Best Road Racing Coilover suspension (NOT Motons - too expensive) - SRT Forums

ibid · 01-02-2007, 11:33 AM

If I had $7500+ to throw around, I'd buy moton's and be done with it..

but I'm not looking to invest that much in suspension BUT want a really good suspension for a track SRT4.

This will be a car I ONLY drive to/from track events.. so a very unpleasant road ride is fine with me (trust me as I've dealt with bone jaring before and am used to it because of the huge grin I get at the track with that same suspension)

I've spend days searching and reading..

I don't seem to find anything for that 'inbetween' motons and S3 or Tein SS etc.

I see many people into autocross and talking about the best autocross setup (but I'm not interested in autocross, I'm interested in the best roadrace setup!)

(yes, i realize Motons are the best up there with Ohlins, etc.)

but what is best in the under $2k range for example.. (is there something just as good for $1k vs. $1600)

I'd love to hear from folks out there who are at instructor/advanced/experienced road race level.. (just not necessarily at comp. driver level who seem to all have motons)

anything? anyone?

I'm coming out H&R RSS - A coilovers on a RWD car... and could run 1.23s at BHF, 2:44s at RA, 1.28s at Gingerman and 1.49s my first time at Mid-Ohio

I'll be adapting to FWD SRT-4 this season and don't want to skimp on cheap street or autocross only coilovers... but don't have pockets deep enough for the moton experience... (yes, I know how much better a car drives with motons.. driven my car with motons and know how much better it feels.. just can't afford it)

Asutherl · 01-02-2007, 01:05 PM

We run Hotbits on our rally car. They can valve them almost anyway you want. Double adjustable with remote reservoirs. Front and rear camber plates as well if you want them.

http://www.motorsport-dist.com/

Rebuilds are done here in the US for about $75 per corner.

Here is a link to some info...dyno data etc.

http://www.specialstage.com/forums/s...hlight=hotbits

Andrew

Back-n-Black · 01-02-2007, 01:40 PM

I have never heard a bad word about the Mopar S3r coilovers.

The Stage 3r Damper kit is designed for the serious club sport driver and includes all the build quality and features of the Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits, but with added racing features. The Stage 3r system adds independently adjustable rebound and compression on each damper. This Club Racer system includes a set of coilver shock absorbers similar to our Stage 2 and 3 systems, but without the springs. Features include independently adjustable rebound and compression dampening. Stock height and lowered settings available. Easily adjustable stainless steel-impregnated composite perches. Special ventilation and sealing system. Hardened chromium-plated piston rods. Pistons have V-shaped Teflon seals. Strut housings in INOX-line stainless steel.
http://speedandpowerdevelopment.com/...USPENSION.html

Randy

bamablksrt · 01-02-2007, 02:25 PM

or you could always do koni's and ground controls. I'd say ethier of those 3 then pick you springs right.

ibid · 01-02-2007, 06:56 PM

does anyone have already tried and true tested S3R Mopar setups?

...what spring rates for front and rear are ideal for a track road race advanced/instructor who wants to start actual racing with SCCA/NASA? (8 years of driving various roadrace tracks)

I am NOT an expert at all when it comes to suspension.... the whole zen of suspension has me confused..

I only know what feels good at the track.. can't explain why it feels so good just that it does... I'm not Randy Pobst when it comes to saying exactly what a car needs..

SteveW · 01-02-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ibid

does anyone have already tried and true tested S3R Mopar setups?

...what spring rates for front and rear are ideal for a track road race advanced/instructor who wants to start actual racing with SCCA/NASA? (8 years of driving various roadrace tracks)

I am NOT an expert at all when it comes to suspension.... the whole zen of suspension has me confused..

I only know what feels good at the track.. can't explain why it feels so good just that it does... I'm not Randy Pobst when it comes to saying exactly what a car needs..

It sounds like you ought to plagarize somebody's T2 setup. I don't know if the GCR specs things like spring rates in Touring but if it does, there you go. Try asking over on SCCAForums.com in the Touring section to get in touch with Touring folks.

ibid · 01-03-2007, 07:23 AM

well, all i could find on the SCCA forums was talk about autocross setups..

I'm more concerned about track (roadrace) setups..

Anyone who can provide me input is greatly appreciated!

thanks...

Right now I'm leaning towards the Mopar S3Rs but need to work with a knowledgeable and reasonably priced vendor... (who can set me up with the right spring rate based on my level of driving experience)

any recommendations?

Back-n-Black · 01-03-2007, 09:45 AM

S&P of course.

Just contact me or Jimmy and we can get ya set up.

Randy

FastEddie#8 · 01-03-2007, 09:50 AM

Seems like slim pickins on known options for a good race setup.
I'm researching the same thing. Motons are the gold standard but
toooo pricey. For road racing the Mopar stage 2-3 are junk. They
are made for Mopar by KW. One option I have come up with is to have
the mopar stage 2 0r 3 shells revalved with Koni, couple of racers I
know do this. The other is thru KW direct, they have a competition
shock, not the Variant line. They offer a 2 & 3 way. The 3 way is very
pricey also but the 2 way is not that bad, about 2400. Lead times on
this stuff is about 6-8 weeks.

There has to be more options out there.

Fast Eddie

ibid · 01-03-2007, 10:00 AM

i think a call to KW is in order.. 6 to 8 weeks is about the right amount of time I have before track season starts for me anyway so this would work out ok

..and $2400 is within the budget so I'll look into that route instead.. thanks!

ibid · 01-03-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by FastEddie#8

Seems like slim pickins on known options for a good race setup.
I'm researching the same thing. Motons are the gold standard but
toooo pricey. For road racing the Mopar stage 2-3 are junk. They
are made for Mopar by KW. One option I have come up with is to have
the mopar stage 2 0r 3 shells revalved with Koni, couple of racers I
know do this. The other is thru KW direct, they have a competition
shock, not the Variant line. They offer a 2 & 3 way. The 3 way is very
pricey also but the 2 way is not that bad, about 2400. Lead times on
this stuff is about 6-8 weeks.

There has to be more options out there.

Fast Eddie

have you run on the S3R (with proper spring rates) vs the KW comp. vs. motons to give this feedback comparison review?

What are you using?

You are the first person I've heard say the Mopar S3 are 'junk' for roadrace use.

I would have expected Mopar to do proper research and development to come up with a good Track setup.. I'm very disappointed if this is NOT the case!

Back-n-Black · 01-03-2007, 10:29 AM

WOW Dale Seeley won One Lap two years in a row with Junk Coilovers??? I think not dude.

thepowertowin · 01-03-2007, 10:32 AM

http://moparsrtparts.com/PURCHASEPAGES/SUSPENSION.html

Stage 3 R is what you would want, not stage 2 or 3.

Quote: Originally Posted by stage3r dampers

The Stage 3r Damper kit is designed for the serious club sport driver and includes all the build quality and features of the Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits, but with added racing features. The Stage 3r system adds independently adjustable rebound and compression on each damper. This Club Racer system includes a set of coilver shock absorbers similar to our Stage 2 and 3 systems, but without the springs. Features include independently adjustable rebound and compression dampening. Stock height and lowered settings available. Easily adjustable stainless steel-impregnated composite perches. Special ventilation and sealing system. Hardened chromium-plated piston rods. Pistons have V-shaped Teflon seals. Strut housings in INOX-line stainless steel.

$2082

Quote: Originally Posted by springs

These high-tensile springs have been designed to work with the valving and setup of the Stage 3R damper kit. Constructed of a lightweight alloy, they provide a lighter weight solution along with increasing travel before spring bind than standard linear springs. Depending on your use, different rates can be combined with the valving to produce various handling characteristics. ***Sold in PAIRS only!***

$163.30 /pair

Quote: Originally Posted by helpers

Helper springs required for Stage 3R dampers. Order one of each part number to get a complete set of helper springs. Remember to order the race springs as well.

$102.35 /pair

+add the mopar camber plates... you can't beat it!

ibid · 01-03-2007, 12:16 PM

thank you!

now that is the real-world type thing I wanted to hear!!!!

srtfun · 01-04-2007, 12:13 AM

I currently run Mopar S3R coilovers on my car. I thought it felt good on the track. I currently run 517lb/in on the front and 402lb/in on the rear. Yea its rough on the street but felt great on the track. When I had my Ford I ran Dynamic Suspension with similar spring rates and the Mopars are not nearly as rough. My wife wouldnt ride in the Ford becouse she said it hurt her boobs. I know how she felt though, it hurt my man boobs too.

Now if only I could drive to match the car. Thank god for the Stage 3 Turbo or Randy(Back-N-Black) would have passed me. Ethan was looking at the suspension and asked to drive my car. He felt it was a little rear happy and would probably be a little better without the rear swaybar. I work overseas and only get to drive the car about 34 days out of the year, thats if its not torn apart putting new parts on. I took the car to nationals with absolutely no suspension set up. I couldnt even tell you what the camber or toe was. Hell Ethan asked what I set the dampening and rebound to and I realised then I forgot to even check if they were all the same. It felt great though for only a week and a half of prep before nats.

I currently have GC camber plates on but have a full set of Mopar plates to put on when I get home. I also have some differant spring rates to play with but agian, I just havent had time to even mess with them.

Randy - I come back to the states for good in May. Thats alot more time to prep before Nationals this year. Its on like Donkey Kong.

Edit - I forgot to mention that "I got mine" at S&P.