I'll try to head off questions with some background. I bought the car over a year ago and knew how I wanted to modify it. I realized I would learn the car better by modifying it progressively, but I didn't want to be inconvenienced by making round trips to various shops. So, I hoarded all the parts and got everything done in the past year. I'm picking up the car from the paint and body shop next week and taking it to BlackTrax Performance to install the FSB and suspension tuning and alignment. The car will be my weekend driver and I would like to track it several times a year beginning next season.

That said, I'd like to tap into the mountains of expertise in this forum and get your recommendations with basic suspension set up, given that I'm a novice driver. I realize that my driving style will ultimately determine the set up - I just need a starting point. Below is a list of the bits that will give you an idea of what I'm working with.

- KW Variant 3 coilovers (latest revision)
- Eibach front sway bar
- Hardrace f/r RCA
- Wicked Tuning f/r BSK
- 255/40/17 Direzza Z2s on 17x9.5 +35 wheels (Downforce front fenders, widened rear fenders)
- Mugen hardtop, but no wing or splitter

Thanks in advance!

10/21-Updated with proposed setup:
- KWv3: Compression: 3, Rebound: 9 (f), 11 ®
- Eibach FSB: full stiff
- Front camber: -1.8 deg
- Caster: 6.0 deg
- Front toe: 0 deg
- Rear camber: -2.0 deg
- Rear toe: 3/16" total toe in
- Tire pressure: 32 psi
- Ride height: 3.8"-4" (jacking points to floor)

 

I don't know about the masses, but square for me is fairly squirly on the track, getting more downforce over the rear with a wing helps settle the rear with more aero grip, but only at speed.

Do you drive square normally and on z2s? If not, I'd consider running on a stock tire setup first to feel out the car's behavior with all of your suspension and geometry changes since tires/wheels are fairly easy to change.

Btw, are your fenders rolled, pulled, tab relocated? I'm guess on +35 & 255 you would rub considerably.

Also did you get hardrace 6622 or 6621? because if you only got the RCA i'm not sure how you'd be able to run without rubbing.

 

I ran pretty much this exact setup! I used Rob Robinette's KWV3 settings. I got it from his website. I loved the way my car handled. I set it and just ran it all year no complaints from my end!

 

gptoyz, I should have emphasized the "novice" part more. The S2000 is my first RWD car and I've had limited track time in a FWD car. I have Downforce front fenders and widened rear fenders so the wheels will fit without rubbing. I believe I have 6621 with the offset camber.


I've been reading through Rob's site as well and most of his adjustments are very aggressive because he is racing. Also, his KWv3 settings are more suited to his stiffer springs and staggered spring rate. I'm looking for something "milder".

 

What are the spring rates of the v3?

 

80nm

 

What are you trying to do with the car? Track, autocross, street driving?

 

Street driving on the weekends with some track events mixed in during the season. Sorry if I wasn't clear in the OP.

 

Driving on a square setup if you haven't had a rear wheel drive isn't easy. I've tracked my car a bunch of times on the stock stagger and going to square isnt easy. Your car control skills mush be up to par

 

no on the 17x9.5 +35 wheels unless you're willing to really hack up your fenders a lot. If you want to drive this thing on track, those offsets are a no go.

Additionally, if you're planning on tracking (not auto-x) and have minimal experience, a square setup w/o a wing is not recommended.

I tracked my car for about 25 track days with about 3-4 auto x days in stock form (camber joints and hard top only) before doing any modifications. In stock form, I spun out a number of times (due to inexperience and coming from an AWD STI).

When I finally stepped up my game to a square 17x9 255 setup (still on OEM suspension), I did it with a CR front sway and a GTC-200 wing. It was actually quite easy to drive and very fast. That being said, I'm planning on going back to a slower track (SOWS) without the wing to get more car control under my belt and really get a feel for what that wing is doing (although I already know based on my experiences stock).

TL:RD - your wheel choice has the wrong offsets and you'll destroy your fenders (either by choice with extreme rolling/pulling or by surprise when your tire catches it - if you have the mods to support this, disregard this part). without a wing and inexperience, that setup is oversteer city, which is fine for a number of drivers, but definitely takes skills and balls to do at speed. For auto-x this will be a fun setup, for track - i'd definitely recommend a wing or some sort of stagger.

actually, if you really plan to track more. spend at least 4-5 days stock tracking the car. my experience and advice as a track junkie. After the last two cars i've owned, i've found if you're lacking in actual driver experience and skills on track the best order for things is to track first, mod later. (do the bsk, rcas, and hardtop if you must - save the coilovers and tire/wheel setup until after you have more experience and really know what you're getting into).