All she needed was a *bit* of camber...

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay) 05/15/2014 at 11:57 • Filed to: FR-S

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Took the FR-S in to get a corner balance and proper alignment since it was pretty far off after installing new shocks (and removing just about every sub-frame bolt to add bushings). After doing some rather spirited driving last night, HOLY SHIT!!! The front end bites incredibly hard and the back end is still quite playful but with a much smaller margin for error. It feels like a totally different car and it's made me realize just how much safety understeer it had on stock alignment settings. Hopefully I'll be able to make it out to an autocross this weekend and see what this new set-up can really do.

On a related note, success! I've got the weight of the car down to 2775 with a topped off fuel tank and driver.

I think there might be some adjustable lower control arms on the list for next year so I can dial in that rear camber.

offroadkarter > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:06

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If you auto-x this car on a regular basis I'm glad you'll get some use out of those settings because otherwise you'd be wearing out your tires for no reason. I think my front tires lasted about 5000 miles on -3deg camber.

Desu-San-Desu > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:07

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I want to look into a custom suspension setup for the Audi so I can dial in some camber on the front tires. I'm jealous of the FR-S's aftermarket, haha.

Decay buys too many beaters > offroadkarter 05/15/2014 at 12:11

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The set up is mostly for track work, and from what I've seen others with brz/fr-s have run similar without too much added wear.

Thankfully, the guy who built my shocks was a perfectionist and the camber I'm running now is maxed out on the camber plates. If I start to see camber wear, I'll reduce it and then it will be easy to set back upon arriving at the track.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:13

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Should have replaced the clutch as well. That thing is a POS. :)

BKRM3 > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:14

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-3.1 on the front, eh? Nice. I'm running -2.5 front and -2.0 rear on my car and I haven't seen much/any accelerated inside wear on the fronts yet. In fairness, though, I guess I don't do that many street miles with my car. Anyway, looks fun!

Decay buys too many beaters > Desu-San-Desu 05/15/2014 at 12:16

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I would think KW would offer suspension parts, no?

But as far as aftermarket, I've never seen a platform explode so quickly as the FR-S did. The issue I have is often determining if a part is an actual performance part or a "flat brimmed hat performance part". This whole form>function modding mentality has really made buying parts a lot more difficult.

Squid > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:18

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Holy balls -3.1 deg of camber is quite a bit. I'm sure that fucker just bites on initial turn in. Enjoy your tires!

Forgetful > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:19

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Mmmm... Fried Egg

Need you some Switchbacks LEDS (and Tap Turn , since you'll need a LED flasher anyway)

Of course, if you do the LED signals, you'll want to go with HIDs for that nice clean white light across the front. I just need to get the clear corners to finish it off.

Decay buys too many beaters > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 05/15/2014 at 12:22

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Mine is perfect, but I have done quite a lot to the transmission to get it to a happy place.

but as far as clutch goes, lowering the pedal a bit to move the engagement point closer to the floor helps a bit. Also removing the helper spring (I call it the pussy spring) makers it feel a whole lot stiffer and more tactile. It's nothing like the cable clutch in my uncles 1978 911, but it's quite good for a modern car.

Stiffening up the whole drive line with bushings (motor mounts, transmission mount, diff mounts) helps make the transmission feel tighter and makes the clutch a bit more communicative.

Decay buys too many beaters > Squid 05/15/2014 at 12:24

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I'll be monitoring, but I've run more camber on other platforms without noticably increased wear

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:25

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Ah good. When me and my buddy test drove a FRS the first thing we said to each other was this clutch sucks. Way to light and no feeling at all.

Decay buys too many beaters > Forgetful 05/15/2014 at 12:26

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at first I was like, WTF? fried egg?

Now I see it, and don't think I'll be able to un-see it either. Damn!

Decay buys too many beaters > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 05/15/2014 at 12:30

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Yeah, worked fine on the track, but made driving around town quite a chore. I felt like a rookie manual driver where I was a scared every time I hit a stoplight on an uphill. I also switch between the FR-S and a MKIII Jetta (daily beater) so I never really could get used to how numb and light the clutch was, even compared to my VW. Kinda made the whole car feel like the "Fischer Price, my first sports car"

Forgetful > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:33

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I too was once unaware, and can now not unsee.

Now I feel like I have the coolest turn signals in town. Even better than the LED eyelashes that aren't just for Audis anymore (looking at you Nissan Rogue), which has killed any interest I had in GT 86 headlights.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:34

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Yea I daily an 03 Miata and I personally think it has one of the best clutch/trans in a car. It even feels better to me than a 2012 mustang with a short throw kit.

Decay buys too many beaters > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 05/15/2014 at 12:46

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I have a short throw kit on the FR-S as well, got it feeling similar to a well sorted S2000 gearbox, which was kind of my target for the transmission all along. I think that's the same unit as the NB correct?

Desu-San-Desu > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 12:58

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My Audi is a 1991. As in a whole 3 years too old to bother with as far as the aftermarket is concerned. Sure, there's stuff out there, but it's very, very paltry compared to a 1994 Audi.

lonestranger > Forgetful 05/15/2014 at 13:20

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Nah, you'll never be as cool as the old guy with a '90s Ranger with old-fashioned brass oil lamps on each fender.

Forgetful > lonestranger 05/15/2014 at 13:42

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This I have not yet seen, but I am strangely intrigued.

lonestranger > Forgetful 05/15/2014 at 14:05

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I haven't seen it around for a while, so maybe it's not on the road in the 'loops anymore.

It's a burgundy-on-grey Supercab XLT 4x4, '94 or so, I think it has a canopy. Awesome artist's rendition:

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Decay buys too many beaters 05/15/2014 at 18:13

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Off the top of my head i do not know. But they are similar i believe