So I've had a Bilstein PSS10 nearly since I bought my 2 in October 2013 and I'm ready for a change. I race in STF right now, but I want to move down to HS for next year. I have 3 questions on how to setup the car.
1. Koni makes shocks for the 2 in their STR line. These are non-adjustable units, are they worth investing in over my basically new stock pieces?
2. I'm allowed one sway bar change, should I go for the front or rear? What will yield maximum grip?
3. What is the lightest 15x6 wheel I can get my hands on?
George,
Can I ask why the down grade? HS and STF are almost a wash in PAX and less than a half second in raw on most local to you courses. The car is much safer to drive in STF. if the car is too "bouncy or harsh" for you on the street, it's the valving in the shocks not the spring rate. Have you tried trimming the rear bump stops? You'll never bottom out the rear shocks, so you can cut them in half.. Toss the marshmallow portion.
The wheel you are looking for is on the RRAX forum now for sale.. It was the SSR made specifically for the front of MR2/MR Spyder NB Miatas. . Big bucks but legal offset and width and only 8.9lbs. Tirerack has a few sets of alternates which don't offer much weight penalty but are much more affordable.
Konis do fit the Mazda, but you have to trick the springs into fitting. The car will sit higher because of the crazy gas pressure in them. The CS struts work extremely well with the stock spring rates but the car is still very top heavy (high CG) and you can easily get on 2 wheels with it during hard corner entry and tight digs. Especially on the Rolly-Polly FedEx lot. I had the CS struts on my car for exactly one event. Bicycle it, removed them and bought the Bilsteins. It's a great package you already have. It makes for a solid regional car. The 2 stands zero chance in HS against the Fiesta. It can't even keep up with the MINI.
Not to discourage you, but I'd hate to see pictures of your car upside down. Here's a pic of Ashley's car in HS. She's just about on 2 wheels and is running the rock hard ZIIs. Perfect weather, flat pavement. Any imperfection in the pavement on corner exit or if she was on the Stones or Rival S could have easily got this car up. The rear suspension in the LR is totally compressed, flat on the stops, no where to go but full cannon shot unload. The LF is matted also. A rear bar exacerbates this condition immensely.
Our car in stock form "barely" makes the SCCA cutoff for CG figures.
Look, I've been doing this a couple decades now. I'm a Safety Steward, instructor and Administrator for our local club. I've had mine up, it's not fun. Seriously. It makes you question why you do this at all.
And Ashley, if you have any objections to stealing the photo, let me know, I'll take it down and all the reference to you in the thread.
Posted for the greater good.