Since I've gotten the opportunity to autocross my car twice now, I can tell I need to get it handling better next. The wheel gap on the stock suspension makes me crazy anyway because now that I've gone to a 255/40/18 wheel and tire set up it looks like a monster truck. I've been looking into some options and although I'd love to do a set of KW coilovers all around the pricing is more than I'm looking to start with. I've been looking into lowering kits like the Eibach Pro-kit and Sport System. I always felt the sport system was a little much as far as the overall drop(although this was when I was looking into the SN95 platform kits) but I'm unsure which is better, if the sport system is too much (I live in CT so I don't wanna be scraping pavement), and if there are any other kits out there comparable. I know the shocks and struts that are part of the eibach kits are non-adjustable. Just curious to see what some of you have done, track cars or not. How does it ride, how is the ride height, too much or too little wheel well gapping? Also, if anyone has been able to find a set up with adjustable shocks and struts that are down a bit from the pricing of the KW coilovers I'm open to other brands as long as the parts are good quality. If anyone has any guidance, pictures or advice I would greatly appreciate it all! Thanks again!

 

For adjustables, Koni yellows are the most recommended on this site, at least. Koni's annual sale has been going on for awhile now, but it should be ending soon. I see the prices going back up on various sites, though Maximum Motorsports currently still has good sale pricing (~25% off). I have them and they're great. Welcome from central CT BTW.

 

Thanks, and thanks for the welcome! I'll look into them, I had the adjustable koni's on my old car but they've been harder to find for this one, I appreciate the info, and I'm going to look into it! Hopefully I can hit the sale still!

 

Let's see... things I've done to my car to autocross it. Now remember I have alot more $$ than smarts.

Yellow Koni's
MM Camber plates
Adjustable front sway bar end links
steeda comp springs
ajustable front sway bar
EBC Rotors
Hawk brake pads
russell SS brake lines
dot 4 brake fluid
rear adjustable sway bar
fays2 watts link
mm rollcage
18 x 10 rims wirh Hoosier 295/30/18 A6 slicks
Corbeau LG1 racing seats with 5 point harness

I'm sure there are more items I'm forgetting. The car is tight and fast but the driver is slow and loose.

 

Wow, quite a set up! How are the Steeda Comp springs compared to the Sport springs or Ultralites? I've been looking into the Watts Linkages, noticeable difference?

 

Hello JennBober,

It looks as if though you have a pretty good idea of what you are looking for. Do you have a budget in mind with install?

If you would like ... we could put together a great package for you. We have several members on the staff that auto cross ... they will be able to provide you insight & details of their set-up.

You can email me at tim@steeda.com if you would like us to run the numbers.

Best Regards,

TJ

 

Thank you so much, TJ! I would really appreciate that very much. I will email you directly and see what we can come up with!

 

The rear end stays planted pretty good with the watts unit. The comp springs are hard and make the car set at stock height or higher. looking into Eibachs pro springs to see if I can lower the car and still keep it planted.

 

Has anyone had any experience with the SVE suspension set from latemodelrestoration? Seems like a great deal, springs/camber bolts/lower control arms/panhard bar for around $500

 

255/45R18 would have been the proper size for the S-197 unless your were looking for something specific in a 255/40R18 (be mindful of the load rating - as an example the difference in load carrying capability between a 255/40 and 255/45 in a Dunlop DZ101 is 189 pounds). Around a 27" OD is what your looking for.


A 255/40R18 is nearly an inch smaller in OD and compounds the issue of wheel gap.


Something else you might consider if you haven't already and that's going to a wider wheel. The stockers measure around 8 inches and a 255 width tire on the stock wheel trades a bit of steering response and lateral grip because it pulls the sidewall in.


A switch to a 9.5 x 18 inch wheel will maximize the tire's footprint and increase steering response due to less pinching of the tire.

 

Here are the pictures that m05fastbackgt wanted.

 

Thanks for the pics ! Are you still using your PA alternator and if you are.. Is it smaller in size over the OEM unit ?