My first Autocross season (Updated after races)

[shorestiva]

If your car weights 1650 and assuming a 63/37 weight split you should have 1039lbs up front and 610 in the rear. Which should give you 519 on each front and 305 on each rear. I've been reading the article in sport compact car where they chose spring rates for their project corolla. From what I understand this would be a good starting point for spring ratios but itll theyll make a rough ride on the street. But they also said something to the affect of that a weaker spring in the rear with a stiffer spring up front will keep the rear suspension planted better. I dunno if this will help or if its close to right. Springs I sorta get but I haven't even started to try to understand dampers. Hope this helps alittle. :scratch:

[quaddawg]

Well, my car plus driver weighs more... do I take driver weight into account?

I am thinking 500 in front might be a little stiff, but I really don't care about street ride, as autocross is much more important to me now, and possibly road racing in the future....

400 fronts, 300 rears should be fine.

Does anyone have the simple Teins? do you think they are worth the 900 bucks? I hate to spend that money, if I can get a reasonable adjustable set for less... but I have been known to spend the bucks when needed.

Does anyone have any experience with Phantom grip for the Festy? One of my problems is still spinning the right front out of corners.. even with modulation, my foot is heavy... lol...

[quaddawg]

Here is a so-so video of a run this weekend. This was one of my first of the day, and consequently not a geat one. I cut over 4 seconds off this course on a later run

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/3688920b-257d-4a1d-b2aa-9975013e9cc2.htm

[Silv3rBull3t]

Dude with 400/300 in lb springs you will no longer be using your struts at all, you seriously will be BOUNCING EVERYWHERE!!!! I have 250/200 and that is very stiff and somewhat bouncy. I do not recommend going higher than that unless you are going to get custom valved struts at the same time. -Kyle

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11085

[Gforcefd]

I have those cheap coilover that are like 500 front and back my car only bounces when I hit bumps, not when I am zig zaggin back and forth between turns.

[Silv3rBull3t]

Go AutoX and let me know how it does. If you get no bump steer, don't ever have the car unsettled mid corner due to bounce, or blow struts I would be VERY surprised. Either way to each their own. If it works for you then do it. I just know what has worked for my AutoX car.. -Kyle

[quaddawg]

Yeah, I am prone to listen to Kyles set up. Street and Autocross = no comparison.. not even close. I actually thought my car handled pretty good until I crossed it.... uh.. nope..

I think I will try to emulate Kyles set up.

Hey Kyle, what do you think about the non-adjustible Teins FMS has now?? would you use them?

Do you have the part numbers for your springs and other parts???

[EVOGUN]

I have the non-adjustable and you can increase the spring rate +2kg front and rear to you guys that's 224 in rear and 280 in the front. The damper will control this and wont be bouncy.
Also I would say go with Swift springs, they are the best springs money can buy. If you are interested in these let me know, I have pretty good deal right now.

(The factory Tein are 112 rear and 168 front)

I will have a good set-up for auto-x soon in this new project. So if you still looking at that time, all have a real auto-x experience to share on the Tein Basic Compacts.

Thanks :wink:

[quaddawg]

I will still be looking, as I don't have any extra cash at all, at the moment. I am buying a house, and that has me tapped out.

I will be watching, post back here and let me know how your set up works.


How much are the Swift springs??

[Silv3rBull3t]

If I didn't already have KYB Supers all around, I would have gone with the Tein setup, but since now I have the Ground Controls I am going to have Koni build me a special short stroke, custom valved set so I can 400 front and 350 rear. And because I have the GC's I can just order the stiffer spring rates and just swap them out. The Tein setup that EVO is talking about 280 front 224 rear sounds like a good option.. -Kyle

[25Horseplay]

After getting to do a few laps at Waterford Hills this past weekend I can see where this could be addictive!