ok great, so lets cover a few things. One, the miata won't oversteer until you are at or close to grip limit right? so you can get on the power before the apex if you over-brake the entry. I am pretty close to the limits in most corners (turn 8 I still have a bit to go, same with 11, and turn 1, and sometimes turn 3 depending on how ballsy I want to get).

Now your suspension setup looks good, I like it. the camber ratings, I would change those soon enough to have more in the rear and less in the front. I also think 3* is probably a tad too high depending on ride height.

With all that said, your suggestion comes out to why not dial in a bit more oversteer. And I like it, why not? I am just a tad concerned over my bounce frequency. at 550/500 the ratio is 1.12, which is a bit higher than what I would like (I have no idea of a good number, I just know you want the ratio to be higher than 1, but not too high). My Hz is also about 2.2 and 2.45 in that case which is pretty high. I would go for this setup if I got my bilsteins revalved...but I won't be unless I just get the FCM bilsteins and since he isn't doing a group buy anytime soon...I am not sure I want to drop $1500+ on just coilovers when the xidas are right around the corner for $1900.

Alternative to upping the rates, I could go for a slightly less stiff front sway...say keep the stock? or something a little stiffer than stock, ideally here I would like a 24mm bar. but there is only one made by some unknown company and it costs $180. How do I factor in the different settings on the sway bar into the calculator? Is the FM front sway adjustable? and whats the difference between the adjustments.

 

I know three is way too high. There is something up with either the machine im using, or the car itself, where it is really difficult to get the alignment good in all areas. so the camber just sorta ended where it worked, while everything else wasnt going to try to kill me. I'm going to try to pull some camber out of it, i know for a fact that I have too much.

By more in the rear, less in front. do you mean take some out of front and add more in rear, or do you mean more in the rear THAN the front? Im really pretty happy with the balance of the car, it feel pretty neutral for the time being. But my tire wear indicates that i need less camber on all 4 corners. I dont have a pyrometer to verify this though.

I was thinking for in Dec, trying something like 2.7 FR 2.5 R? what are your thoughts on that? or maybe 2.8 FR 2.3 R. which will keep the balance more or less the same...

 

hmm, I understand. I am saying you want more in the rear THAN the front. thats because the miata has a bit more dynamic camber in the rear than the front. So we don't need as much static in the rears.

Pyrometer is a good tool to get, I will be getting one soon enough.

I don't know ride height, but I would stick to Emilio's suggestions if you can get those numbers dialed in:
http://949racing.com/miata-race-alignment-info.aspx

 

Too much school lately... thinking too hard. what you just said confused the hell out of me... I want more rear camber than front camber because the miata has more dynamic camber in rear? which means youll get even more camber in the rear... But then you go to say we dont need as much static in the rears... which kinda is the opposite of which you originally stated.


My ride height is perfectly set up according to that link. checked it a few months ago.

 

That, and also following emilios page, hints that camber should be more in the neighborhood of what I'm running. I guess thats what confuses me most...

 

nope, blonde moment. actually blond day. ignore me Dntlift you are doing great!! just turn that 3* down a tad and you should be getting maximum traction! dohh!!

too much track and driving and miata and alignment and tires and crap. add in SPI bus and C coding and your brain turns into mush by about 2PM.

 

Lol!




School does that to me every day!
And yeah, Im having the same issue as you are in the alignment thread, my issue is that my camber, the less I get, the more out of whack my caster gets. In general, If I understand, since I have lower spring rates than you do, im going to have more body roll. So I will want a bit more camber in general than you will need. but other than taking the camber out, im actually rather pleased with my setup... just need a pyrometer

PS: I'm going to try to find a pyrometer to borrow for RA in dec. so I may be able to get some numbers to this.

 

Well, I am on stock suspension still. so I am not too worried about it, but it makes me wonder...Maybe by RA I will have my new suspension.

 

Ok guys, so I am going to be ordering my stuff in the next couple of days.

550, 6" free length fronts
450, 7" free length rears
Bilsteins

I think 550 is probably a bit too oversprung for OTS Bilsteins, but I will live with it for the time being.

 

Ordered the shocks, RB sway and the ES master bushings today.

Springs and perches, I will be calling ISC about today/tomorrow to get that ordered.

Now, I need to find a weekend and a second hand to try and knock this out all at once.