Topic: New Shocks/Springs...

[Uranium-238]

Yep, I'm finally biting the bullet and upgrading my suspension. Per SOB's advice, I'll be going with Koni shocks, and LNF ZOK springs. Should be a good compromise between daily driver duties and autocross. Ordered springs today, should get the shocks ordered before the week is out. Once we're a little closer to Spring I plan on having Larry Casey do the install.

[snaponbob]

Camber, baby. It's in the camber. But first you'll have to find the car in all the snow. Ick.

[kennysabarese]

Congrats I just got my springs and am going to install them with my friend in a few weeks. Before Lime Rock

[Uranium-238]

Shocks are ordered! Springs should be here Monday, shocks soon after that. Then I have to wait for the chance of snow to die out to install them, car's low enough as it is for that...

[Kuprito]

What are the best front/rear cambers to have a good compromise track/road?

[snaponbob]

What are the best front/rear cambers to have a good compromise track/road?

About 2.3-2.5 front and 1.6-1.8 rear. Try it, you'll like it.

[Uranium-238]

Talked to DDM today, and the shocks should be in tomorrow! Then a 2-week wait till I get them installed at Larry's.

So, what alignment settings should I shoot for? BOK? SOB has a slightly different recomendation.

[Ben L]

Yer choice.  My settings are based on adjustments to the "performance" Z0K settings informed by the tossing around of the car Larry and I did after installing the BC Racing coilovers.  You could be more aggressive on negative camber.  For super good turn in when autoxing, again, let's have Larry dial in a little toe out, and mark the tie rod ends, then reset them at zero toe for the street, and mark that setting on the tie rods.  Then you can jack the car up at events, loosen the jam nuts, crank the tie rod to the competition setting, and then switch it back when its time to go home.

At this time, I planning to join you guys for the install, and hopefully, to raise my coilovers a smidge, and reset camber to my specs. after you are done (raising the car will mellow out the neg. camber).  I am tired of decapitating insects on the road, and plowing gravel with my air dam.

[Kelu]

Snaponbob has converted you in his accomplice )
I'm sure will you not regret it!!!

[Uranium-238]

Good to hear that you're planning on coming Ben, it'll be nice to have another Kappa nut along.

OK then, we'll play alignments by ear. Does Larry have the tool for doing the rear caster, or are we just going to have to wing/not worry about it?

[Ben L]

The stock setting is fine.  We do not have the digital tool. 

[snaponbob]

If someone wants to pay the UPS both ways, they can borrow mine if they like.

[Critterman]

I think Larry went to home depot, got some string a plumb bob and one of those roofing angle gizmos.  Then he an Ben opened a racing alinement shop.  

[Ben L]

Come over sometime and find out.  A little more invested than that.  Lift.  Turnplates.  Toe plates.  Digital alignment tool.  Etc.

[Critterman]

Yeah I know, just giving 238 a hard time.

[Uranium-238]

Alright, shocks are in. Is there anything else I'm going to need other than the shocks and springs?

[Treeman]

Ummm.... a car to put them on?

[Uranium-238]

Well, that goes without saying...

[kennysabarese]

I just got off the phone with Bob. If you think you will ever want to swap back and forth between the FE3 setup, you can buy some parts from GM like the blue accordion cover thingy, bump stop, washers etc. then swapping shocks will be easy, like if u wanna raise the car in the winter or something.

if not, you are all set. but you should ask bob for the detailed install procedure, because you have to transfer parts from the bilsteins.

Can you take pics of your Z0K springs when you get them? The tags on my rear springs weren't what I expected. Curious if you get the same tags.

[snaponbob]

I just got off the phone with Bob. If you think you will ever want to swap back and forth between the FE3 setup, you can buy some parts from GM like the blue accordion cover thingy, bump stop, washers etc. then swapping shocks will be easy, like if u wanna raise the car in the winter or something.

Just a wee little clarification. As Ken and I were talking, it became clear that had almost everything he needed to build up TWO complete sets of of shock/spring units. Specifically, he has the complete sets that are on the car. Additionally, Kenny has a golden horseshoe up his butt !!!!!!!! When he bought (stole?) the used Konis, they came with the stock lower spring perches as well as all four upper mounts and washers. All he needs is the four rubber compression bumpers and the gators, and with his Z0K springs, he has complete assemblies. Should he want to, now all he will have to do is swap complete assemblies during the off season to raise the ride height back to stock for bad weather. No need to swap everything back and forth on different shocks. ALL the parts are available and with some shopping (e-mail me) they can be had at 10% over dealer net plus UPS and Kansas sales tax.

[Uranium-238]

I have no desire to have to swap back to the stock suspension. If next winter is anything like this one, in all honesty I'll likely be seriously considering selling the Sky for something with way more ground clearance.

[kennysabarese]

I have no desire to have to swap back to the stock suspension. If next winter is anything like this one, in all honesty I'll likely be seriously considering selling the Sky for something with way more ground clearance.

Look back at this winter and determine how many actual days you could not drive your Sky.

There were two days my gf didn't drive into work, and we got more snow than you guys did in NJ.

Rent an SUV for 50 bucks or less a day those 3-5 days a year instead of giving up the car you love for the other 360 in the year

Or just use your sick days and skip work.

[Gentleman Jack]

or just retire to Florida.  They never get snow    Oh wait...

[snaponbob]

or just retire to Florida.  They never get snow    Oh wait...

Been there, done that. Florida has OTHER "stuff".

[Critterman]

big swirling winds, I will take the snow thank you