The definitive suspension thread

[Mike R]

Originally Posted by shimmy

Used to have 100/50 and now 120/60. So far not felt ANY difference

Nick Bell used to run 140/70 at the ring and he was quick.

Given those rates, I take it you're on a full coil-over arrangement on the rear?

How is it on the road?

It is interesting to see how with similar weights, the CSL can run much higher spring rates than the Escort and still retain a good ride control.

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by Mike R

Given those rates, I take it you're on a full coil-over arrangement on the rear?

How is it on the road?

It is interesting to see how with similar weights, the CSL can run much higher spring rates than the Escort and still retain a good ride control.

It's firm on the road but no real issue.

Yes full coilover at rear.

[northernjim]

Originally Posted by Mike R

That sounds like a race set up, which I think would be way too hard for the 'ring - 130N/mm is over 740lb and 80N/mm is 456lb. As an idea, I run only 80N/mm on the front of my Escort and just 45 on the rear and it is similar weight to a CSL.

I think you will find your set up scary at the 'ring, but I bet it is amazing on a normal track .

I've driven a few cars with different set ups on the ring ( not any great amount of laps )

caged csl with intrax 4way
caged m3 with Nitron (X?)way on schirmer hard springs
my shed with intrax 1k2 on 100/50


all good tbh, and you do not notice the hard springs at all in a caged car, felt perfect for the job tbh, took 20 seconds off my best time in duncs car I think in 1 lap - so its a dream to drive

[Mike R]

Originally Posted by northernjim

I've driven a few cars with different set ups on the ring ( not any great amount of laps )

caged csl with intrax 4way
caged m3 with Nitron (X?)way on schirmer hard springs
my shed with intrax 1k2 on 100/50


all good tbh, and you do not notice the hard springs at all in a caged car, felt perfect for the job tbh, took 20 seconds off my best time in duncs car I think in 1 lap - so its a dream to drive

So Dunc's was the CSL and I'm assuming Sam's was the M3?

Which did you prefer?

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by northernjim

I've driven a few cars with different set ups on the ring ( not any great amount of laps )

caged csl with intrax 4way
caged m3 with Nitron (X?)way on schirmer hard springs
my shed with intrax 1k2 on 100/50


all good tbh, and you do not notice the hard springs at all in a caged car, felt perfect for the job tbh, took 20 seconds off my best time in duncs car I think in 1 lap - so its a dream to drive

Hw did you go in SAMs then ?

Pm me if not for public consumption.

[O'Neill]

Interesting thread Mike.

I ran Nitron for a year 80nm front 45 rear, separate spring/damper on the rear.

They felt ok but I was noticing wear on the outside rear tyres due to excessive roll, camber was maxed out on the rear.

Asked Nitron if I could up spring rates on the dampers, they said yes, I went to 120/60 with a coil over on the rear and new rear dampers as the previous ones were cavitating ( they replaced them under the years warranty ).

That was 6k miles and 7TDs for the rear dampers.

Did two td on the higher rates and a few road miles, I didn't like at all, they felt better with softer rates to me.

Some intrax came up on here second hand with 120/60, they had done 7 events since a rebuild, I noticed a improvement over the Nitron on the same rates.

This might be that the damping for the Nitron was suited to the softer rates and didn't work with the higher ones, who knows. The person who bought them from me loves them. Suspension and set up is subjective.

I have done 5 td on the intrax and 5k miles, the last td at Spa they were not at their best but had done at least 12 td and 10k miles, not bad for a race damper.

The car is awaiting pickup from Simpson after full damper rebuild with black Titan piston rods and stainless bodies, which should make the service intervals longer.

[northernjim]

Also... being a tart I have had passenger rides in...

Standard csl
csl + KW V3 - road springs and tooo soft
csl + KW Clubsport
csl + 120/60 intrax
csl + intrax 4 way

at the ring.... listed in order of goodness


standard is surprisingly good ( well maybe not surprising really) but for going faster I just think that you cannot beat the 'feel' of the more expensive units

Originally Posted by Mike R

It is interesting to see how with similar weights, the CSL can run much higher spring rates than the Escort and still retain a good ride control.

IF I was to be a cnut - I would say something about polishing a turd now???

[northernjim]

Originally Posted by shimmy

Hw did you go in SAMs then ?

Pm me if not for public consumption.

Sam's is a really good car, I only did 1 lap that trip and that was in his manual car

whereas in dunc's I'd been there for days and done about 40 laps - I said "I'll not go fast" to dunc.. but after 1 lap we were flying but it was so easy, and my head was attuned to the ring, so was quicker than sam's lap


Sam's car is faster tho I would say - the seam welded and fully caged set up is the difference I'd say - felt like more of a go cart than duncs, which I prefer coming from the blue roller skate

[O'Neill]

Originally Posted by shimmy

I however do chase times and I think for the money the best track weapons are the Black Titanium Intrax 1k2. Service every two winters.

Hi

2014 is nearly here, are you ready

[Mike R]

Originally Posted by northernjim

IF I was to be a cnut - I would say something about polishing a turd now???

You can say what you like - it won't change the fact that the Escort is faster than my CSL by quite some margin (but then I've spent ten years developing it around my driving style, so that is hardly surprising).