Track day modifications - Tight budget - 318ti
Discussion
There are many superb points here.
The suspension you have sorted it seems. As for the suspension problem does your car seem to tramline and almost wonder on the road? If so it's almost certainly the rear subframe bushes. Changing mine to poly items has transformed the drive of the car.
FWIW mine also at times had the '1 second vague response' thing from the front; The subframe bushes cured the tramlining and the 1 second response issue, whereas the tyres took away the vagueness. I give the details of this in my thread. OK's sligthly bigger than a Compact but the suspension is pretty much the same near enough
.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47...
But my money would go on the following:
-Bushes ; change where they are shot with good quality poly items or OEM M3 bits.
-Brake pads ; Something Carbon Lorraines will be fine. These aren't too necessary
-Tyres ; Something like Nankang NS-IIRs, Federal's 595RSRs or Yoko's AD08R will get you going very well and still have a very usable car for the road.
-Tuition ; I gained the most time by simply doing this and ulimately, more enjoyable laps! As a bonus you'll save your tyres and brake more since you'll be smoother and have a better idea on how to approach things.
The suspension you have sorted it seems. As for the suspension problem does your car seem to tramline and almost wonder on the road? If so it's almost certainly the rear subframe bushes. Changing mine to poly items has transformed the drive of the car.
FWIW mine also at times had the '1 second vague response' thing from the front; The subframe bushes cured the tramlining and the 1 second response issue, whereas the tyres took away the vagueness. I give the details of this in my thread. OK's sligthly bigger than a Compact but the suspension is pretty much the same near enough
.www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47...
But my money would go on the following:
-Bushes ; change where they are shot with good quality poly items or OEM M3 bits.
-Brake pads ; Something Carbon Lorraines will be fine. These aren't too necessary
-Tyres ; Something like Nankang NS-IIRs, Federal's 595RSRs or Yoko's AD08R will get you going very well and still have a very usable car for the road.
-Tuition ; I gained the most time by simply doing this and ulimately, more enjoyable laps! As a bonus you'll save your tyres and brake more since you'll be smoother and have a better idea on how to approach things.
I'm not sure what the spring rates are they are not the hardest,
Apart from the ARB drop links the bushes looked decent, there was no real sagging cracks or deterioration. Obviously 17 years and 74k will take its toll, but I just can't see anything that makes me think this is the cause of the problem. Although from previous e36 experience as you said, the feeling is that of the bushes being shot. I've fitted new top mounts and wishbones as well all mehyl HD, so decent bushes.
Next I guess is drop links, lower the rears by another 10mm and get the alignment / geometry set up, and see where we are from here.
I won't be doing anything else before my first track day in the car, I'm going to go and investigate bushing prices I prefer super pro to power flex so I'll see if I can get them at a reasonable price somewhere.
After this track day I'm going to give the car a full fluid change, with the exception of the brakes I'll fit my BBK after the second track day.
Apart from the ARB drop links the bushes looked decent, there was no real sagging cracks or deterioration. Obviously 17 years and 74k will take its toll, but I just can't see anything that makes me think this is the cause of the problem. Although from previous e36 experience as you said, the feeling is that of the bushes being shot. I've fitted new top mounts and wishbones as well all mehyl HD, so decent bushes.
Next I guess is drop links, lower the rears by another 10mm and get the alignment / geometry set up, and see where we are from here.
I won't be doing anything else before my first track day in the car, I'm going to go and investigate bushing prices I prefer super pro to power flex so I'll see if I can get them at a reasonable price somewhere.
After this track day I'm going to give the car a full fluid change, with the exception of the brakes I'll fit my BBK after the second track day.
Reidtastic said:
I'm not sure what the spring rates are they are not the hardest,
Apart from the ARB drop links the bushes looked decent, there was no real sagging cracks or deterioration. Obviously 17 years and 74k will take its toll, but I just can't see anything that makes me think this is the cause of the problem. Although from previous e36 experience as you said, the feeling is that of the bushes being shot. I've fitted new top mounts and wishbones as well all mehyl HD, so decent bushes.
Next I guess is drop links, lower the rears by another 10mm and get the alignment / geometry set up, and see where we are from here.
I won't be doing anything else before my first track day in the car, I'm going to go and investigate bushing prices I prefer super pro to power flex so I'll see if I can get them at a reasonable price somewhere.
After this track day I'm going to give the car a full fluid change, with the exception of the brakes I'll fit my BBK after the second track day.
If you are quick get the Subframe bushes from Awesome GTi ; they are way cheaper than anyone else for SF bushes in this area.Apart from the ARB drop links the bushes looked decent, there was no real sagging cracks or deterioration. Obviously 17 years and 74k will take its toll, but I just can't see anything that makes me think this is the cause of the problem. Although from previous e36 experience as you said, the feeling is that of the bushes being shot. I've fitted new top mounts and wishbones as well all mehyl HD, so decent bushes.
Next I guess is drop links, lower the rears by another 10mm and get the alignment / geometry set up, and see where we are from here.
I won't be doing anything else before my first track day in the car, I'm going to go and investigate bushing prices I prefer super pro to power flex so I'll see if I can get them at a reasonable price somewhere.
After this track day I'm going to give the car a full fluid change, with the exception of the brakes I'll fit my BBK after the second track day.
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