Summary - best track set up

[Honcho]

Doc and Sparky- thanks for the great insight, it's really helpful! I suppose oversteer "bias" is too strong a term. My main point was curiosity over why the NSX performance trim models all have stiffer front springs while the stock NSX has stiffer rear springs. I guess I should have asked why stock has less understeer tendency than R, S or Zanardi. :smile: Looking at these setups, I wondered what Honda knew that we didn't about the NSX's handling characteristics that would make it switch the springs on all of its "track" oriented models. It raised the following questions for me:

1. Why did Honda make this change?
2. Without the change to bigger front springs, is the stock NSX setup dangerous or unstable while cornering at track speeds or on slick roads?
3. Are there any advantages to the bigger front springs?

My real concern is whether I ultimately should keep my Eibach/Koni setup. I've not yet had my NSX at the limit to figure out whether I like the current setup, so, as Doc said, I first have to figure out if it is right for me as is. I guess I am just worried about finding out it's wrong while going off-course at 120mph! :biggrin: My track experience is limited to Solo II autocross (in my old 1983 RX-7 - my first car what a blast! ) and a few laps around the Glen in a 911 RS. That RX-7 was a ton of fun to drive (especially in winter lol) but had a definite oversteer tendency.

The best handling car experience I had was when I put in TL Type S sways and poly bushings into my 2004 Accord Coupe 6 speed. At speed, you'd never know that car was FWD- all four corners broke loose at the exact same time and the car was easily controllable with throttle and slight steering input. Not twitchy or anything. It was a joy to drive fast, so I would say whatever that setup/feel was, I'd love to replicate it in my NSX!

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Doc and Sparky- thanks for the great insight, it's really helpful! I suppose oversteer "bias" is too strong a term. My main point was curiosity over why the NSX performance trim models all have stiffer front springs while the stock NSX has stiffer rear springs. I guess I should have asked why stock has less understeer tendency than R, S or Zanardi. :smile: Looking at these setups, I wondered what Honda knew that we didn't about the NSX's handling characteristics that would make it switch the springs on all of its "track" oriented models. It raised the following questions for me:

1. Why did Honda make this change?
2. Without the change to bigger front springs, is the stock NSX setup dangerous or unstable while cornering at track speeds or on slick roads?
3. Are there any advantages to the bigger front springs?

My real concern is whether I ultimately should keep my Eibach/Koni setup. I've not yet had my NSX at the limit to figure out whether I like the current setup, so, as Doc said, I first have to figure out if it is right for me as is. I guess I am just worried about finding out it's wrong while going off-course at 120mph! :biggrin: My track experience is limited to Solo II autocross (in my old 1983 RX-7 - my first car what a blast! ) and a few laps around the Glen in a 911 RS. That RX-7 was a ton of fun to drive (especially in winter lol) but had a definite oversteer tendency.

The best handling car experience I had was when I put in TL Type S sways and poly bushings into my 2004 Accord Coupe 6 speed. At speed, you'd never know that car was FWD- all four corners broke loose at the exact same time and the car was easily controllable with throttle and slight steering input. Not twitchy or anything. It was a joy to drive fast, so I would say whatever that setup/feel was, I'd love to replicate it in my NSX!

Honcho, get a set of comptech pro or nsx R suspension. They both have the same tendancy you describing, comptech pro being more things to adjust/worrying, and better street driving comfort. It's stiffer than the R, but the R is more punishing. (You could feel the car "throw" you up and down more rapidly at certain bumps)

 

[4mulacar]

Honcho, get a set of comptech pro or nsx R suspension. They both have the same tendancy you describing, comptech pro being more things to adjust/worrying, and better street driving comfort. It's stiffer than the R, but the R is more punishing. (You could feel the car "throw" you up and down more rapidly at certain bumps)

Great description :biggrin: I like to call that driving within the springs/shocks; where you are driving the car by the scruff of the neck and one of our mutual friends says you are quite good at it:biggrin:! I look forward to you coming by and the expansion of our collective knowledges about driving/tuning cars. We have alot to teach each other I'm sure of that! I'm as you well know an open wheel racer and the guys that run cars with doors have always looked at us(open wheel guys) as a couple of quarters shy of a dollar and do not mingle with us! Maybe we look carzy also heck I don't know! But I have met some really dedicated drivers in our northwest club in the last few months and on this forum! I like these discussions on setup and driving because I think it furthers the craft of driving and makes everyone safer including dispelling myths that can get people hurt. Does anyone out their align their own cars or have some of the tools (caster/camber guages)? For example, for the guys in the northwest I have these to verify and adjust my car at the track and I'm more than happy to pass on the proper use and accuracy of the varios tools for suspension alignment and tuning.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Great description :biggrin: I like to call that driving within the springs/shocks; where you are driving the car by the scruff of the neck and one of our mutual friends says you are quite good at it:biggrin:! I look forward to you coming by and the expansion of our collective knowledges about driving/tuning cars. We have alot to teach each other I'm sure of that! I'm as you well know an open wheel racer and the guys that run cars with doors have always looked at us(open wheel guys) as a couple of quarters shy of a dollar and do not mingle with us! Maybe we look carzy also heck I don't know! But I have met some really dedicated drivers in our northwest club in the last few months and on this forum! I like these discussions on setup and driving because I think it furthers the craft of driving and makes everyone safer including dispelling myths that can get people hurt. Does anyone out their align their own cars or have some of the tools (caster/camber guages)? For example, for the guys in the northwest I have these to verify and adjust my car at the track and I'm more than happy to pass on the proper use and accuracy of the varios tools for suspension alignment and tuning.

I'm just one of those trackers that (could afford) drives the same track over and over, and be serious to try to be faster everytime. (Don doesn't encourage over 7/10 driving, I do more than that on my commute to work!) In terms of knowledge of tuning, I'm still in elementary level. In terms of alignment, I did more of those in GT games than my real car. Don't get me wrong, if I have the tools, I will tinker them everytime.

 

[4mulacar]

I love this statement::biggrin:be serious to try to be faster everytime. (Don doesn't encourage over 7/10 driving, I do more than that on my commute to work!) I dive at more than this everyday to work also! Driving is focus and a mental exercise and from what I hear and read you're doing that really well! Yeah I raced against Don a few times in formula ford, lets just say I have different a slightly different viewpoint than his on driving. But I do beleive mastery of car control is the key to get the most out of your ride; to drive it quickly and to tune it. We learn from everyone even if it is not to do something and that still has value!