I haven't taken this combo out for a wild ride yet, but a spin around the neighborhood at the posted limit revealed no surprises.

The IE plates look very well engineered and went together without any trouble. Two observations; a hole needs to be drilled below the bearing so water can escape...if you like to clean your engine, or if rain water and salt get into this space, it has nowhere to go. I cannot imagine the bearings lasting long thru a winter. I'll suggest this one to Jeff.

Second, this kit is indeed short. So short in fact that the H&Rs are adjusted as high as they can be and the ride height is still a hair low for my taste. An additional plate that simply slides over the true plate would add some ride height...there is definately room for one and perhaps two.

The H&R kit is also very nice. The ride quality is very taut, but not at all harsh. The only problem with this kit is with the pinch bolt tabs; the welds extend too far down along the tabs preventing the dampers from going far enough into the knickle to allow the pinch bolt to pass. A little grinding, oh, swearing first , a little lubricant, and all was fine.

I also installed the Powergrid endlinks while I was at it. Very nice endlinks!!!

Don Hollingshead - DMH - provided all the components and willingly listened to me moan a bit about having to grind the dampers - thanks Don . Don sees my car this coming Friday for a complete corner balance and alignment.

I'll report back this week about how it feels as a commuter...and then again after Don has had it for a day. With the BBS wheels reinstalled and the 15mm spacer up front and the 5mm spacer in the rear, the car definately has a bulldog stance.

Michael

 

Still no alignment or corner balance, but one of the best ride handling compromises I've experienced. I'm amazed that these are such a well kept secret.

A hair more rear spring rate might have been better...but with a little experimentation, the rear bar adjustment should help to promote a hair more rotation.

A very nice kit for the street and track!

 

Good to hear you're having success with the suspension for a change. :D

 

Thanks for shiming in...it wasn't a pleasant year. Yes...and all that nasty play in the rear IE poly links is gone - in favor of rod ends.

One last problem to fix which may have been the result of the poly bushings allowing so much movement and banging around - rear wheel bearings. The right side brake rotor contacts and drags along the pads rather hard in left hand turns only...so the bearing is suspect. I spoke with Greg - Onasled - yesterday and this was actually his thought.

It's cheap security to change while installing the forth set of rear brakes in 85K miles.

All new suspesnion bolts and nuts, ball joints and tie rods - feels tight!

Now, just gotta get to LRP...when you going Jason?

 

Don't know yet. After events getting cancelled last month, I just got my first track day (Calabogie Motorsports Park near Ottawa) in yesterday. I haven't thought much beyond that yet.

 

Which H&R kit did you get, I know they have two offerings.

Thanks for the advices on the plates, I have some sitting in a box waiting to be installed. However its going to have to wait till after the move. I have 60k on the clock and think it may be a good time to get coil overs anyway and just get one alingment.

 

"IE Street/Race plates and H&R Sport Coilovers"

This is my set up too. But I also have the IE rear sway bar, Alta adjustable rear control arms, and M7 front strut tower brace. I'm very pleased with the set up so far. I haven't passed judgement on the ride height, but it is certainly low... as you said; my front perch is also adjusted to the top setting.

This set up, with 16" SSR competition wheels and Sumitomo HTRZ 2's; my corner speeds are noticably faster than my Porsche DE/Club car... long straights, uh... not so much.

 

whoops, missed the sport coilover part.

 

Chilirojo,

...Webb bar, 4 IE rear control arms with rod ends and P-Flex front bushings...not sure how long these will stay. I'm working on a ride height alteration. One is one or two plates stacked onto the main plate, or nuts over the studs on the plate, as many other do. I don't like this method because it point loads the strut tower....and, I don't beleive the plates can handle the load from the damper/spring without deforming in the middle.

S Curvz - Sport Coilover - not the Club Sport. I would have opted for the Club Sport had this been a track only car.

 

Thanks. So they are also less expensive.

Hum, another option, and very close to the budget.

 

$1,000.00 or so...I cannot remember exactly and then the cost of the IE plates - $300 - $400.

Call Don Hollingshead DMH and ask him to get the package for you. I called him, gave him my wish list and he ordered everything - shipped to my house...I ordered my plates directly, but he could have, I just didn't know.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will look forward to seeing how they perform day to day for you...I have about 6 weeks until I will be settled enough to order anything more.

 

600 miles and no regrets...500 more miles by close of day Friday...but the last 100 miles is from Don's shop after alignment and corner balancing I'll actually drive home on the RA1s just to 'set them in' on the new alignment.

 

meb,

post pictures please!!

 

I was going to take pictures after I installed the Wilwoods and the new rear brakes, but I had to order a few small pieces for the Wilwoods and the new rear pads are not here yet. So, as soon as everything is installed, bling factor you know - I'll take some picutres.

 

So lucky. Car sounds like its gonna be nice.

 

I've changed my driving style on the street to avoid scraping the front... my front spoiler is a bit chewed, it's not noticable unless you feel the underside with your hand... fortunately they are not to spendy if it gets bad and needs to be replaced... something like $50-60. I've now noticed a few cars with a stock ride height and clearance that is roughly the same; including an Enzo at Ferrari of Washington; imagine scraping that... one big piece of hand layed carbon fiber, that's got cost more than $50.

 

the only difference between the Enzos height and yours...is the Enzo can changes theres at the push of a button. Same on some lambos.

However, you are right. 50 dollars isnt that bad and driving carful is always a good idea.

 

...in some ways yes...but this car gets beat up during my daily commute! The front end looks sandblasted and have a few nice chips. But in reality, having a car that isn't perfect visually, but is mechanically, suits my personality; I don't really care about the body while running around the track...so I'm not tempted to protect it from others. There is a saying in racing; the first guy to polish his car is the first guy to crash. That doesn't mean a car shouldn't look good or be prepared properly. It's more a mind set that focuses attention on the truely important stuff - for the track. But I would love a well setup car driven 10K miles a year. A Ferrari 460 would fit my sense of a well setup rig...

 

I have learned there is always better.

I also learned with my Jeep, getting somethign already set up takes alot of the work and money out...but you loose some of the "fun." What you went through with the Megans does not qualify as "fun" to me.

If this sport syspension is good for daily driving, it may work its way under my car. The ATS from TSW is also high on my list, but its about 50% more expensive than H&R. I will take your advise and call Don. I am also going to just listen to what you have so say as time goes on.

 

I'll have plenty of road miles to pile on by mid June, at which point I should find myself a track event or two...but June is light month for club events at LRP. Lots of pro stuff going on.