Spring rates fast road and trackdays
Spring rates fast road and trackdays
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Discussion

PH430

Original Poster:

147 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all

My Chim is driving on Protech shocks. The standard springs are to soft i think. To much rol over.
What spring rates do you recomand for fast road and trackdays.

mk1fan

10,912 posts

254 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
Can you adjust the damping rates on the shocks?

PH430

Original Poster:

147 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
Can you adjust the damping rates on the shocks?
Yes i can, but i don't think thats enough. On the most highest setting the Chim roll to much

mach2

226 posts

263 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
I would give Kevin at Protech a call to discuss. He does a lot of shocks for local race set ups and will happily discuss all the options.
I've just had a set made up and installed on my Chim but I've gone for 400lb front and 325lb rear as I'm not into tracking the car.
I'm sure your answer to this will be yes but have you had a full geo and corner balancing set up done? Made a huge difference for me even on normal tarmac.

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
Someone will know how Protechs compare with Gaz Gold Pros.

You also need to bear in mind the load index of your chosen tyres.

I ran 400 front, 375 rear with my GGPs on rock hard at the front, soft at the rear, last year, and with fairly soft sidewall track tyres felt it wasn't stiff enough. Load indices were 83 front 87 rear. It was stiffer on my R888s (91 load index). Still not stiff enough on track.

In consultation with my TVR guy and Gaz, I have now changed to 500 front and 400 rear, and the car feels fine with the dampers moderately stiff. First track efforts are the next two Thursdays (not tomorrow), so I will report back.

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
PS I am told that race TVRs run on 800 lb springs
PPS springs are 35 Euros each plus fitting. Not a huge deal price-wise, so go for it.
PPPS my set up is meant for track days and fast road, like yours.

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

260 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
Stick your front ones on the back then buy a pair 50 to 75lb stiffer and fit them on the front .I have a 325/375 setup and i think they are brilliant .

Jools at Kits&classics deals with protech and sets up suspension . He also has springs in stock at a very reasonable price .

happy days .

phazed

22,464 posts

233 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
As Daz stated, those springs are good for road and the occasional TD. I ran those spring rates on my chim until track speeds increased then the whole package was useless!

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

260 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
phazed said:
As Daz stated, those springs are good for road and the occasional TD. I ran those spring rates on my chim until track speeds increased then the whole package was useless!
It gets to a point where your car is horrible to drive on the road ,make your decision do you want a track car or a road car for the odd track day

You animal Peter,why don`t you slow down laugh .

phazed

22,464 posts

233 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
SILICONEKID345HP said:
It gets to a point where your car is horrible to drive on the road ,make your decision do you want a track car or a road car for the odd track day

You animal Peter,why don`t you slow down laugh .
trying to find a happy medium is probably impossible.....

Andav469

966 posts

166 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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I've just replaced my suspension with the latest Bilstein's the originals weren't leaking but the difference is unbelievable, rides so well too smile

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

178 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
I've been thinking about Bilstein's recently, as the weight is evenly distributed with a good geo set up then I'd have thought the valving is better on the originals for road use, I'm thinking it's better to get the suspension set up for road use and have a separate set of shocks with specific valving to work with your chosen spring rate for trackwork,,,, unless your doing stuff every week, that's got to be the ultimate option.

If I can't enjoy my car on the road then what's the point. scratchchin

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

178 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
quotequote all
I've been thinking about Bilstein's recently, as the weight is evenly distributed with a good geo set up then I'd have thought the valving is better on the originals for road use, I'm thinking it's better to get the suspension set up for road use and have a separate set of shocks with specific valving to work with your chosen spring rate for trackwork,,,, unless your doing stuff every week, that's got to be the ultimate option.

If I can't enjoy my car on the road then what's the point. scratchchin

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
Mine's fine on both road and track.
I may be wrong, but I am presently putting it down to my tyres being part of the package.
The softer sidewalls of the Federal 595 RSRs make the whole package nicely compliant on the road, but capable of being stiff enough on track.
Don't make the mistake of ignoring the tyres when sorting out your suspension.

PH430

Original Poster:

147 posts

157 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all your comments.
I will call Protech for information on specs and what i want.

brett84

1,291 posts

182 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I think it depends on the dampers as well as i'm running 500/400 and they don't feel overly stiff at all, could do with stiffening up a bit actually (oh er).
I need to get book for my first track day though to test it properly

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
brett84 said:
I think it depends on the dampers as well as i'm running 500/400 and they don't feel overly stiff at all, could do with stiffening up a bit actually (oh er).
I need to get book for my first track day though to test it properly
That's exactly what I will be doing 12 hours from now - testing my 500/400 lb springs on GGP dampers on track at Snetterton. Perfect weather forecast, still booking room (MSV) last time I looked.

PH430

Original Poster:

147 posts

157 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
QBee said:
That's exactly what I will be doing 12 hours from now - testing my 500/400 lb springs on GGP dampers on track at Snetterton. Perfect weather forecast, still booking room (MSV) last time I looked.
Let us know how it went.
I am curios about your reaction.

phazed

22,464 posts

233 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
PH430 said:
Let us know how it went.
I am curios about your reaction.
Unfortunately his reactions have slowed a bit but he does well considering wink

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
phazed said:
PH430 said:
Let us know how it went.
I am curios about your reaction.
Unfortunately his reactions have slowed a bit but he does well considering wink
How kind young sir. Now I've got my free prescriptions and eye tests, I just need to wait a couple more years for my bus pass......not that any buses pass my house.

Really quite amazing I can still get into a Chimaera, never mind drive it.....getmecoat