How would one go about getting that on a 3rd gen? I'm already in the process of relocating the battery to the rear, and i have done the required subframe connector and wonderbar installation. My question is this: what sway bar, spring # and shock combination would yeild AS CLOSE to neutral as possible?

 

i would say koni yellows and then a set of weight jacks for shock/spring combo. or konis + pro-kit wouldnt be bad either.

 

Yeah i am set on getting weight jacks, so i can keep the front stock ride height and match the rear with the front, as it is hiked up a bit.

 

If your car is a stock RS it would think it should push a little.

Add a larger rear sway bar and if should become more "Neutral"

Perhaps you can find one from a junkyard.

I dont know the sizes, but I beleive I have 4 different rear bars and 3 differnt fronts.

Kept playing with combinations until it was "neutral"

Quick fix is to run lower air preasure in the rear. That will loosen it up.

 

Where in SoCal are you black_highway? There's an alignment shop here in Orange called Accurate Alignment. You can bolt on all the stuff you want, but without a proper 4 wheel alignment you may not get just what you're looking for. These guys are masters at this sort of thing - I just had a four wheel alignment done on my Miata, to my specs for toe, caster and camber (taken from the Miata forum, not just made up by me!) and the difference is just incredible. I did not change anything else on the suspension except for replacing the shocks.

I don't know what the limitations are for adjustments on a 3rd gen compared to the Miata (4 wheel independant suspension, double wishbones and coilovers at all corners, etc) but I know that a really good shop, and Accurate Alignment is a really good shop, can work wonders.

The cost for this 4 wheel alignment? $100.

Amazing.

 

Jon's been setting up all of my cars for years- He's a good personal friend. Its a very savvy shop.

 

I'm in the South Bay. Yeah my car tends to push a little when challenged, i have the F41 suspension package. I just want to figure out what would be the most effective combination to keep it as neutral as possible.

 

If you're really serious about this then a trip to the OC may be a good idea. You'll probably get a lot closer to your target for less money. At least give them a call:

714.538.1916

 

I'm not the most technical guy but I know there is more to it than just the spring, struts/shocks, and swaybars. Dont get me wrong those are big parts of it but it goes further than that. The cars weight balance also plays a big role, so does the tire dimensions and even tire pressures. I think you can get a good starting point from other people, but to really get it down expect to spend some time at the track experimenting with different setups. Thats just my opinion though and I'm no expert. For my application balance is key and I'll be honest, its been very very tough for me to make my IROC-Z balanced (still working at it in fact).

 

Understand that a setup that gave neutral handling with only a little throttle in 3rd or 4th gear on interstate ramps would almost certainly be too loose for 2nd gear autocrossing (won't let you get the power down until you're pointed straight, which equals "slow"). Can you define your expected usage a little closer?

All the stuff that Crazy mentioned, plus alignment, tire construction, and things like roll center heights and rear axle roll steer are parts of the picture.

Norm

 

After 4 times at the auto-x event, I can agree on this. As well as its to the drivers mind... What is balanced? Every person drives different, so they desire the car to be a little different as well. You think every nascar's or F1, or road race suspension is the same? nope. Far as I know, the IROC series is the only one that way.

you've started bracing the body, good start. Now start finding used springs and test them in the car, drive it, see how it acts. Swap them around, mix match. Do this with the sway bars as well. Doing it for yourself and seeing the results first hand is the best way to learn.

 

If your in the South Bay...like me...try Johnson's alignment on I believe Hawthorne and 190th. Ive been there and know others who have, all have been extremely satisfied.

 

If it pushes now which you say it does. Add more rear bar.

You did not ask how to have the ultimatle handling machine only how to balance the car.

If it pushes then a bigger rear bar will make it more neutral. This is a cheap fix.

 

Yeah i've been to Johnsons, they do great work. My goal is to have a good car for track days and auto-x events, and cut some mountain roads. So i guess my over all goal is the ultimate handling machine, that doesn't have obnoxious amounts of oversteer.