'02 MC

I put on a set of Eibach springs that dropped my ride height by about 1 1/4-1 1/2 inches. I have noticably more negative camber in the rear. I drive this car everyday and it handles really well(I can pull 1 g on an offramp with street tires). I have a set of R-comps Hoosier R3S05 20545R16 to put on for a track day/HDEP-Phil Wicks. I have an opportunity to buy a set of H/R lower control arms for the rear to flatten it out a bit which I had originally intended to do after I lowered it 3 months ago. My street tires are wearing really well(pirelli P-Zero-Nero also 16".

So my question is do I put on the adjustable arms before I go to the track and see how my car feels with them, or leave it like it is so that I can see the difference. I don't race for a living, nor do I have alot of track exp., but enjoy the fact that my car can do what it can do and want drive it better.

Thanks,

Chad

 

Here is my suggestion:
Since you do not have a lot of track experience, do not run the R comps and get a suitable alignment for the car, I suggest one that is more geared for everyday driving, then you will get to really feel how the car handles and with time you will then be able to decide on a better alignment for the track and really enjoy the ride of a R comp tire.

 

DK,

Would still suggest the same thing if I could do my own alignment in about 30 minutes? I was already planning on taking the Rcomps on separate lighter wheels that I have and just switch them at track after running for a while on the street tires. I wanted to see If I could measure the difference with my GtechRR. I can change the alignment the week before I go(I'll be on vacation anyway).

Chad

 

Hi Chad,

Is your rear toe out of spec too? Yes the extra camber will help the rear stick better in the corners, but it could get twitchy under threshold and/or trail braking if the toe is out. If the toe is good but you've got monster camber you'll never get the thing to rotate either. You'll plow every corner and gripe about FWD. Balance is the key and it's hard to find once you get too far from stock. An unstable short wheelbase car could become a ball on the wall quicker than you think.

If "nor do I have a lot" of track experience means "no" track experience, you are doing yourself a dis-service to go out there on R compound tires for your 1st or 2nd day. When your street tires are screaming from turn-in to track-out, you've exceeded traction limits and you're comfortable recovering it, THEN move to R tires. The R compound will work you brakes a lot harder too, so be sure to flush your fluid before going out there on them.

My advice - stay stock, learn the line, pick your marks, and push them gently to the limits on streets. Seat time is a far better payoff than throwing money around and messing with your suspension before establishing a baseline.

 

are you crazy?

 

About what....working on your car.....driving a car with race header on street???(oh yeah, that's you). No really what are you talking about.

So the Rcomps were free, and I like your idea about the street tires on the first day and rcomps the second. I have another set of street tires just in case as well. Looking forward to getting some instruction.

So now that Chris really has told me that I don't have any track experience although I'm an aggressive driver, I think that I see where you guys are coming from about taking it one step at a time and to learn the car first. But the Rcomps were free, so there at least hitting the asphalt on day two.

And next time you start talking about heal/toe and getting all fancy, I'll starting talking about crank journal clearances and muffler bearings.

Any suggestions for alignment specs?

 

Free Hoosiers? How did you get those?
I ask because I'm wondering what their history is. If they are older then stay off them.

But really, .... I'm not one to tell those to hold out too long before you do Rs, but if this is in fact your first time out, or even second, then I would agree that using Rs is not a good idea. Also, not sure what group you are driving with, but as a beginner they will most likely tell you "No Rs".

 

Camber for both street and track use can be -1.0 to -1.5 typically

Dedicated track use would be higher

I assume you don't have front camber plates to adjust those

Fly around on your street tires for a few track events, you will do fine

Save the R compounds for your second year of track events, IMO