So at the end of the day, what have we learned? Buy your dads 3 and make your P5 a track/fun car and go with a fairly aggressive suspension set up so that the car can still be streetable but better for the track. LOL! If you want to see some crazy camber set-ups look at a stock car (NASCAR), left front +camber, right front -camber so when they turn left at ludacris speed the contact patch is flat on the track. Much like sm76 elluded to when he mentioned tire temps (you want them close to the same all the way acrossed the contact patch) so you know you are using the whole tire for grip. I think I said that right.
The Moderately Low (Not Slammed) and Functional Thread
- Thread starter THE Phen
- Start date
Right on, thanks for all the info guys. I'll stick with this setup until it becomes a track car then I'll get more aggressive with it.
AJ, right now I've got just a 22mm Progress rear sway and the stock front sway, the BC's and Parada Spec2's. It feels pretty good but I haven't really gotten to test it at any track events yet.
Another question, what would be a good starting point for the damping settings on the BC's for street use? I don't mind a harsh ride. And I would think I would want the rear a little stiffer than the front to promote oversteer and to get the car to pivot better. Currently they are all 22/32 stiffness.
Again, if I'm hogging up this thread I can shut up.
AJ, right now I've got just a 22mm Progress rear sway and the stock front sway, the BC's and Parada Spec2's. It feels pretty good but I haven't really gotten to test it at any track events yet.
Another question, what would be a good starting point for the damping settings on the BC's for street use? I don't mind a harsh ride. And I would think I would want the rear a little stiffer than the front to promote oversteer and to get the car to pivot better. Currently they are all 22/32 stiffness.
Again, if I'm hogging up this thread I can shut up.
Street driving comfort for my Protege was like 80% dependant on rear damping. I always just left my fronts at 3 clicks off full stiff and took the rears softer (about mid-way) when I left track events or autocrosses. That made the ride a lot better. You should only be relying on the shocks for very fine tune adjustments to handling, they are really supposed to be matched to the spring rate. If you need more oversteer, add 1/16th of rear toe out. That way you can have the comfort and the oversteer.
Thanks, Bill.
That's interesting you had the front much stiffer than the rears. I'll try that setup and see how it feels. Honestly, I'm new to coilovers and it's hard to feel much of a difference on streets so I was just looking for a "standard" setup I can start with and adjust later on when my driver mod is better. So I think the -1.8f and -.8r, the ride height I have now and damping should be cool. Thanks for the tips, guys.
AJ, how did you get so much negative camber in the rear on your Protege? The guy at Conrads who sets up a lot of aut-x/track cars said he could only get -.8 from the rear. Just curious.
Simon, I forgot you said you work at Mini. That's a lot of negative camber from the factory, no?
That's interesting you had the front much stiffer than the rears. I'll try that setup and see how it feels. Honestly, I'm new to coilovers and it's hard to feel much of a difference on streets so I was just looking for a "standard" setup I can start with and adjust later on when my driver mod is better. So I think the -1.8f and -.8r, the ride height I have now and damping should be cool. Thanks for the tips, guys.
AJ, how did you get so much negative camber in the rear on your Protege? The guy at Conrads who sets up a lot of aut-x/track cars said he could only get -.8 from the rear. Just curious.
Simon, I forgot you said you work at Mini. That's a lot of negative camber from the factory, no?
roy obanion
Member
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- 02 p5, 95 miata
- :
- 2002 Honda S2000
hey, this is a discussion thread as much as it is anything else. so, slap on some nerdy glasses and enjoy the reading!
Wagonbacker9
Member
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- 2004 'Hoe
there are some VERY well done P5's on here. I just wish mazda had brought the AWD option over here. I'd be all about picking one up for a DD.
You mean there were AWD P5s somewhere?
Wagonbacker9
Member
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- 2004 'Hoe
JDM tyte yo
^^^ I believe you are correct, sir. If I could get a Sport20 rear clip imported and swap the drivetrain over that would be epic. With a boosted KL. It would be like a Mazda STi or Evo. Haha! okay, I gotta snap out of this dream-land state I'm in now...
a few months ago i found a japanese junkyard with a motorless sport 20 that still had the drivetrain. and they would import. but i didnt have that money.
M3Silverfox
Member
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- 2016 Mazda 3 Hatch
Correct. In p5 and sedan models. You could build one piece by piece but for the cost you'd be better off importing the entire car
Oh man!! This has me excited! I've dreamed about an awd conversion before and always thought it would have to be custom fabricated. Still a long way off, but more feasible!
