spring rates for stock MSP struts?

[xelderx]

my 450# springs just arrived. I'm going to VIR tomorrow for a charity event. They are letting people follow a pacecar on the full course for $25. I won't be able to install the springs until I get home...I'll get you an update on them when I can.

 

[xelderx]

The 450# springs are in. Here's the lowdown.

I bought my Ground Controls used from a guy in Canada and it is now clear to me that all though the perches fit my struts, the springs were not correct. Whoever I bought them from lied about them being for a Protege. That's really no big deal since the perches are pretty universal and I'm getting new springs anyway. Ok...the 450# springs are not harsh at all. The car was much worse on the springs i had due to the rate being way too low and the car bouncing off the bumpstops. I readjusted my swaybar so that the endlinks don't go through the lateral arms now. I was able to drop the air pressure in the rear tires about 5lbs and still get the same rotation I had with the super tight swaybar and old springs. Knowing that I still have to replace my front springs makes it hard to give a complete analysis. Now I have to decide what spring rate I want for the front. GC says they are 350#'s in their kit. I might go with a 375#, but I'm open to opinions since i'm still learning the fine points of suspension tuning.

 

[dmitrik4]

you're still going to run the MSP struts? how was VIR?

 

[xelderx]

you're still going to run the MSP struts? how was VIR?

I'm going to use the MSP struts for right now. I really would like to get AWR to make me something custom, but I can't justify the cost. The car is handling great with the setup now even with the crap front springs and I haven't really begun to fine tune anything. I'm going to switch to FSP for next season and run my Victoracers now that I can adjust the car to work with the tires.

VIR was pretty good. We got to run the full 3.12 mile course. The track was wet during my session so I spent most of the time driving sideways. My dad was riding with me and he was laughing the whole time. The Azenis just don't have much wet traction, but it made for some exciting moments. My Dad drove the second session and he had never really driven my car before. Once he got the shifting down he had a blast.

 

[dmitrik4]

I'm going to use the MSP struts for right now. I really would like to get AWR to make me something custom, but I can't justify the cost. The car is handling great with the setup now even with the crap front springs and I haven't really begun to fine tune anything. I'm going to switch to FSP for next season and run my Victoracers now that I can adjust the car to work with the tires.

VIR was pretty good. We got to run the full 3.12 mile course. The track was wet during my session so I spent most of the time driving sideways. My dad was riding with me and he was laughing the whole time. The Azenis just don't have much wet traction, but it made for some exciting moments. My Dad drove the second session and he had never really driven my car before. Once he got the shifting down he had a blast.

awesome. i'd love to take a trip down there sometime. the same people are building a track here in south jersey, about 30 mins south of me. 4+ miles long...can't wait.

www.njmotorsportspark.com

 

[xelderx]

I've let the rear springs settle and everything is working great. I haven't had a chance to play with the rear air pressure, but I'm getting ready to switch to 15X7 rims and 225 series Hoosiers so I'm not worrying about it until then. I'll be ordering the new front springs right after Christmas, but I haven't decided what rate to go with yet. The springs that come with the GC's stock are 350lbs in the front. I'm leaning toward ordering 375lbs springs, but I'll entertain any opinions on the matter.

 

[dmitrik4]

good to hear- thanks for the update. i'm impressed that the damping is adequate in the rear.

btw, we got a foster GH, "Jam." she's a sweetie, but has a bad habit of curling up next to our boy at night and then waking up frightened and barking in the middle of the night b/c he's so close. she's so much smaller than our 85-lb male, it's incredible. and SO much slower! but i suppose there's a reason she retired so young (she's 2). (lol2) she's currently a "dog of the week" on greyhound-data.com.

 

[xelderx]

good to hear- thanks for the update. i'm impressed that the damping is adequate in the rear.

btw, we got a foster GH, "Jam." she's a sweetie, but has a bad habit of curling up next to our boy at night and then waking up frightened and barking in the middle of the night b/c he's so close. she's so much smaller than our 85-lb male, it's incredible. and SO much slower! but i suppose there's a reason she retired so young (she's 2). (lol2) she's currently a "dog of the week" on greyhound-data.com.

Everything seems to working out...maybe not perfectly dampened...close enough, but the car is faster now and with the switch to R compound tires next year it ought to get even better.

My GH was retired at 3 years old. That just means we get to keep them longer. Good luck with her. I'm sure she'll settle in soon. Mine was a nervous wreck for about a month when I first got her.

 

[dmitrik4]

she's pretty good already, after only a couple of days. i think our hound is helping a lot. hopefully we'll find a home for her soon, before we get too attached to her!

[/threadjack]

 

[rando]

she's pretty good already, after only a couple of days. i think our hound is helping a lot. hopefully we'll find a home for her soon, before we get too attached to her!

[/threadjack]

So how many of us here like performance cars and high performance 40mph coach-potatoes? (cool)

Sir Bently: a 10 year old, had for 8 years.

 

[dmitrik4]

i like my dog to have a better 60-foot time than my car. (cool)

 

[rando]

i like my dog to have a better 60-foot time than my car. (cool)

40mph in 6' is not bad at all.(hump)

 

[proman]

haha how did we get into hounds all of a sudden?

 

[xelderx]

Back on topic...

Umm so yea...450 lb springs make my MSP struts cry. The dampening is no good now that the springs have settled. The car likes to bounce through the corners if the rearend starts to slide now instead of just sliding smoothly. I'd be willing to bet that the MSP struts crap out after 375 lbs. Now I get to spend the big bucks for custom struts. AWR is on my speed dial.

 

[proman]

if it's just the rear that is underdampened, you might be able to get away with just getting the custom rear struts if you're on the cheap. and then just get a pair of adjustables for the front for when you decide to get stiffer front springs.

 

[xelderx]

I have to do everything at once. The front suspension is really out of whack right now due to a long story involving my Ground Control coilover purchase. I would have to get new springs for it anyway. Plus selling all 4 of my MSP struts will help in the cost of the new setup. It's really not that bad. I just need to work some more overtime and start selling my antennas again.