Want to upgrade from Tarmac 1's to ???

[m sprank]

Well I just bought a set of Tarmac 1's for Christmas. They were delivered around Feb and installed then. Only put about 1500 miles on them.

 

In the end I am unhappy with the spring rates. New springs are almost $400. If I am going to have to spend that much on a basically new set of coils (just to make them decent) I am getting something different.

 

So, I am going to sell my Tarmac 1's (at a loss) and upgrade. To what? I cant find an LGT set of KW V3's. I was told they can be made if I find 10 buyers. Yeah right.

 

Are the PSS really any better? I mean for serious track use?

 

Unclemat, Rick, anyone? Got a suggestion?

[Saul_Good]

MSprank, I recently rode in KW V3 08 WRX and I must say the performance (we already know the ride is comfy) of it is significantly better than the 1-ways. The owner let me take his car up and down a moutain road and I felt that have adjustable compression made a big difference in dive/squat (even with it' s 400/400 springs vs my 500/500). Let's just say i didn't think too much of my setup after blasting around corners in these.

 

We need to talk RCE into making us a T2 set with 550/550 spring rates > Now if i can just find somemore money.....

[momotaro]

M sprank, in what way are you unhappy? Are the RCET1 not aggressive enough for you, or too aggressive? Was there inadequate body control with the RCE set up? What spring did you go with?

 

 

thanks.... I am trying to decide on the best set up for myself.

[whitetiger]

if all you want is stiffer, tein flex is the next best thing with 8k/9k spring rates, which are some of the stiffest mas-market coilovers for the LGT. anything more would be track/autox oriented. most of the coilovers including the kw v1 and rec tarmacs are still entry level street coilovers. so if you want somthing better, you may have to go custom which is $$$$$$

 

as for the best setup, what kind of driving do you do, and what are you looking for? more grip, less weight transfer, lower ride...etc.

[m sprank]

Not aggressive enough. Only capable of a 550 spring at most. Currently using 450/450. Want at least 500/550. More like maybe 550/650? Not sure as I have not been able to play with different spring rates. But I KNOW I want more in the rear. The car has to handle better with a stiffer rear than front.

 

Unhappy with body roll, rebound, hi speed response. Fine for lower power levels and no real track time. Whitetiger the car sees MINIMAL street time. Even then its going to and from the track and I am in So Cal, so the roads are like glass. I am looking for a more track worthy set up. But not the $33k that Ohlins quoted me.

[whitetiger]

well, maybe you should get a set of tein flex's Tarmac 1's dont have independent height and preload adjustment and the tains do. aside having stiffer springs, the teins will allow you to preload the spring without affecting your ride height and take some of that initial spring compression away which would give you better response without necessarily having to deal with the increased harshness of a super stiff spring.

[m sprank]

Good Point. After reading rave reviews about the Tarmacs I never even looked at the Teins. I was under the impression the Teins were of lower quality. 8/9 equals about 450/500 no? This is better than Tarmacs with 500/550?

 

I trust your advice. I just dont want to waste money again. I am willing to spend more but have my limits.

[whitetiger]

i think they are around the same quality. I have never driven on the tarmacs though, so i cant give you a first hand comparison. I can say that the teins are stiff on the road as it is. and if you are currently using 450/450 rates, you may find that 550/550 is too much for the street. the tein rates are 450/500 so you get alittle more in the rear, which is what you were asking for, plus the ability to add some preload to the spring to take up some slack. i think going to a 550 spring would be too much unless you were traking/autoxing the car alot. also, ever think about a stiffer rear bar like the perrin rear 25mm bar, that is if you dont have it already.

[m sprank]

Already have adjustable rear bar.

 

Car hits 140mph all the time on the open track. At 140 I need suspension to control the car when I make quick adjustments to pass. Now on a banked turn passing on the outside I almost hit the wall every time. It is friggin scary. Last time I only got by because the other driver crapped himself and hit the brakes.

 

Anyone know if the Zeals are still made?

 

I would see what else RCE has up their sleeves, but I have been given the cold shoulder more than enough times to get the point. For whatever reason, Myles does not want to deal with me. Never even returned my multiple emails offering to pay for new Hyperco springs.

[Bolksey85]

I think I've seen the Zeals for sale somewhere but the price was astronomical. What about something like Zero2's from Cusco? The spring rate may not be what you necessarily want but they have some adjustability of both dampening and ride height. I think it's gonna be tough because you're pretty much in uncharted territory for a Legacy. Or at least I would think so.

[m sprank]

When you say astronomical you mean the $2300-2600 I see? I just see that it always has fine print at the bottom that leads me to believe it is unavailable for the 2005-2009. I hope I am wrong. I am willing to spend 3K to be safer and more in control.

 

Seems other members have used them very successfully in racing applications in the past.

[Bolksey85]

I thought I had seen like 2900 but this was some time ago. And you're right, if your life can depend on it, then don't skimp. I would think someone like Japanparts might be able to source them. If and when you go to sell them, someone will take the RCE's from you in a flash considering the reviews and low mileage.

[LegacyGTBiggie]

Dibs when you sell the tarmac1s? good deal maybe?

 

Also Myles is a great guy. You can contact him about getting some stiffer springs to go with them.

[m sprank]

I already have. We have had three separate conversations via phone and several emails. Problem is he has discontinued contact twice now. Both times after I offered to send payment for new springs. Since he doesn't have the time to reply to my emails or accept my money I will spend it with someone who does.

 

I think he got the impression I was going to bad mouth his coils on the forum Which was not the case at all. I explained that I had changed course and my plans for the car were different. That I needed the new set up, no disrespect to his coils. I was very impressed with them on cars in the 300-375whp range I had driven in.

 

Alas it has been over a month now since our last communication with no response to PM or email. So, I decided to go another direction (again). The car has been on stands for two months now. So the coils really are almost new. I was thinking $1500 with top hats. Complete bolt in package with all RCE paperwork etc.

[LegacyGTBiggie]

Might just be down for that... Sell my tiens ... Any takers for about 30k on some tein basics?

[m sprank]

Seems the Zeal should be available. In the XS series, just not the X series I believe. Now to find out why the wide price swing from 2300-2600 on websites. Want to purchase from someone reputable. Seems might be the best choice.

 

I know someone around here is running them. Any one got inside info?

[Saul_Good]

Is your job hiring i want to get into whatever business you're in /endspam

[m sprank]

I'm in the business of going broke building machines I sell for 10% of the investment.

[Mr. Sinister]

But not the $33k that Ohlins quoted me.

 

Whoa. $33k, or $3.3k?

[FredBeans]

... So the coils really are almost new. I was thinking $1500 with top hats. Complete bolt in package with all RCE paperwork etc.

 

That is a great deal.

 

Xenonk ran Zeals IIRC for quite a while. If there is anyone to ask for track-based impressions of those coils, he is the guy!

 

Unfortunately this is outside of my experience range with our coilover options. I really love my Tarmac coils but IMO they are best suited for a DD with light track duty (with the 400 springs). If you were able to try a 450/500 setup and run some really stiff swaybars then I would encourage you to, but it sounds like that ship has sailed.

[m sprank]

Thanks Rick. I sent him a PM last night. Just waiting to hear back.

 

I can buy springs from any hyperco dealer and install them. But, why? Its still more money spent on a set of coils that I am not getting manufacturer support on. I really dont understand where my relationship with Myles went wrong. Am I a bad customer Rick?

 

If I can get $1500 for my set up and that is half of the new one I am ok with that.

 

No not $3300. $33000. Yeah Thirty three thousand dollars. Plus that is a discount. I called my old rep at Ohlins direct. They were my last shock sponsor when I raced motox. $33k is my sponsored price. Want to go NASCAR with an LGT. That is what it really costs. Keep in mind a set of front shocks for one of my bikes runs $3k. The single rear shock runs $1.5k. So for three shocks on a race bike I am used to paying $4500. So four race coils for a car at $33k makes sense to me. Racing is expensive. I basically went bankrupt while I was trying to get sponsored as a privateer. Even lost a house in the process. Not for the faint of heart.

[Mr. Sinister]

Geez. I knew someone that paid $15K for a custom Penske setup and I thought that was insane already. That was 14 years ago though.

[Th3Franz]

I'm kind of in the same boat. Considering going with a more aggressive suspension setup but don't want to sacrifice too much comfort for street driving. It all boils down to the quality of the damper, really. I've been thinking about getting Ground Control on the horn and seeing if they will make a coilover housing that will fit our LGT's. You could get adjustable Koni shocks and Eibach springs with height and pre-load adjustment that way. I have been very impressed with the Ground Controls on other cars that are very serious about autocross. Sound like something you'd be interested in, m sprank?

[whitetiger]

^i would be interested as well. i have reached the limits of my setup.

[m sprank]

Geez. I knew someone that paid $15K for a custom Penske setup and I thought that was insane already. That was 14 years ago though.

 

Penske is AXXIS now. They were my second suspension sponsor of my career racing. I contacted them. No interest without multiple orders.

 

 

Well, sounds like I have three people with me. Maybe I should get back with KW about the V3's. 10 buyers and the price would be in the low to mid $2k range. I would not be making money, just be an intermediary to get the deal done.

 

Otherwise I am waiting to hear back about the performance of the Zeals.