redtop track suspension

[marc69]

Which suspensiuon would be best on my redtop nova?

it was previously upgraded with (unknown to me although coulb be diesel corsa?) poundage springs with pretty stiff shockers although, on everyday running this is fairly comfortable. The car is not much lower than standard.

I have FK coil overs with gaz springs for the front with -40mm rear springs and fk shockers. This set up also lowers the front by 40 mm and the rear by 60 mm from what it is on at the moment.

The car will be used on the track so, which do folks think will be best on the car?

It has the bracket mounts and a lowered anti roll bar.

[Iain]

Worth checking the poundage of the Gaz coilovers, hopefully should be marked on the spring

[marc69]

thanks, I'll have a look tomorrow

[marc69]

The gaz Coilovers are marked at 6" and 250lbs

Is this anygood for a redtop?

[Iain]

Softer than most people recommend for XE's.

In your situation I'd run the FK coilovers and buy some higher poundage springs and see how you get on on a trackday.

[marc69]

Softer than most people recommend for XE's.

In your situation I'd run the FK coilovers and buy some higher poundage springs and see how you get on on a trackday.

Thanks for that, what sort of poundage do people find good?

[thegingerwhinger]

350 on front and 300 on back is what i run on mine

[Iain]

I run a little softer at 325 front and 250 rear. People seem to recommend 300-350ish as a starting point on the front

[marc69]

thanks, I'll start looking for stiffer springs, I assume the type to fit the fk struts is a lot better than springs for nova/corsa struts.

I removed the struts taht were on the car, I am sure they are corsa diesel ones, nice for the road.

[Stuart]

Why not take it on track as is, if you like it on the road and it handles ok then it should see you right enough on track.... Changing to new suspension and stiffer springs etc might make you have to spend the day tweaking things to try and make it handle how you remember and so on.

[marc69]

I have wondered that too, I just bought it the other day and it is comfortable but it is not great on corners and I struggle with traction even on straights. I have lowerred it with the 250 lb springs and the back is stiffer and down 40mm today too so, if after driving it around for a few days, if it feels alright, taking on the track with just the 250 lbs is not unsafe? Basically I don't want to conme off on every corner!

I have also put on better wheels to try and help traction, could be I am usewd to having to boot the 1.4......

[Stuart]

Just to humour me (and make Edd get on his soapbox) try removing the front antiroll bar, and if possible fit the rear one. Might improve things enough.

[marc69]

I'll have a go, I think the next two weeks will be experimenting before any cash gets spent. There is a rear already and I'll leave it there as I have lost a few corners due to rear end swinging! I'll try my current set up and then try it without the anti roll bar. I'll let you know! I assume no-one thinks the 250lbs will be unsafe though?

[Stuart]

not unsafe, just a touch soft so you will be cranking up the damping to compensate and find it becomes a skittish understeer machine :(

[marc69]

not unsafe, just a touch soft so you will be cranking up the damping to compensate and find it becomes a skittish understeer machine :(

A bit naff then.....but better than on the suspension it came with? I'll try it like this the first time to see before I sell my 1.4 track nova (which the handling is the best part!) to see what the potential of the redtop is but I assume it'll never handle like a small block.

[Mieran]

Fit a Cav or whiteline rear arb first, look in articles for the guide i did

[marc69]

I drove it today after lowering and stiffening it. Really made a difference to the stability and even with just the 250lb springs it was good on a dual carraige roundabout as fast as I could get away with.

The main problem was that with 185 tyres pulling out of the roundabout in 3rd, it loses traction and I couldn't put my foot right down, does this happen with all of them or am I going to need bigger wheels and will the stffer springs help.

Also where can I get the 300lb springs for the coilovers at a reasonable price?

[turbojolt]

I assume it'll never handle like a small block.

never say that to iain, i nearly cried when he decided to show me how well a bigblock nova can handle

[marc69]

Did his handle really well?

[meritlover]

The main problem was that with 185 tyres pulling out of the roundabout in 3rd, it loses traction and I couldn't put my foot right down, does this happen with all of them.....

No, you will find some round-a-bouts are less slippery than others

[turbojolt]

Did his handle really well?

like its on rails, cornering speeds were stupid!! lol


cant remember who he said it was but he has managed to make someone sick driving it so fast around the track

[Iain]

Hahaha that guy still hasn't lived that down lol

[Stuart]

To be fair, I don't get motion sick or any of that gayness, but lap after lap of punishing g in dans car with eleventy million foot of rubber started to make me feel a bit sicky lmao

New coil over springs should cost less than £40 for a pair, in fact you should get change from £30

[Iain]

Where have you seen them for that price Stuart? I struggled to find any under £50-60 a pair after postage when I was looking

[Stuart]

Faulkner, Yorkshire springs, etc

A few years back if I wanted springs I would walk into Gaz and take them from the shelf lol but alas I'm not local to them anymore and we've not spoken for aaaaages.

[Iain]

£22+VAT+postage each on the Faulkner site

[Stuart]

Ghey. They cost feck all to make.

I'd pay £22 each for the silicone steel ones though,

[Mieran]

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/index.php?cPath=465_1153

[marc69]

Thanks, that's great prices too, I'll give them a ring.

Will the sttiffer springs make a massive difference with traction or just cornering? Am i going to need wider tyres than 14" 185 for grip? Also, the rear seems quite stable after lowering it and putting on the fk shockers and unknown stiffer springs, I don't see the need to get new ones if these seem to hold?

[Mieran]

I had 185s on my nova and they were spot on, they got thrashed 3 times at knockhill and had good grip

Uniroyal rainexperts

[turbojolt]

what does free lenght mean when buying springs?

[Mieran]

length of the spring from end to end

[marc69]

I have ordered my new springs but noticed that the gaz have a solid disc welded at the top (obiously with the hole where the piston goes through).