JIC VS Stock suspension
JIC VS Stock suspension
Me and my friend went to NNJR test and tune event in Englishtown. We got almost 15 runs. Here is the spec on both cars
Mine-stock with JIC coilover (sunroof)
Camber -3f/ -1.6r
Toe 1/8inche toe out F and 0 R
JIC set at 8 f and 8 r for stiffiness spring rates are 8k f and 9k r
On the stock evo (no sunroof)
camber -1.8f/ -.6 rear
Toe 0 front and rear
Tire pressure- 38 psi on both car all around.
It was in around mid 50s. Best run I did with JIC is 37.4 sec and the evo with stock suspension best in 38.1 sec. I also let Perry Aidelbaum to do a reality check. I think a lot of ppls in the NE region know how good this guy drive and how consistance he is. He only did 2 runs in my car and also got a best of 37.4sec. We all agree that the car with the JIC take shorter time to settle in the salom (left and right transection) and more neutural in corner. I won't be suprised if the JIC will do even better if both cars are on R compounds. The camber plate let you dial in more neg camber means higher cornering speed limit.
For street, the stock suspension is definitely more comfortable compare to the jic even on the softest setting. But I came form driving a 2300lbs car with over 12k spring rate coilover so its this is not bothering me at all. IMO, if you are a track guy or serious autoxer who plan to run in ESP or SM a set of coilover definitely worth it. If you do mostly street driving I would stick with stock suspensions since they are a good balance between good handling and comfy.
Anyway...This car is amazing stock or not
Mine-stock with JIC coilover (sunroof)
Camber -3f/ -1.6r
Toe 1/8inche toe out F and 0 R
JIC set at 8 f and 8 r for stiffiness spring rates are 8k f and 9k r
On the stock evo (no sunroof)
camber -1.8f/ -.6 rear
Toe 0 front and rear
Tire pressure- 38 psi on both car all around.
It was in around mid 50s. Best run I did with JIC is 37.4 sec and the evo with stock suspension best in 38.1 sec. I also let Perry Aidelbaum to do a reality check. I think a lot of ppls in the NE region know how good this guy drive and how consistance he is. He only did 2 runs in my car and also got a best of 37.4sec. We all agree that the car with the JIC take shorter time to settle in the salom (left and right transection) and more neutural in corner. I won't be suprised if the JIC will do even better if both cars are on R compounds. The camber plate let you dial in more neg camber means higher cornering speed limit.
For street, the stock suspension is definitely more comfortable compare to the jic even on the softest setting. But I came form driving a 2300lbs car with over 12k spring rate coilover so its this is not bothering me at all. IMO, if you are a track guy or serious autoxer who plan to run in ESP or SM a set of coilover definitely worth it. If you do mostly street driving I would stick with stock suspensions since they are a good balance between good handling and comfy.
Anyway...This car is amazing stock or not
Last edited by kevo; Apr 5, 2004 at 01:15 AM.
Evolving Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: MD, USA
Kevo,
Thank you for the information. I hope you don't mind if I ask some questions to help us understand the situaiton better.
I wonder if you changed the bump settings to increase the front a tad and may be lower the rear (since you are using higher spring rates in the rear)?
What was the course surface like? Smooth or were there bumpy sections?
We found that as we balanced the front and rear bump rates for a given course and surface, we could achieve better response from the chassis and also put power down quicker, reducing our times. Finding that fine tune is not the easiest thing to do obviously, but thankfully we and most of our customers autocross on the same lot throughout the whole season with SCCA.
Also, putting the bump to softest does not necessarily provide the best street ride as the dampening gets so soft that the bounce or oscillation increases, making it uncomfortable especially for passengers. Thus far a setting of 5f and 3-4r seems to provide a good ride on the street in our area, which truly has some bad roads.
showoff - You want to go with JIC if performance is a higher priority than convinience or street comfort. JICs can be made to provide smoother ride, but you compromise some performance.
The Flex units now contain rubber top mounts reducing noise but also performance and they are not inverted monotubes if that matters to you.
Thank you for the information. I hope you don't mind if I ask some questions to help us understand the situaiton better.
I wonder if you changed the bump settings to increase the front a tad and may be lower the rear (since you are using higher spring rates in the rear)?
What was the course surface like? Smooth or were there bumpy sections?
We found that as we balanced the front and rear bump rates for a given course and surface, we could achieve better response from the chassis and also put power down quicker, reducing our times. Finding that fine tune is not the easiest thing to do obviously, but thankfully we and most of our customers autocross on the same lot throughout the whole season with SCCA.
Also, putting the bump to softest does not necessarily provide the best street ride as the dampening gets so soft that the bounce or oscillation increases, making it uncomfortable especially for passengers. Thus far a setting of 5f and 3-4r seems to provide a good ride on the street in our area, which truly has some bad roads.
showoff - You want to go with JIC if performance is a higher priority than convinience or street comfort. JICs can be made to provide smoother ride, but you compromise some performance.
The Flex units now contain rubber top mounts reducing noise but also performance and they are not inverted monotubes if that matters to you.
Last edited by FT@SELGP; Apr 5, 2004 at 07:49 AM.
FT@SELGP- The lot I ran last week in Etown is not bumpy, however the gravel starts to fall apart, a lot of pebbles in one section. And after all these year as a drag racing pit, the oil and crap that some drag car left there make the surface kind of slippery. The lot we use to run on few years ago at the other side of the pit was great though.
I didnt adjust the bump rate this time, I left them at 8f and 8r and the car is pretty neutral. last time because the weather is just as cold and I didnt get enough rear traction so I soften the rear from 13 to 8. Corner entering speed is unbelievable but I got a hint of understeer out of a corner, just a hair though. I'll try to play with the setting some more next week. When it gets warmer later and when I got my r tires, I might need a bigger rear swaybar for better rotation. still debating should I get the 23mm or 25 mm rear bar. What do you think?
I didnt adjust the bump rate this time, I left them at 8f and 8r and the car is pretty neutral. last time because the weather is just as cold and I didnt get enough rear traction so I soften the rear from 13 to 8. Corner entering speed is unbelievable but I got a hint of understeer out of a corner, just a hair though. I'll try to play with the setting some more next week. When it gets warmer later and when I got my r tires, I might need a bigger rear swaybar for better rotation. still debating should I get the 23mm or 25 mm rear bar. What do you think?