Spring rates - tweaking for track XE

[Iain]

Hi all

I'm currently running the following rates on my stripped 20XE Nova (typical layout, 830kg, with battery in the boot):

325lb 7" open springs front
200lb 10" open springs rear

The car tripods on track and I find myself finetuning the handling using the damping adjustment, unsure if this is ideal or not? I usually ramp up the rears a fair amount and the fronts about half on the damping in the dry, and in the wet increase the rears a small amount only.

Suggestions for where I should go from here with spring rates? I was thinking of maybe 250lb rear (so the rear is stiffer and I don't need to increase the damping) and 350lb front (to reduce the front leaning/tripod effect slightly)?

[Mieran]

I would get 400 fronts on softest setting and keep 200 rears on 10 clicks

[Iain]

What's the logic behind choosing damping over spring rates? I'm new to all this.

Also I should have mentioned I drive it to and from the track and take it out on the roads at weekends!

[garyc]

If you have top adjustable front dampers the adjuster changes the rebound, not the bump rate.

[Mieran]

There is no real logic just preference really, I have gaz rears with the standard 160lb spring on 10 clicks and I think its almost perfect, I tried 20 clicks the other day and it was un-driveable!

As for the fronts I had 350 for my track car and thought they were a bit soft so I would try 400 next if it was me.

[Paul]

The damper adjustment 'clicks' are not the way to stiffen it up. It dhould be done by springs IME 200lb is far to soft on the rear.

[Iain]

Interesting stuff. So what you reckon Paul, try 250 rear?

Stiffer rear may cause it to lift the rear wheel a bit more, is that a problem?

[Paul]

For track use only 350/400.

[Mieran]

I had 250 on the rear on mine and it oversteered a lot :(

[Iain]

Sounds good, I prefer a bit of oversteer on the track, so far I've just ramped up the damping to get it though.

Might have to find a happy medium, imagine I'd die on the roads with 400lb rears? lol

[Paul]

I haVe 325 fr 275 rear.

Yes id imagine with 400lb rears itd be a bit lively to say the least!

[Mieran]

I had 400 rears (4" length) on my track Tigra but they were a pig tail spring and was fine even on road.

Coilover springs are a different story though. Thats when I made this thread:

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?183018-Coilover-springs-Vs-normal-springs&highlight=

Video of car on said springs (front poundage is unknown):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KswYogKpLAY

[Iain]

Cheers Mieran I'll check the vids when I'm at home

Does the open length have any effect on them? e.g. if I go for 250lb does it matter if I get 10" open or 8" open length?

[turbojolt]

Don't gaz recommend 350 front?

[Iain]

Where'd you get that from Sarah?

[turbojolt]

Will have to Google it might have been on mig but I'm sure I read about someone who called them up to order a set of front coilovers told the what spec he was running ect and they recommended 350 front springs

[Paul]

So Gaz recommended someone else 350lb fronts, how does that relate to lionels setup? Quite a vague statement that gaz recommend 350lb fr springs.

[turbojolt]

Because the guy was running the same engine and running gear, and it was more of a question then a statement

[turbojolt]

I've emailed gaz to see what they would recommend now as I can't find the thread I was looking for.

[Iain]

Nice work. Definitely going to ramp up the rears first, 250 or 275, then look at the fronts.

[turbojolt]

I revived this response today after asking your question gay boi



Hi Leigh,

Is it doubling as a road car or dedicated track car.

The reason I ask is the spring combination is good for the car spec, any front wheel drive car under heavy cornering will lift the
inside rear wheel, all race cars do this.

Most front wheel drive race cars have a very stiff rear setup as this will make the car more neutral & induce a bit of lift off over steer to counter understeer, but it is not very good on the road especially in the wet.

Regards,

MikeDraftsSent

[Adam]

I used to run 440lb on the back of mine, and it was lively to say the least. I preferred it like that thought than with the 180lb avo springs.
Stiffer rears=weight over front end.
It was, driveable, on the road, stiff as hell as expected, but still.

TBH if you do still use it a lot on the roads id go somewhere around the 300-330 mark rears, 280/300 front

Iain-Whats the width of rear Gaz coilys? I have above springs here if you want try them out.

[Iain]

Tj what spring rates did you mention that they said sounds OK?

Adam they're 1.9 rears what do you have kicking about in that size?

[turbojolt]

I sent the rates you quoted over to them mate

[Iain]

Cool that's good if he doesn't think it's too far off. Can you please thank MikeDraftsSent for me lol

[turbojolt]

Got to load a automated fob'off lol

[Adam]

Tj what spring rates did you mention that they said sounds OK?

Adam they're 1.9 rears what do you have kicking about in that size?
190lb and 440lb.

[Iain]

Oh OK I think they're miles above/below what I was looking at lol Cheers anyway homie.