After switching from my mazdaspeeds to the GAB super R with ground control coilovers, my car handles a lot differently despite the fact I used the same alignment settings.

I feel that my car understeers way too much. I was at a local auto-x and the damn car wouldn't turn the way i wanted it too, and at the limit it is way too twitchy. I want a car that handles loose and is predictable and even steering.

Does anyone who road races have any settings with GAB Super R shocks and ground control coilovers? What stiffness levels do you adjust them to?

 

What spring rates?

(not that I can offer advice on an FD, but those who can will want to know)

PaulC

 

550 in the front and 450 in the rear

 

I don't AutoX, but I read about people using 7F/4R on those shocks for AutoX when I was shopping for suspension stuff.

I usually use 4F/2R, 3F/2R, 3F/1R, or 2F/1R on the street and track. Those superRs are superSTIFF!

I found the car to be loose and twitchy with the 550/450 springs and stock sway bars and mounts. What sway bars are you running? Might your front mounts be hosed? Try running with the rear bar disconnected (remove the link on one side and replace it with a bolt). It'll understeer more, but you can drive the car with the throttle like that (it's really fun!).

-Max

 

I used to have the Super R's and I felt that were way stiff as well. Barely tolerable for street driving on the softest settings ... but, I did find that they accentuate every suspension setting. On an auto-x course, you're going to see more benefit from the alignment than the sway bar. Now if your mounts are broke, like maxcooper mentioned, well yeah, it's going to make a lot of difference. Here's what I run with Koni Yellows (F-full stiff, R-1/2 turn from full soft), Tri-Point adjustable sway bar (L-2 slots in, R-3 slots in), and the stock springs (269#/192#):

TOE: 1/8" toe OUT (F); 1/32" toe IN (R)
CAMBER: -1.8 degrees (F & R)
CASTER: +5.0 degrees (all you can get with that camber setting)

I like this setting for auto-x ... plus Erik Strelnieks suggested this to me. (In case you didn't know, Erik is a multiple time Solo II national champion ... and yes, at one point, SS nat'l champ in an RX-7.) Well actually, Erik suggested more camber ... but I can't afford to go through tires like he can. I used this once with the Super R's and it was a bit too tail happy; but the turn-in response was very quick. However, the aggressive toe OUT in front doesn't translate well to road racing (from what I've heard) ... so you'd probably want to go with either 1/16" or 1/32". Just my $0.02 ...