Track day suspension advice
16 May 2011, 08:09 PM
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Track day suspension advice
Ok just joined up so Hi 
Not really been messing about with cars since my xr3 back in the day, but iv bought a 2000 uk impreza for track days , looking for advice on some half decent suspension, i was thinking about just putting a koin kit on it , adjustables with 35-40 mm lowered,
Anyone got any thoughts , im trying to do it on a tight budget so i only want to spend about 600 ish on a kit
Thanks
Not really been messing about with cars since my xr3 back in the day, but iv bought a 2000 uk impreza for track days , looking for advice on some half decent suspension, i was thinking about just putting a koin kit on it , adjustables with 35-40 mm lowered,
Anyone got any thoughts , im trying to do it on a tight budget so i only want to spend about 600 ish on a kit
Thanks
16 May 2011, 08:26 PM
#2
I have some BC's on my 98- no they arent Ohlins, but fine for the track and road- certainly stiffer, and within budget.
An honest answer is forget that, and sort your brakes- the standard ones are pants- you need Brembos, plus braided lines, 5.1, and some decent hot pads- yellowstuff are good on track, and difficult to melt.
No point having good ride if you have to come in after 3 laps due to brake fade.
An honest answer is forget that, and sort your brakes- the standard ones are pants- you need Brembos, plus braided lines, 5.1, and some decent hot pads- yellowstuff are good on track, and difficult to melt.
No point having good ride if you have to come in after 3 laps due to brake fade.
17 May 2011, 01:52 PM
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Agree with Grant, for a track day, definitely do pads, fluid, rotors at the minimum. You can drive a loose, wobbly car on track and still have fun. Your brakes will be your ultimate limiting factor. And don't do a warmed over street pad, get a real track pad with an operating temperature that will allow you to do the whole day. Your smaller rotor diameter will not have the heat capacity of a BBK so a quality pad is necessary. I like Ferodo DS3000 with Motul RBF600 as a basic track setup.
Get your geometry checked. Maximize your front negative camber and set your toe to zero. Get your rear camber set as equal as possible then set your rear toe to how you like the car to handle. I prefer 1 or 2 mm toe in per side.
Obviously, get an oil change and check the rest of your fluids (tranny, water, etc.)
Check your tire condition and pressures.
Just the above will eat a couple hundred quid.
As to actual suspension upgrades, a set of Koni inserts with your stock springs are a good fast B road and track setup. Just set them stiff enough to match the softish spring rate and not much stiffer. Do not make the mistake of using the damper to increase 'spring rate'. That's not what they are there for. Use stiffer springs and/or larger ARBs. However, you will suffer from a decent amount of roll with the stock springs. Cheap, quick fix is to install a 22mm adjustable Whiteline ARB with drop links. Its great bang for the buck and will really transform your car. Less roll, better/sharper turn in and rotation. In addition, Classics always really benefit from an ALK. If you are just using the car as a track car then step up to their Motorsports version. Its harsh on the street but awesome on track. Those basic mods will be around 6-800 GBP.
As you learn the car, there is a whole host of mods to make it into a track beast. But I would start off with those, get the feel for the car and the direction you want it to handle. Determine, after some track days, what you feel are its handling weaknesses. Then we can help you find a solution to that.
Get your geometry checked. Maximize your front negative camber and set your toe to zero. Get your rear camber set as equal as possible then set your rear toe to how you like the car to handle. I prefer 1 or 2 mm toe in per side.
Obviously, get an oil change and check the rest of your fluids (tranny, water, etc.)
Check your tire condition and pressures.
Just the above will eat a couple hundred quid.
As to actual suspension upgrades, a set of Koni inserts with your stock springs are a good fast B road and track setup. Just set them stiff enough to match the softish spring rate and not much stiffer. Do not make the mistake of using the damper to increase 'spring rate'. That's not what they are there for. Use stiffer springs and/or larger ARBs. However, you will suffer from a decent amount of roll with the stock springs. Cheap, quick fix is to install a 22mm adjustable Whiteline ARB with drop links. Its great bang for the buck and will really transform your car. Less roll, better/sharper turn in and rotation. In addition, Classics always really benefit from an ALK. If you are just using the car as a track car then step up to their Motorsports version. Its harsh on the street but awesome on track. Those basic mods will be around 6-800 GBP.
As you learn the car, there is a whole host of mods to make it into a track beast. But I would start off with those, get the feel for the car and the direction you want it to handle. Determine, after some track days, what you feel are its handling weaknesses. Then we can help you find a solution to that.
Last edited by Arnie_1; 17 May 2011 at 02:08 PM.
17 May 2011, 08:00 PM
#6
BTW, motor factors sell Motul 5.1 for about £5 per litre- the proper pornstar Motul 600 fluid is a load more than than (£40 over here), and I didnt vaporise the cheaper last time I was out on track, and Im not gentle
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