<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jrkermode:
Smokin,
There's no such thing as a SINGLE best shock/spring. There are too many variables; ride height, rake, alignment, power/gearing, tires, driving style, course layout and the highly subjective "ride quality". I suggest you bum some rides before spending any money. When you find something you like, copy that set-up. As Adelberg has shown, buying someone else's idea of best can get real expensive, real fast.
JonB,
Not sure what you're running, but I've known some fast guys who run more spring than what you mentioned. For road racing, the Viper generally likes a LOT of spring.
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You're correct, which is why performance shocks are adjustable in bump / rebound control, in addition to spring rates and ride heights. Those settings and spring rates are set according to the type of driving (street, road course, drag race) and the TIRES you're using. A street car with occasional track use on street tires goes only slightly stiffer than the regular stock springs with a little more rebound control, which helps in transitions. If others are using stiffer springs, they most likely are running race tires, adding downforce through aero aids and are using their cars predominatley on the track, with street driving harshness an acceptable compromise. Too stiff on the track does not give the driver enough feedback on where the limit of the tires are, which is very important to an improving driver. How can you tell if you're at the limit or not, if you can't feel it?
If Jon, or anyone else, wants to make changes to their personal car setups, it's easy and inexpensive, as long as you already have the adjustable shocks. Springs are about $55 each to change if you want stiffer or softer and it costs nothing to turn an adjustment on the shock for height or settings. As your use of the car changes, different tires, different tracks, driving style, ability, etc, you naturally make these adjustments to tune the chassis so it will perform the way you want it to. If you don't, you will get beat. At that point you can either accept and adjust, or complain and blame. The choice is the individual's to make depending on what their goals are.
Sean
Edit, FYI:
When racing, I used Penske, JRZ, Quantum and Koni shocks over 12 years. All are excellent racing shocks and require routine maintenance. For an inexpensive street / track capable shock, we have the stock Viper Koni shocks modified extensively, which gives us many features of a race shock with the durability of a street shock. The Archer's offer the same upgrade, but we added the adjustable collar so we could use widely available 2.5" ID race springs.
<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Sean Roe on 08-07-2002 at 07:35 AM</font>
