Camera's 818C

[Bicyclops]

I was feeling my rear suspension bottoming and there was evidence of rubbing in the wheel liners. I went to Eibach 425lb springs in the rear. While I was at it, I added thrust bearings under all four. It makes it so much easier to adjust ride height.

Ed

[Bicyclops]

Lance,

Do you have a part number on the QA-1 shocks. I was looking but didn't really come up with one.

Ed

[mcamera]

Yeah I'm still using the FFR coil overs and can tell they're basic. Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know much about shocks so I'm doing some research. External adjustments look like a great feature. I've learned how important setup is for racing this year so easy adjustments will be helpful to dial things in. The pricing doesn't look that bad, and they have options. I appreciate it!

[lance corsi]

I’ll look at mine to see if they have a part number. Mine are dual adjustable and the springs I ordered to go with them are the same value as the Koni springs, although you may want a higher rate.

[mcamera]

1 upgrade I know I'll be doing this winter is installing STi Group N bushings on the rear links/arms. I don't think my 17yr old stock bushings are up to the task. Should be a big improvement without the harshness and squeaking of poly mounts or upgrading to links with spherical bearings. Not to mention 1/4 the cost.

IMG_4148.jpg IMG_4149.jpg

[mcamera]

After my final autocross run of the year, I rolled into the grid with smoke pouring out of my car and somebody running at me with a fire extinguisher. Luckily we quickly found that the nipple on top of my coolant bottle had broken and sprayed my engine bay with coolant. No fire. It was cold outside (got down to 40 that night) and my tires were sliding and hopping aggressively every run until something broke.

IMG_4488.jpg

I was also significantly slower than the other guys in my class this race. I think the RT660's are really sensitive to cold temps. The MR2 I beat last time, crushed me and I know he runs RE71's. Even a FWD GTI with all season 300's matched my best time. I was pushing it but also might have been rusty from not racing for 2 months. Video to come.

I'm going to upgrade to the aluminum Mishimoto bottle
https://www.fastwrx.com/products/mis...nt=25315809808

[Dave 53]

After my final autocross run of the year, I rolled into the grid with smoke pouring out of my car and somebody running at me with a fire extinguisher. Luckily we quickly found that the nipple on top of my coolant bottle had broken and sprayed my engine bay with coolant. No fire. It was cold outside (got down to 40 that night) and my tires were sliding and hopping aggressively every run until something broke.

IMG_4488.jpg

I was also significantly slower than the other guys in my class this race. I think the RT660's are really sensitive to cold temps. The MR2 I beat last time, crushed me and I know he runs RE71's. Even a FWD GTI with all season 300's matched my best time. I was pushing it but also might have been rusty from not racing for 2 months. Video to come.

I'm going to upgrade to the aluminum Mishimoto bottle
https://www.fastwrx.com/products/mis...nt=25315809808

Maybe more than temp, the RT 660 might be sensitive to psi. I recall you ran the RT660's at really high psi. What psi were you targeting? I liked the RT660 performance, but after one of them completely chunked apart after one day and hearing similar stories, I switched to V730's and did a PB at Thunderhill last weekend. But when I was on the RT660's, I was looking for 28 psi hot.

[mcamera]

I started the season at 40psi but the last few races I've been running 30psi (cold and hot). I tried 28psi on my last 2 runs to see if my times improved but they didn't. Ran 39.7 on all 3 of my last runs. One of those runs was even with a 230lb passenger. The car just felt slippery compared to the hot summer races I've done all year. My temp probe showed the tires never got above 90F yesterday.

The car also hops more with the lower pressures. My times have proven there's more grip with 30psi vs 40psi but I think the extra grip is pushing other things past their limit and causing the hopping. My springs are maxing out and bouncing off the bump stops and I'm guessing my 20 year old rubber bushings are flexing a lot. All are getting upgraded this winter.

I was hoping to run the RT660's for 1 more season but if they can't keep up in the spring, I'd be willing to give the V730's a shot.

[mcamera]

Found a little info to support my theory that the RT660's are more sensitive to cold than other 200's.

TireRack says their optimal temp is 120-130F. My tires never got above 90F.
Slide1.JPG

Grassroots showed the RE71's running a full second faster when stone cold vs the RT660's best time of their test.
Slide2.JPG

[mcamera]