Proper suspension set-up Options

[hitcachi]

Well all my posting and talking to jdg and boosted on the autocross thread has me really going! My current set-up is as stands: 3 point front strut bar, 2 point rear strut bar. Front and rear Suspension techniques sway bars. Intrax lowering springs. JIC lower frame brace in the mail. and KYB GR-2's pending this question. I have a sport option GT. Should i replace the sealed struts with new ones (yes im willing to pay) or go source some other struts and install gr-2's? Also tires are being taking care of as well so thats no big thing. I need some more advice on what to do about the shocks though. Thanks!

[hitcachi]

hmmm, i might have to try it as a cheaper alternative..... but when you put a bolt in through the drilled hole, you're cutting new threads, so when you have to take it out teh next time, and put it back in, the bolt isnt going to seat right? besides that, how do you like your koni's? are they worth the price?

[andrewb0x29a]

hmmm, i might have to try it as a cheaper alternative..... but when you put a bolt in through the drilled hole, you're cutting new threads, so when you have to take it out teh next time, and put it back in, the bolt isnt going to seat right? besides that, how do you like your koni's? are they worth the price?

No, the bolt goes through the hole in the strut body and threads into the end of the Koni insert. No cutting of threads. I really like the Konis for autocrossing. I am running them fairly soft; a 1/2 turn up from full soft on the front and a 1/4 turn up on the rear. However, even with this setting they are noticably stiffer on bumpy roads.

I would do them again on an autocross car but would probably consider a different option if it was only a street car. If you are prepping your car for autocross the best thing to do is identify all of the allowed modifications and sort them in order of performance/$. Since I am running stock class I did my upgrades in the following order:

0) CG-lock ($??)
1) R-compound tires and light wheels ($550 for wheels + $125 for 6 used tires)
2) Suspension Technique front sway bar (~$125(?))
3) Konis ($650)
4) Crash Bolts (~$12 + $200 for custom alignment)
5) K&N Air Filter

I did the sway bar almost immediately after doing the R-compounds because with the grippier tires I was getting a lot more body roll (rear inside wheel ~12" off the ground). The sway bar helped with that and was cheaper (and easier to install) than the Konis. Also, it took almost 8 weeks to get my Konis after I ordered them from TireRack.

If you are running in a different class you will have a different set of mods and may want to do them in a different order. Do you have a list of everything you want to do?