Fiesta ST MK7.5 Track car
Discussion
Next on my list was to install my roll cage i have got from AET motorsport .
So at the weekend i got round to getting my VUDU 4 point rear roll cage installed .
There are a few options for a half roll cage from different companies for the Fiesta ST but most are a bolt in format that use the seat belt mountings .
The VUDU roll cage bolts through the floor and uses spreader plates and is built from an MSA supplier so should be worth the money and had been
tested as per the below vid .
https://youtu.be/gx8_j7UnptQ
New AET motorsport VUDU 4 point rear roll cage .
[ur
|https://thumbsnap.com/cnFtPb2d[/url]
First step was to remove all the rear seats .
And then remover the front seats to get the cage in to place .
Then start the drilling of the floor .
Spreader plates ready to install .
And then bolting the cage in .
Then getting the carpet back in and front seats back in .
And all installed .
Just need to get some carpet to tidy up the rear a bit .
So at the weekend i got round to getting my VUDU 4 point rear roll cage installed .
There are a few options for a half roll cage from different companies for the Fiesta ST but most are a bolt in format that use the seat belt mountings .
The VUDU roll cage bolts through the floor and uses spreader plates and is built from an MSA supplier so should be worth the money and had been
tested as per the below vid .
https://youtu.be/gx8_j7UnptQ
New AET motorsport VUDU 4 point rear roll cage .
[ur
|https://thumbsnap.com/cnFtPb2d[/url]First step was to remove all the rear seats .
And then remover the front seats to get the cage in to place .
Then start the drilling of the floor .
Spreader plates ready to install .
And then bolting the cage in .
Then getting the carpet back in and front seats back in .
And all installed .
Just need to get some carpet to tidy up the rear a bit .
It was just one of Ebay but is a goo match .
I will let you know about the wheels but there should be loads of room as you have the boot and then where the back seats were you have more room there so should all fit in easy and have a bit more space free .
I will let you know about the wheels but there should be loads of room as you have the boot and then where the back seats were you have more room there so should all fit in easy and have a bit more space free .
alex98uk said:
What carpet did you use to cover the fuel pump/bench seats?
Is there enough room to fit a full set of spare wheels in the back with both cage and rear strut brace in the back?
Is there enough room to fit a full set of spare wheels in the back with both cage and rear strut brace in the back?
See link below but you have to do some cutting to get a good fit and then i used contact glue to keep it in place .
Yes i do like to keep a track of all that has been done and do seem to get stuck in and spend too much money too quickly
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-CARPET-SHEETS-in-An...
Yes i do like to keep a track of all that has been done and do seem to get stuck in and spend too much money too quickly
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-CARPET-SHEETS-in-An...
alex98uk said:
Awesome, got a link for the carpet you bought? If it fits, it sounds good!
I'm just using this thread as a guide to building my own track car, but in a slower manner ha
I'm just using this thread as a guide to building my own track car, but in a slower manner ha
No they are just stock size discs at the rear with OEM callipers but J hook discs and PBS prorace pads .
You can use the ST170 from the focus but i have read about fitting issues so i would maybe look at some good front pads like endless ME20 or Pagid RLS29 but they are not cheep at £ 300.00 a set .
The PBS get good reviews at £ 130.00 but will not be in the same league as the ME20 or RLS29 but then again cost half as much .
The problem is heat and with a small front OEM disc at 278mm they over heat on track after a few laps and more so if you are running more than stock power .
You can use the ST170 from the focus but i have read about fitting issues so i would maybe look at some good front pads like endless ME20 or Pagid RLS29 but they are not cheep at £ 300.00 a set .
The PBS get good reviews at £ 130.00 but will not be in the same league as the ME20 or RLS29 but then again cost half as much .
The problem is heat and with a small front OEM disc at 278mm they over heat on track after a few laps and more so if you are running more than stock power .
gashead1105 said:
Are those bigger rear discs on the rear, with standard callipers? Stupid question perhaps, but could something similar be done on the front, for those of us without the spare pennies for the (awesome looking) BBK like you’ve fitted?
Another day another job done it seems like one a day at the moment
Im running the stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys with 215/40/17 ADO8R tyres ( road / wet ) but have just got a second set of stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys
( from a 2017 car ) in great condition that i will look to run as a second set ( dry set ) .
Second hand set of stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys after a good clean and touch up
I have also received my new Nankang AR-1 tyres also in 215/40/17 that i will look to use as my dry track set up .
new Nankang AR-1 tyres
And all installed on the second set of wheels
Im running the stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys with 215/40/17 ADO8R tyres ( road / wet ) but have just got a second set of stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys
( from a 2017 car ) in great condition that i will look to run as a second set ( dry set ) .
Second hand set of stock 17 inch Fiesta ST alloys after a good clean and touch up
I have also received my new Nankang AR-1 tyres also in 215/40/17 that i will look to use as my dry track set up .
new Nankang AR-1 tyres
And all installed on the second set of wheels
You do have a few options as they are a generic size but do not have as much choice as stock pads .
TBH for what i will be using the car for i do not think i will change from the RLS29 but there are other compounds if you need but have to look to the correct size .
TBH for what i will be using the car for i do not think i will change from the RLS29 but there are other compounds if you need but have to look to the correct size .
alex98uk said:
I got a nice stupid question for you, how does it work when you want to source pads for a big brake kit. Are they a generic size that multiple manufacturers make pads for?
At the moment I just look up compatible pads for a Fiesta ST which I know will fit, but when you have a BBK on, how do you look for pads that would work if you want to try different ones?
At the moment I just look up compatible pads for a Fiesta ST which I know will fit, but when you have a BBK on, how do you look for pads that would work if you want to try different ones?
Well its all running ok so far so good
Im keeping it all intact as my last track car was all striped up and was a pig to drive to tracks and to Germany and as the car will be driven to all tracks im keeping everything in .
Im keeping it all intact as my last track car was all striped up and was a pig to drive to tracks and to Germany and as the car will be driven to all tracks im keeping everything in .
RC1807 said:
Brave man, kaveney, to do all this work.
If it’s going to be a track car, don’t you want to strip all the interior out?
As for the wheel it’s, thanks for the heads-up there. Ford OEM had just as well be made of old Coke cans, they’re so soft ... I’ll need to replace mine after the winters go on again.
If it’s going to be a track car, don’t you want to strip all the interior out?
As for the wheel it’s, thanks for the heads-up there. Ford OEM had just as well be made of old Coke cans, they’re so soft ... I’ll need to replace mine after the winters go on again.
Bang on TBH i have been there and done that and for a few KG savings it makes the car worst IMHO so this one will be like Alex said a club sport style one .
alex98uk said:
I think you're on the right track. I too want a "clubsport" style car. Enough comfort to drive to track in, but capable enough for circuit.
Unless you're chasing lap times, probably not worth fully stripping a car.
Unless you're chasing lap times, probably not worth fully stripping a car.
Yet another update but i think im nearly there with just a few more parts on order that need installing .
I used a gear shift extension on my last track car and got on well with that to keep the shifter close to the steering wheel .
I did have a look at the CAE and coolerworx short shifter but at the cost and that they are a nightmare of a job to install i have got a Likewise shifter extension and weighted gear shift knob .
Likewise shifter extension , ford adapter , weighted gear knob .
And installed
I used a gear shift extension on my last track car and got on well with that to keep the shifter close to the steering wheel .
I did have a look at the CAE and coolerworx short shifter but at the cost and that they are a nightmare of a job to install i have got a Likewise shifter extension and weighted gear shift knob .
Likewise shifter extension , ford adapter , weighted gear knob .
And installed
I have done a rough set up with the BC coilovers that have adjustable top mounts and should be running around - 1.5 but this is a rough set up and i will look to get a full Geo set up done and look to run around - 2.5 / 3 front camber .
I should have done this before my track day at Bedford on the 27/08/19 as i have change the suspension so the tracking will probably be off but it will give me a good starting point .
Are you using camber bolts to get your -1.5 ?
I should have done this before my track day at Bedford on the 27/08/19 as i have change the suspension so the tracking will probably be off but it will give me a good starting point .
Are you using camber bolts to get your -1.5 ?
alex98uk said:
Have you had any thoughts about front camber you will run? I have -1.5 set on fronts because I still use it a bit on the roads, but was considering dialling it up a bit to -2.
I know a lot of track only cars run -3 and over, but obviously this would begin to induce uneven wear and potentially unwanted behaviour on street.
I know a lot of track only cars run -3 and over, but obviously this would begin to induce uneven wear and potentially unwanted behaviour on street.
What settings are you rruuning your coilovers front and rear on track for hardness .
Also do you keep the tracking / ESC off on track as i have read that the LSD works best with everything off .
Kind Regards
Also do you keep the tracking / ESC off on track as i have read that the LSD works best with everything off .
Kind Regards
alex98uk said:
You can get up to about -2 degrees with normal adjustment. No need to even use camber plate adjustment on coilover top mount.
So after 14 weeks of building / getting the car ready I did my first track day in this car at Bedford GT circuit on Tuesday 27/08/19 and will list a full report of how the day went , how the car was and any problems that I had .
It will be a long review so get a coffee / tea ready
First off the driver ( Me )
I have only done 4 track days in my life with a few Nurburgring trips so I would class myself as still a novice learning lines and braking points and most of the time getting out of the way of most cars on track so by no means a skilled driver but I’m picking up experience with each track day I attend .
I have done Bedford before but this was in a mid-engine RWD MR2 and only half a day and as this would be the first time the Fiesta would be on track I was unsure what to expect .
Journey up to Bedford
From where we are in Bognor Regis it is around a 2 hour 45 minute drive to the track so we set off at 4.30 AM me in the I30N loaded up with tool kits , jacks etc. and the Mrs in the Fiesta ST.
All was fine and we made good time and got there for around 7.50 AM after stopping off for a coffee .
The Mrs reported back that the car was great to drive on the road and not taxing like our last track car as I have kept this like a club sport track car so stock seats , steering wheel sat nav , heated seats , air con etc. so that is one box ticked in trying to build a track car but not make it harsh on the road as we will be driving to tracks in it .
A few pics of Bedford
Weather
Sort of good and bad on this one . On one hand lovely and sunny and a dry track for the whole day but the temps were at 34 deg so putting the cooling system , braking system and the whole car under stress and as I have not done any long running testing this would be crunch time to see how the car would cope as I have read that some Fiesta ST pull timing and lose power if they get too hot .
Noise testing
The car is running a Milltek 200 cell sports cat and a Milltek 2.75 inch cat back system with two silencer in it so the quietist system you can get bar the stock system .
The result was a 85 DB so there will be no worry’s with tripping the noise meters on track and it will pass all noise tests including Thruxton
Cars and people
I thought the day after the bank holiday it would be a bit less busy so a good chance to see how the car would fair on its first track day .
This was not the case and the day was very busy with a great mix of cars but as the track is so big there was no traffic problems and the driving from other people was very good I thought .
Sighting laps
After the briefing I set about changing the stock wheels / tyres ( ADO8R ) to the dry track set up of the Nankang AR-1 wheels and tyres and then set up the coilover settings ( front 5 clicks from full hard and rear 7 clicks from full soft ) then set tyre pressures ( 30 psi front 25 psi rear ) and then check all the brakes , fluids etc. and setting up the gopro .
After this little lot we had missed the sighting laps but had driven the track before so not too bad .
Session 1
I set out for the first time with the Fiesta on track and took things easy for the first lap to let everything warm up and to learn the track .
Below is the vid for my first session and I came in as the front tyre pressures were at 42 psi but all was good with the car and I was a little taken back with how good the car felt and that I did not have to keep looking behind me ready to move over .
The pace down the long back straight I was seeing 139 - 142 MPH that was a bit shocking TBH .
Session 1-1
https://youtu.be/S10427ylvPE
Session 1-2
https://youtu.be/O5CSAalN5gk
Session 1-3
https://youtu.be/aUjqnDFeayk
Session 1 rear view
https://youtu.be/w6Jrv0LXUpQ
Session 2
Below is the vid for my second session and again the car felt great and I was pushing harder having much more confidence in the car .
Session 2-1
https://youtu.be/Oi1QwFjnpX4
Session 2-1
https://youtu.be/fLB_LYyZLfg
Session 2 rear view
https://youtu.be/Q7ZzStmpMoQ
Session 3
Below is the vid for my third session and by this point I was happy with how the car was running and getting to know the corners and track lay out and had some fun keeping pace with a BMW M2 and Turbo charged MX5 .
Session 3-1
https://youtu.be/bf0fHd9DeDs
Session 3-2
https://youtu.be/oJRHPB473vU
Session 3 rear view
https://youtu.be/FqwpCdw1ngI
This was the last session before lunch and as we had other things booked in we left just after lunch to get home at a half sensible hour .
I will try and sum up the car in sections below after driving it on track for the first time .
Engine / straight line pace
The car is running 306 BHP and 320 LB/FT so I thought it would be quick ish in a straight line and down the long back straight the car was hitting 140 MPH.
Out of turns the power was instant and with the large spread of torque was easy to pick up speed .
The car can just about keep pace with a BMW M2 down the long back straight and this was a good example of the straight line pace the car is running at the moment .
Quaife LSD
The car is running a Quaife ATB LSD and this was the star of the show on the car .
With traction fully off the diff just digs in pulls you round the corners and you can get on the power very early and helps with traction out of turns and the car would be so much slower round a lap without this .
On the road you do not get much chance to use / feel the diff working but on track it really is something .
Brakes
The stopping power from the 4 pot AP racing set up , 330mm floating discs , Pagid RLS29 pads , Airtec cooling guides and Motul RBF 700 is massive and I was out braking myself way too much .
I found I could brake later and later in to each corner and the brakes would slash off speed very quickly .
I had to brake early when I was behind some other cars and this was telling as I could brake so much later and from much higher speeds .
The brakes had no hint of fade all day even in 34 deg temps and I was using them hard all day .
The floating discs do make some noise until they are up to temp but this is nothing really and the braking power is amazing .
Some pics of the pad wear after the day and all looking good .
Front
Rear
Handling
The stock Fiesta is a cracking handling car as it is but with all the suspension parts like the coilovers , braces , polly bush etc it really is very flat and stiff and you can take corners nice and quick and the whole car is very pointy and nimble round the tighter turns .
Tyres
The AR-1 are amazing and give so much grip everywhere and heat up nice and quick and did not seem to go off at all .
The pressures did keep going up but settled down after letting more air out .
A few pics of the AR-1 Tyres after the day .
Cooling
The upgraded cooling system and oil cooler were given a really hard time in the 34 Deg heat but not once did the car overheat or lose any power and temps never got too hot so if this is all fine in this heat it will be fine anywhere and it should mean I can stay out on track longer .
Overall
To sum up the car is working together with all of its new parts very well the engine can put the power down with the Quaife diff and AR-1 tyres and the AP racing brakes can again be used to their full fury with the AR-1 giving the grip for the braking force .
The Quaife diff really pulls it all together with the handling and grip and as a whole the car is so much fun and quick even in my un skilled hands .
I feel there is much more lap time in the car and it can be pushed much harder but this has given me a good base to work from .
Bad points
Not many really the air con was not kicking in but this may be due to being too hot as it was fine on the drive there and back on the road .
The fuel light came on with half a tank left but again this went off on the way back home .
The tyre pressure monitor did not like the low pressures but again nothing wrong and not a problem .
The brakes do make a grumble due to the pads and floating discs but again nothing major .
With very hard braking the back end does have a little wiggle but I have got some more parts coming that will help that .
A few pics from the day .
Next track day will be Germany for the Nurburgring on the 28/09/19 and I have a few more parts coming that I will look to install to improve the car further but I’m very happy with how the car has handled its first track day and taken a bit back at just how quick it is .
It will be a long review so get a coffee / tea ready
First off the driver ( Me )
I have only done 4 track days in my life with a few Nurburgring trips so I would class myself as still a novice learning lines and braking points and most of the time getting out of the way of most cars on track so by no means a skilled driver but I’m picking up experience with each track day I attend .
I have done Bedford before but this was in a mid-engine RWD MR2 and only half a day and as this would be the first time the Fiesta would be on track I was unsure what to expect .
Journey up to Bedford
From where we are in Bognor Regis it is around a 2 hour 45 minute drive to the track so we set off at 4.30 AM me in the I30N loaded up with tool kits , jacks etc. and the Mrs in the Fiesta ST.
All was fine and we made good time and got there for around 7.50 AM after stopping off for a coffee .
The Mrs reported back that the car was great to drive on the road and not taxing like our last track car as I have kept this like a club sport track car so stock seats , steering wheel sat nav , heated seats , air con etc. so that is one box ticked in trying to build a track car but not make it harsh on the road as we will be driving to tracks in it .
A few pics of Bedford
Weather
Sort of good and bad on this one . On one hand lovely and sunny and a dry track for the whole day but the temps were at 34 deg so putting the cooling system , braking system and the whole car under stress and as I have not done any long running testing this would be crunch time to see how the car would cope as I have read that some Fiesta ST pull timing and lose power if they get too hot .
Noise testing
The car is running a Milltek 200 cell sports cat and a Milltek 2.75 inch cat back system with two silencer in it so the quietist system you can get bar the stock system .
The result was a 85 DB so there will be no worry’s with tripping the noise meters on track and it will pass all noise tests including Thruxton
Cars and people
I thought the day after the bank holiday it would be a bit less busy so a good chance to see how the car would fair on its first track day .
This was not the case and the day was very busy with a great mix of cars but as the track is so big there was no traffic problems and the driving from other people was very good I thought .
Sighting laps
After the briefing I set about changing the stock wheels / tyres ( ADO8R ) to the dry track set up of the Nankang AR-1 wheels and tyres and then set up the coilover settings ( front 5 clicks from full hard and rear 7 clicks from full soft ) then set tyre pressures ( 30 psi front 25 psi rear ) and then check all the brakes , fluids etc. and setting up the gopro .
After this little lot we had missed the sighting laps but had driven the track before so not too bad .
Session 1
I set out for the first time with the Fiesta on track and took things easy for the first lap to let everything warm up and to learn the track .
Below is the vid for my first session and I came in as the front tyre pressures were at 42 psi but all was good with the car and I was a little taken back with how good the car felt and that I did not have to keep looking behind me ready to move over .
The pace down the long back straight I was seeing 139 - 142 MPH that was a bit shocking TBH .
Session 1-1
https://youtu.be/S10427ylvPE
Session 1-2
https://youtu.be/O5CSAalN5gk
Session 1-3
https://youtu.be/aUjqnDFeayk
Session 1 rear view
https://youtu.be/w6Jrv0LXUpQ
Session 2
Below is the vid for my second session and again the car felt great and I was pushing harder having much more confidence in the car .
Session 2-1
https://youtu.be/Oi1QwFjnpX4
Session 2-1
https://youtu.be/fLB_LYyZLfg
Session 2 rear view
https://youtu.be/Q7ZzStmpMoQ
Session 3
Below is the vid for my third session and by this point I was happy with how the car was running and getting to know the corners and track lay out and had some fun keeping pace with a BMW M2 and Turbo charged MX5 .
Session 3-1
https://youtu.be/bf0fHd9DeDs
Session 3-2
https://youtu.be/oJRHPB473vU
Session 3 rear view
https://youtu.be/FqwpCdw1ngI
This was the last session before lunch and as we had other things booked in we left just after lunch to get home at a half sensible hour .
I will try and sum up the car in sections below after driving it on track for the first time .
Engine / straight line pace
The car is running 306 BHP and 320 LB/FT so I thought it would be quick ish in a straight line and down the long back straight the car was hitting 140 MPH.
Out of turns the power was instant and with the large spread of torque was easy to pick up speed .
The car can just about keep pace with a BMW M2 down the long back straight and this was a good example of the straight line pace the car is running at the moment .
Quaife LSD
The car is running a Quaife ATB LSD and this was the star of the show on the car .
With traction fully off the diff just digs in pulls you round the corners and you can get on the power very early and helps with traction out of turns and the car would be so much slower round a lap without this .
On the road you do not get much chance to use / feel the diff working but on track it really is something .
Brakes
The stopping power from the 4 pot AP racing set up , 330mm floating discs , Pagid RLS29 pads , Airtec cooling guides and Motul RBF 700 is massive and I was out braking myself way too much .
I found I could brake later and later in to each corner and the brakes would slash off speed very quickly .
I had to brake early when I was behind some other cars and this was telling as I could brake so much later and from much higher speeds .
The brakes had no hint of fade all day even in 34 deg temps and I was using them hard all day .
The floating discs do make some noise until they are up to temp but this is nothing really and the braking power is amazing .
Some pics of the pad wear after the day and all looking good .
Front
Rear
Handling
The stock Fiesta is a cracking handling car as it is but with all the suspension parts like the coilovers , braces , polly bush etc it really is very flat and stiff and you can take corners nice and quick and the whole car is very pointy and nimble round the tighter turns .
Tyres
The AR-1 are amazing and give so much grip everywhere and heat up nice and quick and did not seem to go off at all .
The pressures did keep going up but settled down after letting more air out .
A few pics of the AR-1 Tyres after the day .
Cooling
The upgraded cooling system and oil cooler were given a really hard time in the 34 Deg heat but not once did the car overheat or lose any power and temps never got too hot so if this is all fine in this heat it will be fine anywhere and it should mean I can stay out on track longer .
Overall
To sum up the car is working together with all of its new parts very well the engine can put the power down with the Quaife diff and AR-1 tyres and the AP racing brakes can again be used to their full fury with the AR-1 giving the grip for the braking force .
The Quaife diff really pulls it all together with the handling and grip and as a whole the car is so much fun and quick even in my un skilled hands .
I feel there is much more lap time in the car and it can be pushed much harder but this has given me a good base to work from .
Bad points
Not many really the air con was not kicking in but this may be due to being too hot as it was fine on the drive there and back on the road .
The fuel light came on with half a tank left but again this went off on the way back home .
The tyre pressure monitor did not like the low pressures but again nothing wrong and not a problem .
The brakes do make a grumble due to the pads and floating discs but again nothing major .
With very hard braking the back end does have a little wiggle but I have got some more parts coming that will help that .
A few pics from the day .
Next track day will be Germany for the Nurburgring on the 28/09/19 and I have a few more parts coming that I will look to install to improve the car further but I’m very happy with how the car has handled its first track day and taken a bit back at just how quick it is .
It was spot on all day and better than i thought it would be TBH .
Yes much more lap time in the car but even in my novice hands it was quick and confidence inspiring round Bedford .
Yes much more lap time in the car but even in my novice hands it was quick and confidence inspiring round Bedford .
WCZ said:
car looks like it performed wonderfully!
there's plenty more left in those lap times too judging from the vids, gives you lots to work for!
there's plenty more left in those lap times too judging from the vids, gives you lots to work for!
That is my thinking as if you do get it wrong there is a load of run off and as its the first time was the best place to start .
I would say around 10 - 15 % its hard to tell as i never braked late enough and they had so much stopping power i did not need to use them all esp following other cars as they were braking much sooner that i needed to .
No fade or overheating even in the 34 deg temps and were rock solid all day so cant rate this set up enough .
I would say around 10 - 15 % its hard to tell as i never braked late enough and they had so much stopping power i did not need to use them all esp following other cars as they were braking much sooner that i needed to .
No fade or overheating even in the 34 deg temps and were rock solid all day so cant rate this set up enough .
alex98uk said:
Good job. I like Bedford, it's a perfect way to test out a car without danger.
Out of interest, do you know roughly what percent of front brake pad you lost over the day? The torque vectoring obviously massively increases wear, but just interested to know before/after from your side.
Out of interest, do you know roughly what percent of front brake pad you lost over the day? The torque vectoring obviously massively increases wear, but just interested to know before/after from your side.
It was spot on all day even in that heat .
What car were you in ?
It will be our fifth year but the first in this car driving on the Ring .
What car were you in ?
It will be our fifth year but the first in this car driving on the Ring .
andyc123_123 said:
Really good write up on the day. Car looks really strong and seem to perform all day. Shame I didn't manage to meet you on the day.
Hope Germany is good for you.
Hope Germany is good for you.
I will be taking it a bit easy round the ring as its not a track to push too hard on i have found unless you are fearless or have deep pockets
alex98uk said:
Even with the increased speed, you can probably brake after Pflanzgarten jump with a BBK.
Took me a while to build up courage to only lift over jump and brake after, but the corner has a lot of grip.
Took me a while to build up courage to only lift over jump and brake after, but the corner has a lot of grip.
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