Suspension of AE86 "86"

[ZaX]

NoHachi Wrote:Ok lets expand the options..
For the MX5 the following springrates are used. The mass distribution is similar to that of the AE86.
5F-3R: Good street setup, decent ride quality though setting shocks to soft can get close to stock comfort (without the stock roll). Front to rear ratio close enough to make it lively at sane speeds. Future upgrade to 5R-7F possible, just need to buy 2 springs, no new dampers neccesary.
6F-4R: About as hard as you want to go on the street. Good dual purpose setup if you take it to the track often (don't kid yourself, often means at least one time per month), but geared mainly towards street driving.
6F-3R: Same as above but a more track orientated. Higher spread in springrates ensures the car is a balanced at high speeds but understeers at speeds below 100km/h).
Anything above 6kg/mm should be used in combination with semi-slick tires. Anything around 8kg is best reserved for full slicks.

Swaybars can be used to slightly tune the springrate combination. Swaybars are just extra springrates that only engage during cornering and not during pitching and diving. The thickest swaybars can add up to 0.5kg/mm to a spring, the stock bars are good for about 0.2kg.
Through this the 6F-3R setup could be brought up to a 5.8-3.5 setup for more fun at normal speeds (remove stock front bar, add sport sway to back). Similarly the 6-4 setup could be tuned to 6.5-3.8 for better balance on the track.

Intresting write up. :wink:
I would just add that you shoud upgrade your suspension as you skill goes up.
Stock is very good for learning. Learing the car with very hard suspensio is much more difficult.