MK2 Coilover setup - Help!

[minicooper]

Fellow Petrol Heads...

Project Custard is almost ready for her first track day. Brakes are sorted, Interior is stripped and the seats are in. BUT I still have issues with the suspension;

The car currently sits on H&R coilovers (fitted by the previous owner) and riding fairly low (see pic) I have measured the ride height on each corner and they are not equal (this was the same before I stripped it) and obviously affects the handling.

I'm booked in at awesome GTI for a full geometry set up inc. ride height. But A-GTI advised they will need the geometry specification that I want the car to be set at as they only have the stock settings? I’m a little out of my depth with this; can any one offer some advice? Best ride heights, camber etc?

MK2 Ibiza Cupra Sport 16v '98

Oulton park 11/12/10 - £99 for the day - Sweet!

 

[suj]

theres no pics lol

well best bet is to ask "dinky dave" as he got his set up fine, you need to get it corner weighted (so they will put you in the car/something that weighs the same as you in the drivers seat) then set the car up for that specifically

 

[ather`s]

+1! if anyone can tell you its dinkydave!!

 

[m0rk]

Tell them whatever stock toe is - that's what you want & you want -1.5deg Camber

That's the best compromise on tyre wear & turn in that you'll find.

 

[Dave_R]

Make sure they get it corner weighted!

geometry specification; like Mork said -1.5 deg Camber and for the toe I've found to get it as neutal as possible, maybe even slighly "toe out" by a 0.5mm (not ltoe in like everyone says) Had my car set up by two different companies and both recommend toe out!

See if Awesome GTi can alter the rear toe & camber (will need the stud axel to be shimmed) but getting the rear end alignment done makes hell of a differance!!

It might be worth looking at Centre Gravity.... he's not cheap paid about £500 for my collies to be completely set up but he did the aligment on the rear to. The company I use now (Aviva Autos) changed £90 but that was just for a slight adjustment as I removed more weight! (and they don't align the rear).

To get something ready for Awesome GTi to help set the car up, find out what model you collies are and get the Manufactures Spec sheet. This will tell you the lowest height they were tested on, set the collies to that height and then play about with the corner weight set up.

If and you should for track use get the car corner weighted, you car wont be "level" as such.... which side will be at slighly different heights but the car will be balanced!

P.S. Rear alignment -1.5deg camber and toe in by 1.5mm is okay!

 

[suj]

if you're going to get shims etc
and wanted to space the rear, then why not look into stub axle spacers (a guy on CGTI makes/sells them)

better than running spacers, no extra stress on the bearings/running spacers which could damage the threads causing wheels to fall off etc

 

[Dave_R]

But the deg and toe of the rear will really depend on the drop to..... say mine could be out on the camber by 0.5deg on yours could well be 1deg if you get me.

Don't really need to worry about the bearings on the rear as when you change the rear discs you might as well change the bearings to, as the bearings are in the brake disc



EDIT:

Just checked that date and I'm off from work so I may well do Oulton Park that day to

 

[suj]

yeah but if you get it set up to the right height etc, then you will be given figures of the rear toe/camber, then get stub axle spacers to counteract these figures, VOILA

yeah don't get me wrong, but why increase the damage to them if don't have to
just saying if he did need spacers, if not, then nothing to see here

 

[Dave_R]

The height will still alter due to the weight, he might have the battery else where, etc.... But brakes get changed once a year easily so the bearings wouldn't be a problem. Tbh I haven't had a problem with my bearings once! Oh sorry one came loose before when I was at Combe

 

[suj]

yep that is not having a problem

 

[ibiza_95]

what about balance front to rear?

curious as opposed to making a point

 

[suj]

what about balance front to rear?

curious as opposed to making a point

this should be fine ben

ahhahaha

 

[Dave_R]

what about balance front to rear?

curious as opposed to making a point

That's what corner weight does, gets the weight on each axel as equal as possible or can set it up to act whatever way you want. For example I've had mine set up from completely balanced to "off balance" in a way because now when the car is under hard braking the weight over the front is 50/50 so the front will grip better as you turn into the corner.

Even though we say it's all equal on each axel you can't actually remove the weight but can shift it around and there will also me a "pivot" point... before on my car this point was the drivers side front so under braking this would become the lighter wheel!

Now it's altered so that this point is at the rear and not effecting the front end when turning into a corner.