2013 GT suspension plan - please help?

[Sky Render]

KW Suspension is absolutely awesome. KW Clubsports come with caster/camber plates, but they're expensive. I wouldn't bother with anything less than Variant 3s, which are adjustable for height, compression, and rebound.

Clubsports are also triple-adjustable but have linear springs and caster/camber plates, as well. They're also quite pricey.

 

[Sam Strano]

First, I've got Koni Struts in stock, and rears are about a month away. Not only am I an active contributor here, but I also have owned and driven the crap out of S197's. I had an '07 GT, I had an '11 GT. I also ran a friend's '07 Shelby GT (and won a lot of stuff in it). I run track days too, including at PittRace/Beaverun.

I have lots of options available. I sell Koni, Tokico, Eibach, KW, H&R (just to name a few). I have had AST's as well. I work with both Steeda and MM parts, and also make a few of my own, as well as part neither of them have.

I just felt the need to chime in here because I watched more and more bad information come out ranging from the assumption that because Tire Rack was out, everyone was.... to the recommendation you get non-adjustable dampers.

Further, I'm a fan of linear working rate springs. Note I said "working rate". Not all progressive springs are actively progressive and that matters a lot when you are picking things. Assumptions can and will kill you.

 

[jymontoya]

I agree with and support Mr. Strano, as a valued Vendor who isn't in the business to 'over sell'.

However, I strongly believe that Quality Non Adjustable dampers (Bilstein) have their place too... Well valved Bilsteins are a performance bargain (Monotube!), and if competing in a tight class, can save you valuable points for not being adjustable. I personally know people winning in a broad range of classes at NASA on them. Rebuilds are cheap and can be done by many qualified companies and race teams across the country.

The initial setup can be more of a pain with the custom valving, but once you've got it close, YOU JUST FOCUS ON THE DRIVING. Instead of possibly adjusting yourself into a wall. I've seen it happen, Hell, I've almost done it myself. Tuning shocks on the track by driver feel takes a lot of seat time, patience, and practice. There's something to be said about having the car setup well enough, and learning to drive its strengths and it's faults. Instead of always turning to a mechanical 'fix', it makes us better drivers to learn to adapt, and 'work with what you got' sometimes.

 

[martin_nj]

Depending on how serious you are and what your experience is, you too, may just be left wanting more if all you do is some sport springs and dampers.

i've only 1 year of motorcycle track days and 1 year of car track days under my belt... maybe 2 autoX sessions and a rally racing school in finland are all i can claim officially under my belt.

like someone said, the 'stang is a GT car and i can't afford to race it in AI or anything so it'll be a sporty street car and a soft track car ehhe

First, I've got Koni Struts in stock, and rears are about a month away.

ah good to know thanks!

There's something to be said about having the car setup well enough, and learning to drive its strengths and it's faults. Instead of always turning to a mechanical 'fix', it makes us better drivers to learn to adapt, and 'work with what you got' sometimes.

i look forward most to this! my previous car was very torque-y FWD 4cyl turbo hatch

it will be so interesting to drive a heavy super torque-y rwd gt/touring car at speed


Sam here's me last year at Beave

near crash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiSO0qG7dss


fast lap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIrYoYNldCI

 

[Norm Peterson]

Is it just my imagination or did the fast lap video show a hint of the same wiggle that got away from you in the 'almost' video? Around 0:50.


Norm

 

[Morris]

Wow, that was close. Ya I saw the wiggle on the fast lap too.

 

[Sharad]

I agree with and support Mr. Strano, as a valued Vendor who isn't in the business to 'over sell'.

However, I strongly believe that Quality Non Adjustable dampers (Bilstein) have their place too... Well valved Bilsteins are a performance bargain (Monotube!), and if competing in a tight class, can save you valuable points for not being adjustable. I personally know people winning in a broad range of classes at NASA on them. Rebuilds are cheap and can be done by many qualified companies and race teams across the country.

The initial setup can be more of a pain with the custom valving, but once you've got it close, YOU JUST FOCUS ON THE DRIVING. Instead of possibly adjusting yourself into a wall. I've seen it happen, Hell, I've almost done it myself. Tuning shocks on the track by driver feel takes a lot of seat time, patience, and practice. There's something to be said about having the car setup well enough, and learning to drive its strengths and it's faults. Instead of always turning to a mechanical 'fix', it makes us better drivers to learn to adapt, and 'work with what you got' sometimes.

I had that thought too, about the non-adjustable Bilsteins... but BMR has a good price on the Koni Sports, and as of today they had some in stock.














unless I bought the last set. Thanks Kelly!

 

[Sam Strano]

I have to tell ya the idea that "once you've got the valving right" is a pretty big cop out. Think about that.... You buy the dampers for about the same price. You spend how much time and money revalving them, to try them and make a tweak that might not work with way you want, and will take weeks to get... and waste money in the shipping too.

Furthermore, there is no one way to do it. Folks like different things. Changes in springs, even tires can and will change how the car acts. Hell, surfaces can do that and having adjustable dampers gives you options. Options that you can work with *right now*. And there is this notion that if a shock is adjustable there is only one "perfect" setting anyway. Well, again, that's like saying there is a perfect mate. Might be for you, might not be for someone else. And things change, that perfect woman (just an example as it's mostly guys here, no offense to the ladies or anyone else) might not be so perfect when you make other changes.

There will always been opinions, I have mine others have their's. I just ask you to think things through. Does what you read make sense??????? Real common sense?

I have Koni fronts in stock for the 2005-2010 cars. Had 2011+'s up until Wednesday. I have lots on order. And unlike some other places that sell them, I actually use them on my own cars and happen to win on them.... And I've used them for a long time, didn't just pick up the line last year. I am very well versed in how they work... in fact I just put some custom made Koni parts (that only I have) on a Corvette today. I work with Koni closely. I was the one that did the fitment work for the 2011 strut, Strano Performance Parts, not anyone else. It was my struts and mounts that went to Koni, it was me that Koni called when they had to verify some numbers. And it was me who discussed valving at length with Koni NA regarding the 5.0 and the newer GT500's and how, if it all, they would change the valving of the struts.