A discussion at any level is good, but try to get information from many sources, to dilute the effect of DG on your thinking. For example, the bit about bumpstops is much more about 2G DSMs than any Evo. On the other hand, one thing that does transfer is that about keeping the outside front tire happy, especially with regards to camber. But also remember that we have struts, so it's much easier for us to use caster, instead of more and more static camber and 900# springs.

 

I would argue that a lot of folks are finding the bumpstops under hard cornering and haven't put 2+2 together yet. I was on a 9k/10k setup and on Hoosiers I was smashing into the bumpstops in the front. Car was darty and unstable cornering hard on track. These cars transfer a lot of weight to the outside front, especially on track doing things like trail braking into a high speed corner like T1 at Road Atl.

I also agree on the caster, I am running 5.8 degrees now. I would like to work up a model of the front suspension to see just how much camber is added at different steering inputs.

In the end, the way the car drives and the way the tires are wearing are two of the best indicators you have. If you can drive the car faster through corners, cut lap time and it feels good, you have done something right. And 9 times out of 10 I have seen better and more even tire wear when I make changes that let me go faster.

 

Yeah, I probably overstated that; a lowered Evo on full-length shocks could be finding the bumpstops, too. Knowing your amount of travel and, at least, filming the car would be wise.

As to caster, the one thing that I would love to discuss is the issue of inside-wheel jacking when caster is combined with king-pin axis and offset. Most folks just go for as much caster as they can get, ignoring this issue. Is that because jacking isn't that much of a big deal or because, even with the jacking, the steering-based dynamic camber is worth it?

 

Well, I will have a set of 11k swifts in my hands next week.

Now I just need to man up and put them on my car...

My next event is on a brand new track with brand new asphalt...I guess worst case scenario dynamically is it just understeers MORE.


Let the 11k/10k adventure begin

 

Still on the Ohlins in your signature? What swaybars? Let us know how it works for you.


I just just installed a set of Ohlins with 11.6k front and 12.5k rear. Revalved for the higher rates. Actually I had them go one step further on the valving in case I wanted to run higher spring rates in the near future. I may try a square spring rate setup as well as a reverse stagger setup just to get a feel for them.

The ride isn't nearly as bad as I expected. I still haven't been able to do an AutoX because I've been sick lately. Also I have excessive axial play in one of the spherical bearings in my Ciro camber/caster plates that really needs to be taken care of before I drive the car much more.

 

unlikely. you'll probably find it to be more oversteery than 10k/10k, but it's also so small of a change you might not notice anything.

 

I'm currently on 8k/10k though, not 10/10

 

What flavor of Ohlins, just curious? Hyperco springs?

I have a set of used CIRO plates I'm trying to find a home for, they include a spare set of spherical bearings/housings as well.

 

Nothing too fancy. Just the Road & Track setup revalved by Performance Shock. Hyperco springs.

I'll keep that in mind. In the mean time my plan is to use the Ohlins bearing housing with the Ciro top plate. I already had to use the taller bushing from the Ohlins plates because the standard Ciro top nut is too long for the Ohlins shaft. It bottoms out before it makes contact with the spherical bearing, leaving less than a millimeter or so of play between the shaft and the bearing. The taller bushing under the bearing fixes that, but I recall Rick saying that he had shorter top nuts available so I may order a pair of those when I order a replacement spherical bearing setup from him. The other spherical bearing is still in good condition.

Alternatively, I may just attach the Ohlins bearing housing to the Ciro top plate section. It looked like it would fit when I eyeballed it, but I haven't tried yet. The Ohlins spherical bearings are smaller than the Ciro bearings, but if the Ohlins bearings last longer then I can't really complain.

 

In my experience, you cannot use the Ohlin's bearing carrier housing along with the CDR top plate portion. They appear to be the same but Rick's plates are just a hair larger.

I ended up swapping the entire CDR plate setup onto my DFV's which isn't a big deal but I too was a little bummed about that because I thought I would have spares. Now if Im in a pinch I will have to use the entire Ohlins plate which means I will miss out on the added caster that Rick's plates provide.

 

yeah gerard spec rt's, which i was told by the man behind them are valved to handle up to like 14k/16k. whiteline bars, rear on full soft.

can you elaborate please?

i mean in my mind, yes it will be more oversteery but more in the sense that i am moving away from understeer towards oversteer, but my understanding of the whole situation is that this isnt going to lead a tail happy car...unless im wrong?

thats exactly why im nervous about this change...my car has always had abundant rear end grip, never gotten it loose once (probably because i dont drive hard enough) and i dont really want to change that just yet.

 

too many unknowns to be able to tell if the car will be tail happy or not, just saying that the direction of balance change will be towards oversteer from where ever you're starting from.

no reason to be nervous, worst case you just put it back.

...but you won't. it only takes one time of experiencing the pleasure of full throttle counter steering and you're hooked. the only mods on my street evo are a 24mm rsb on full stiff and cusco rear diff. I <3 on ramps.

 

i think the nerves are due to having never experienced any slip angle in the car whatsoever. I have 3 years of track experience so i think i will have a decent idea when the oversteer is coming in, just no idea if i will react correctly. I have spun before sooo....lol

ideally i would have planned this around running at a track i am familiar with and with good run off room, but i havent been getting out much this year. my next two events are at the brand new thompson track in ct which of course has a nice sweeper which passes under a bridge with some nice concrete walls...


in case no one can tell, the mental game is whats holding my driving back LOL.

 

unless you've been racing karts since you were 5, the metal game is holding all of us back.

I call it chicken braking.

 

Well admittedly, once you hit that wall and only end up on crutches for 3 weeks, the fear of it killing you kind of goes away.