GE8 suspension for STF
#41
07-02-2014, 04:47 PM
Yes i'll be there
I am talking normal driving for the Fit. It has only been out for fun once and that was my first ever track day. I was to busy not dieing to notice any creaking. Back seats up or down does not make a difference. The car does not noticably flex, just creaks there. It may even be trim panels. No cross bar or anything. I will likely never have a rear strut bar, my fit gets used to haul things to much.
If you want to talk chassis flex, you can watch the steering wheel and windsheild go opposite directions over large pot holes in my miata. :P They are known for bad cowl shake though, especially the very early ones like mine, they added a lot of regidity over the years. The Miata feels like a wet noodle compaired to the GE. Putting the hard top on (it latches very securly) closes up the box and makes it a bit stiffer though.
Edit: uppon further pondering, I feel a rear strut bar would be almost useless in a GE anyway. Not only are they rather solid there, but the rear susspention is shock and spring with the torsion beam. So there will be almost zero side load on the top of the shocks.
If you want to talk chassis flex, you can watch the steering wheel and windsheild go opposite directions over large pot holes in my miata. :P They are known for bad cowl shake though, especially the very early ones like mine, they added a lot of regidity over the years. The Miata feels like a wet noodle compaired to the GE. Putting the hard top on (it latches very securly) closes up the box and makes it a bit stiffer though.
Edit: uppon further pondering, I feel a rear strut bar would be almost useless in a GE anyway. Not only are they rather solid there, but the rear susspention is shock and spring with the torsion beam. So there will be almost zero side load on the top of the shocks.
That is a good point on the shock separate from spring setup in the rear. Very good point.
Just my initial impressions just riding around town for a couple weeks. I am going on a road trip this weekend so I will have better impressions.
Either way I already ordered the Progress springs as the Swifts are simply too soft for anything other than 1-2 passengers. I hope I don't end up underdamped after the swap. In hindsight I should have put the money into Eibach ProStreets but I was concerned about daily driving 300# springs.
Either way I already ordered the Progress springs as the Swifts are simply too soft for anything other than 1-2 passengers. I hope I don't end up underdamped after the swap. In hindsight I should have put the money into Eibach ProStreets but I was concerned about daily driving 300# springs.
#42
07-02-2014, 06:37 PM
Cool to be in the presence of the experience haha.
Good to know that the ride isn't that bad and that 350F/400R is working out for you. Hope it works out for me.
I thought since the GD had stiff springs you just needed $400s in strut bars and you are good to go lol.
Perhaps I'd eventually get a rear strut bar, but until you have the stiff suspension on the GE its useless lol.
I always run with backseats down at autocross lower cg. You can't remove them for STF
. Some of the RSXs in my class definitely aren't using them.
I assume the redshift kit comes with all the mounting brackets in the proper locations for brake lines etc. I emailed Chris but I kind of assume hes in holiday mode. I know I would be haha
Good to know that the ride isn't that bad and that 350F/400R is working out for you. Hope it works out for me.
I thought since the GD had stiff springs you just needed $400s in strut bars and you are good to go lol.
Perhaps I'd eventually get a rear strut bar, but until you have the stiff suspension on the GE its useless lol.
I always run with backseats down at autocross lower cg. You can't remove them for STF
. Some of the RSXs in my class definitely aren't using them.I assume the redshift kit comes with all the mounting brackets in the proper locations for brake lines etc. I emailed Chris but I kind of assume hes in holiday mode. I know I would be haha
Last edited by rhop; 07-02-2014 at 07:11 PM.
#44
07-02-2014, 07:02 PM
Cool to be in the presence of the experience haha.
Good to know that the ride isn't that bad and that 350F/400R is working out for you. Hope it works out for me.
I thought since the GD had stiff springs you just needed $400s in strut bars and you are good to go lol.
Perhaps I'd eventually get a rear strut bar, but until you have the stiff suspension on the GE its useless lol.
I always run with backseats down at autocross lower cg. You can't remove them for STF. Some of the RSXs in my class definitely aren't using them.
I assume the redshift kit comes with all the mounting brackets in the proper locations for brake lines etc. I emailed Chris but I kind of assume hes in holiday mode. I know I would be haha
Good to know that the ride isn't that bad and that 350F/400R is working out for you. Hope it works out for me.
I thought since the GD had stiff springs you just needed $400s in strut bars and you are good to go lol.
Perhaps I'd eventually get a rear strut bar, but until you have the stiff suspension on the GE its useless lol.
I always run with backseats down at autocross lower cg. You can't remove them for STF
. Some of the RSXs in my class definitely aren't using them.I assume the redshift kit comes with all the mounting brackets in the proper locations for brake lines etc. I emailed Chris but I kind of assume hes in holiday mode. I know I would be haha
#45
07-02-2014, 08:26 PM
from TireRack?
Don't forget to buy camber bolt too,
so you can adjust the front camber and do alignment at the same time.
#46
07-02-2014, 08:34 PM
#47
07-02-2014, 10:01 PM
And congrats on your purchase x_25 hope the Bilsteins serve you well.
Last edited by rhop; 07-02-2014 at 10:19 PM.
#51
07-17-2014, 03:07 PM
Ok, so they have been on since saturday now. Handling is great, the body is controled. For occational just for fun autocrossing, they would be great.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
#52
07-17-2014, 03:14 PM
Ok, so they have been on since saturday now. Handling is great, the body is controled. For occational just for fun autocrossing, they would be great.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
#53
07-17-2014, 03:19 PM
I can't do the ziptie thing. The covers on the rear shocks are moulded plastic, so I cannot get one on there to check, the fronts have the bumpstop inside(?!?) The strut. In the rear I plan on pulling the spring and jacking the suspention up to measure the hub to fender when engaging the bump stops. I may do that on the front, but don't feel like pulling the springs to do so.
The Miata is a wet noodle compaired to the GE though, so it may be the chassis flex soaking up the medium lumps.
Last edited by x_25; 07-17-2014 at 03:21 PM.
#54
07-17-2014, 03:59 PM
Ok, so they have been on since saturday now. Handling is great, the body is controled. For occational just for fun autocrossing, they would be great.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
I am finding them very bumpy though. Not harsh, small cracks are fine, pot holes are reasonable, but when they pavement is lumpy it feels like I am on a cobblestone road or something. Very unpleasant. They are currently set to the lowest setting though (how they came out of the box, didn't know where they would end up.). I am going to raise them up tonight and see if the ride improves. It almost feels like they are on the bumpstops. I hope that is the case, since otherwise they will not be useable for DD for me. My lowered miata with little suspention travel rides better on the same roads at the moment.
the rear suspension, I put at the lowest setting.
When I first install them and at that time I don't have the Spoon front sway bar and no Progress rear bar, it was even much more softer ride.
#55
07-17-2014, 04:19 PM
I think between the chassis being as stiff as it is, short wheelbase, rear suspension configuration and the fact the ride height is so low is all working against you compared to your Miata.
Like has been said, raise it up. It's better for handling and and for comfort to do so.
Like has been said, raise it up. It's better for handling and and for comfort to do so.
#56
07-17-2014, 07:12 PM
I think between the chassis being as stiff as it is, short wheelbase, rear suspension configuration and the fact the ride height is so low is all working against you compared to your Miata.
Like has been said, raise it up. It's better for handling and and for comfort to do so.
Like has been said, raise it up. It's better for handling and and for comfort to do so.
As far as wheelbase and lowness, the Miata is shorter and lower. The fit does have the worse rear susspention design and stiffer chassis though.
#57
07-19-2014, 07:08 PM
Glad that the Bilsteins are working out generally for you with some tweaking.
I did get a chance to talk with Chris 2 weeks ago. Really impressive background. We discussed spring rates a bit and at the moment I was set on 440F/500R.
Still at least 2 weeks away from having his next wave of coilovers ready for sale. And still 4 weeks away from having any time I could install them once I purchase them.
07fit916's review is definitely helpful. I will add my experiences to it once I install the Redshift Coilovers as well.
I did get a chance to talk with Chris 2 weeks ago. Really impressive background. We discussed spring rates a bit and at the moment I was set on 440F/500R.
Still at least 2 weeks away from having his next wave of coilovers ready for sale. And still 4 weeks away from having any time I could install them once I purchase them.
07fit916's review is definitely helpful. I will add my experiences to it once I install the Redshift Coilovers as well.