Building the ultimate Festiva street suspension...

[Advancedynamix]

So hottuning will sell just the front ones? I'm pretty much set for the rears, as you know.

Why the difference in advice for > 120 ft-lbs TQ? Given the same car weight.

The requirements for maintaining traction under acceleration starts becoming more of a concern around 120ft-lbs of tq in a festiva. Slower rebound dampening in the front becomes more advantageous. This works to keep the weight over the front wheels instead of transferring it further back.
The art of FWD performance driving is hinged upon diving into corners and pulling hard out of exits. If the front of the chassis lifts under acceleration, it drastically affects the cars ability to exit corners under hard throttle.

[Advancedynamix]

When I put them on the road force balancer at work. All 4 had 35-45 lbs of road force. Spec for a p tire is like 24 lbs. I checked my wheel run out with the machine and all were straight so I'm pretty definite its just the tires.

This makes sense. I have thought about having mine trued. I think they must be blems or something.

[TominMO]

The requirements for maintaining traction under acceleration starts becoming more of a concern around 120ft-lbs of tq in a festiva. Slower rebound dampening in the front becomes more advantageous. This works to keep the weight over the front wheels instead of transferring it further back.
The art of FWD performance driving is hinged upon diving into corners and pulling hard out of exits. If the front of the chassis lifts under acceleration, it drastically affects the cars ability to exit corners under hard throttle.

Thanx.

[Skrapbob]

[QUOTE=Advancedynamix;705522]Sorry I wasn't able to chime in sooner. I was at the track all weekend doing more development work on this exact topic.
Here is the quick break down on the ultimate low dollar street worthy track car.

Mk2 vw coilovers in the front. You can get a pair of the cheap ones that hottuning sells on ebay for under 200 dollars. They work better than the expensive bilstein 40mm ones I built years back. They are worth the money, and they are completely servicable, so (if you ever manage to blow them, which I haven't yet) you can rebuild them for less than 50 bucks.
You will want 120lb 12" front springs (2 9/16 diameter) on a car with stock engine placement. 150lb 12" springs with a forward mounted engine, possibly 175"lb fronts with a bp that's forward mounted.[QUOTE=Advancedynamix;705522]


I am confused and ready to send my 10" front springs back for a set of 12". Do I need 12" springs now for the front threaded struts?

[Advancedynamix]

No, 10" will work too. I just prefer to have as much adjustability as possible.

[mikemounlio]

Parts came in today. Still messing with hottunning to get the front coilovers but parts are flowing in

[bhazard]

Since they are only willing to drop $40 off the price of the set to get just the fronts, I would just buy the whole set and resell the rears.

[mikemounlio]

I was going to as a set of racelands just sold for 175$ on here. But my luck would be that they never move and sit in the garage in the corner for 5 years always in my way. I saved 48$ and some hassle. Im ok with that.

[mikemounlio]

And they finally got back to me and my order is finished. Waiting on the rear struts, one top hat, and the fronts. Once all parts are here and the 1st weekend i get ill throw them on and write up a detailed review from a festiva noobs point of view.

[mikemounlio]

Finally have all my suspension parts in now! Tonight i will start on it. Ill be sure to take pictures and do a review and that kinda crap.

[fasteva]

What is the spring rate supposed to be for the rear springs


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[TominMO]

What is the spring rate supposed to be for the rear springs?

Stock is ~90#; the lowest rate you can get with the 10" x 1 7/8" springs is 105#, which is actually very nice. You can go with 120# if you plan on carrying heavy loads a lot, or towing.

[Mini62cooper]

Check these coilovers out. Any body try these yet?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201511749918...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Advancedynamix]

Those wouldn't work nearly as well as the threaded body coilovers, and would require more modification to fit. You'd save even more money just buying replacement mk2 front struts and coilover sleeves and Southwest speed springs, but you wouldn't get as much adjustability or performance as the threaded body shocks.

[errjam]

Finally have all my suspension parts in now! Tonight i will start on it. Ill be sure to take pictures and do a review and that kinda crap.

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