock is veeeeery sloppy.
I'm not sure which strut I would use, but vw golf could work.

If you raise the centre of gravity, you might want to widen the track. Otherwise its only detrimental to handling.

My 2¢. Not gospel.

[zoom zoom]

I'd like to get some clarification on another aspect of the suspension, lowering vs lifting.

So far everyone has been lowering. How does lifting a festiva effect it's performance, if the valving, springs, and bump stops are set up the same?

I have basically maxed the stock suspension height, the struts are fully extended. Sitting still the front sags 1.5" (175lb springs) and then 2.5" to the bump stops. The rear only sags .5-1", and 1.5" to the bump stops(150lb springs.) When I accelerate hard the weight is almost instantly transferred forward and the front lifts up. I think I need to get rid of some sag up front, and also get some slightly taller bump stops. New struts all the way around for sure, the rear feels great BUT I want room to fit 195/60/14's in there like up front, and I slide a little bit on gravel so I think I want to try a 130ish lb spring next time. I have had multiple hundreds of lbs sitting on the bumper with my trailers' tongue weight and load and I still don't ride on the bump stops.

I'm not trying to go any higher for driveability reasons, but how much of a disadvantage is it for me to be 4-5" taller than other festivas?

Any recommendations for a good performance tire in 14"? I'm not trying to be the fastest car but I would like the best handling car I can make, lifted a little higher than stock.

I'm assuming my 13x7" -20 or 30mm offset(can't remember) wheels would not be good on a festiva at any type of track. Is there any reason why that would be true, or could I use them with some 185/60/13 r888's with -2.5* camber and a little positive caster on the front?