First track day with new set up.
#1
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First track day with new set up.
Man what a great day. I've changed almost everything possible over the past 4 years since the car was last on track. I didn't know what to expect. I was just hoping the car wouldn't break. Not only did the car hold together, I was one of the fastest cars out there. I was very happy.
Anyway. I'd like some opinions. Here's some information on what I've done.
Weight reduction 3400 lbs with me in it. No ABS
Bone stock junkyard LT1
Coilover fronts
750 front 250 rear
35mm front bar. 21mm rear bar
C5 front brakes
Carbotech XP20 front. AX6 rear pads
Stock LT1 rear brakes
Stock rear end. Stock torque arm
Rear control arm relocation brackets
Nitto NT01 tires.
Blainfab lexan spoiler
I used my iPhone and harrys lap timer for video. The mount wasn't very secure, so the video is a little shakey, but you get the point. I didn't have time to mount my GoPro. Sorry.
Here's a good video of one of my better laps. The car was a little loose and I was having a hard time putting the power down.
Another big problem that I have is one I didn't expect. Tons of axle hop. I felt like a had way too much rear brake. It was a real handful. I was being as gentle as I could and even with that, I could feel the rear end starting to shimmy. If I increased braking at that point at all, or wasn't 100% perfect with a downshift, it would hop. I've never had it this bad before. I used to be able to threshold brake with zero problems with hop, unless I wasn't smooth.
I hopped the axle pretty bad going into turn 14 in this next video. You can see it was the downshift that did it. Also I couldn't put the power down out of 12.
So during lunch I decided to change the rear sway bar. I had a 21mm on the car but brought the 19mm with me. So I threw the car on the lift and changed it out.
Have I mentioned I love that lift!!!
Back out on the track the car felt much better. I couldn't believe how much more traction I had out of the corners. The car also felt much more balanced. I was really happy with how the car was performing at that point.
So this brings me to my last video. I was only a few laps into my second to last session of the day. The car was handling awesome.....until it decided it had enough. Luckily, I got it on video.
I went into the kink the same way I had been all day. Except this time I had major understeer. It came out of nowhere. Notice the two previous right handlers I was pulling over 1g. Everything was completely normal. Then I go into the kink and I only managed .8g. There was no tire noise, no vibration, nothing. When I jumped off the gas the car didn't even try to rotate.
So I go into the pits, check the car over and head back out a few minutes later. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the car. I honestly thought I must have screwed up. So I had back out and I'm taking it really easy. The first right turn I come to I damn near went off again. Same thing. Major understeer to the right only. It felt like I was spraying oil on the left front tire. So I come back in and really check everything over. I found nothing. By this point a bunch of people were taking to me who saw me go sailing off the track. They couldn't find anything either. Our best guess was I just overheated the left front. I let the car cool down for an hour and a half and took it out for the last session of the day. Same exact thing.
The tire looks fine. I didn't pull it off or anything yet. I just loaded the car on the trailer and went straight to my brothers house and drank his beer. I'll pull the wheel tomorrow and see how it looks.
What could cause this? The aligns my looks fine. Everything under the car appeared just fine. It's so bad that I honestly expected to see a broken tie rod or something. Car still tracks straight....just will not turn right.
Anyway, any and all opinions are recommended!
Anyway. I'd like some opinions. Here's some information on what I've done.
Weight reduction 3400 lbs with me in it. No ABS
Bone stock junkyard LT1
Coilover fronts
750 front 250 rear
35mm front bar. 21mm rear bar
C5 front brakes
Carbotech XP20 front. AX6 rear pads
Stock LT1 rear brakes
Stock rear end. Stock torque arm
Rear control arm relocation brackets
Nitto NT01 tires.
Blainfab lexan spoiler
I used my iPhone and harrys lap timer for video. The mount wasn't very secure, so the video is a little shakey, but you get the point. I didn't have time to mount my GoPro. Sorry.
Here's a good video of one of my better laps. The car was a little loose and I was having a hard time putting the power down.
Another big problem that I have is one I didn't expect. Tons of axle hop. I felt like a had way too much rear brake. It was a real handful. I was being as gentle as I could and even with that, I could feel the rear end starting to shimmy. If I increased braking at that point at all, or wasn't 100% perfect with a downshift, it would hop. I've never had it this bad before. I used to be able to threshold brake with zero problems with hop, unless I wasn't smooth.
I hopped the axle pretty bad going into turn 14 in this next video. You can see it was the downshift that did it. Also I couldn't put the power down out of 12.
So during lunch I decided to change the rear sway bar. I had a 21mm on the car but brought the 19mm with me. So I threw the car on the lift and changed it out.
Have I mentioned I love that lift!!!
Back out on the track the car felt much better. I couldn't believe how much more traction I had out of the corners. The car also felt much more balanced. I was really happy with how the car was performing at that point.
So this brings me to my last video. I was only a few laps into my second to last session of the day. The car was handling awesome.....until it decided it had enough. Luckily, I got it on video.
I went into the kink the same way I had been all day. Except this time I had major understeer. It came out of nowhere. Notice the two previous right handlers I was pulling over 1g. Everything was completely normal. Then I go into the kink and I only managed .8g. There was no tire noise, no vibration, nothing. When I jumped off the gas the car didn't even try to rotate.
So I go into the pits, check the car over and head back out a few minutes later. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the car. I honestly thought I must have screwed up. So I had back out and I'm taking it really easy. The first right turn I come to I damn near went off again. Same thing. Major understeer to the right only. It felt like I was spraying oil on the left front tire. So I come back in and really check everything over. I found nothing. By this point a bunch of people were taking to me who saw me go sailing off the track. They couldn't find anything either. Our best guess was I just overheated the left front. I let the car cool down for an hour and a half and took it out for the last session of the day. Same exact thing.
The tire looks fine. I didn't pull it off or anything yet. I just loaded the car on the trailer and went straight to my brothers house and drank his beer. I'll pull the wheel tomorrow and see how it looks.
What could cause this? The aligns my looks fine. Everything under the car appeared just fine. It's so bad that I honestly expected to see a broken tie rod or something. Car still tracks straight....just will not turn right.
Anyway, any and all opinions are recommended!
#4
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Let's see. Some things of the top of my head...
AC
Cruise
Airbags
Radio/speakers
Carpet and all sound material
Back seats along with rear seat belts
Drilled the spot welds for all interior brackets they aren't used anymore.
I think those are the big things. Nothing crazy, but it made a big difference. The car is still street legal, so I can only go so far.
Koni's front, bilsteins rear.
Idk. What could have possibly bent going down a straight? Tomorrow I'm putting the street wheels and tires on, so I'll see if that solves it.
Any ideas on the brake hop?
#6
TECH Senior Member
Check to see if a relocation bracket is bent or broken.
Any ideas on the brake hop?
#7
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Keep the rear lower control arm parallel to the ground, if it needs the brackets to accomplish this, keep them.
Is your steering wheel straight? Was it straight to begin the weekend?
On going off the track, my Z28 did that to me at Barber, It appears to me you turned in too early, got on the gas early and pushed the front. You changed the rear swaybar to get more rear grip, you put a push in the car along with it under power.
I hate vids like this because you can't learn anything from them, you can't see what the driver is doing.
Watch me at 20:25 It baffled me until I watched the vid, I turned in too early then tried to fix it with hot tires. The front end felt like it was on ice, no response at all.
The brake hop is due to the harsh downshift with the rear brakes on the threshold.
Put a good posi unit in the car like a Detroit TruTrac and put the bigger rear bar back on.
Nice smooth driving, you need a vid camera mounted similar to mine so you can see what you are doing in the car.
Is your steering wheel straight? Was it straight to begin the weekend?
On going off the track, my Z28 did that to me at Barber, It appears to me you turned in too early, got on the gas early and pushed the front. You changed the rear swaybar to get more rear grip, you put a push in the car along with it under power.
I hate vids like this because you can't learn anything from them, you can't see what the driver is doing.
Watch me at 20:25 It baffled me until I watched the vid, I turned in too early then tried to fix it with hot tires. The front end felt like it was on ice, no response at all.
The brake hop is due to the harsh downshift with the rear brakes on the threshold.
Put a good posi unit in the car like a Detroit TruTrac and put the bigger rear bar back on.
Nice smooth driving, you need a vid camera mounted similar to mine so you can see what you are doing in the car.
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; 03-13-2016 at 09:53 PM.
Trending Topics
#8
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JD...
I've never had a problem with AX6's before, but I guess with all of the changes, they are too much now. I'll put cheap pads on next time.
The relocation brackets are welded on and are a must. My control arms were at about a 30 degree angle because my car is so low.
Ive got a full length tunnel mount torque arm going on when I change engines. (Current exhaust is in the way)
I've never had a problem with AX6's before, but I guess with all of the changes, they are too much now. I'll put cheap pads on next time.
The relocation brackets are welded on and are a must. My control arms were at about a 30 degree angle because my car is so low.
Ive got a full length tunnel mount torque arm going on when I change engines. (Current exhaust is in the way)
#9
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keep the rear lower control arm parallel to the ground, if it needs the brackets to accomplish this, keep them.
Is your steering wheel straight? Was it straight to begin the weekend?
On going off the track, my Z28 did that to me at Barber, It appears to me you turned in too early, got on the gas early and pushed the front. You changed the rear swaybar to get more rear grip, you put a push in the car along with it under power.
I hate vids like this because you can't learn anything from them, you can't see what the driver is doing.
Watch me at 20:25 It baffled me until I watched the vid, I turned in too early then tried to fix it with hot tires. The front end felt like it was on ice, no response at all.
Copy of PCA Barber Motorsports Park 12-14-14 HPDE group 5 - YouTube
The brake hop is due to the harsh downshift with the rear brakes on the threshold.
Put a good posi unit in the car like a Detroit TruTrac and put the bigger rear bar back on.
Nice smooth driving, you need a vid camera mounted similar to mine so you can see what you are doing in the car.
Is your steering wheel straight? Was it straight to begin the weekend?
On going off the track, my Z28 did that to me at Barber, It appears to me you turned in too early, got on the gas early and pushed the front. You changed the rear swaybar to get more rear grip, you put a push in the car along with it under power.
I hate vids like this because you can't learn anything from them, you can't see what the driver is doing.
Watch me at 20:25 It baffled me until I watched the vid, I turned in too early then tried to fix it with hot tires. The front end felt like it was on ice, no response at all.
Copy of PCA Barber Motorsports Park 12-14-14 HPDE group 5 - YouTube
The brake hop is due to the harsh downshift with the rear brakes on the threshold.
Put a good posi unit in the car like a Detroit TruTrac and put the bigger rear bar back on.
Nice smooth driving, you need a vid camera mounted similar to mine so you can see what you are doing in the car.
I just don't get why I have so much rear braking. I've run that rear pad a ton and have never had a problem. I was no where near the threshold of the front tires...ever. Maybe all the changes I've made now require less pad on the rear. I'm going to change my pads before going back out.
About the understeer. After I went off and went back to the pits, I also thought that I did just what you said. But even hours later I actually almost went off the track running only 50%. I have zero grip on the left front. So bad I parked the car for my last session. No joke, I nearly went off at 30 MPH. I expected to find something with the rear sway bar that I just swapped, but it's all tight. I'll put the car on the lift and see what I see. I'm swapping to the street tires also. The dudes at the track think that my 6 yr old (but only used twice) tires are to blame.
A posi is definitely on the list. What something like that cost to buy and install? I'm going to keep the 21mm bar. But I have to say, it felt a lot more neutral with the 19. Maybe it actually was just because I wasn't lighting the right rear up all the time.
#10
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (23)
I ran a stock torque arm.
I ran Hawk HP+ and HPS on the rear with good success. It's not the pad so much as you need to heel/toe the car or learn how to rev match the clutch. The harsh downshift is whats doing it. Why does the trans sound so bad on the downshift? Why is it so harsh?
I got good at easing out on the clutch in the brake zone late to get the car downshifted, I am just now learning heel/toe.
I ran Hawk HP+ and HPS on the rear with good success. It's not the pad so much as you need to heel/toe the car or learn how to rev match the clutch. The harsh downshift is whats doing it. Why does the trans sound so bad on the downshift? Why is it so harsh?
I got good at easing out on the clutch in the brake zone late to get the car downshifted, I am just now learning heel/toe.
#14
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I ran a stock torque arm.
I ran Hawk HP+ and HPS on the rear with good success. It's not the pad so much as you need to heel/toe the car or learn how to rev match the clutch. The harsh downshift is whats doing it. Why does the trans sound so bad on the downshift? Why is it so harsh?
I got good at easing out on the clutch in the brake zone late to get the car downshifted, I am just now learning heel/toe.
I ran Hawk HP+ and HPS on the rear with good success. It's not the pad so much as you need to heel/toe the car or learn how to rev match the clutch. The harsh downshift is whats doing it. Why does the trans sound so bad on the downshift? Why is it so harsh?
I got good at easing out on the clutch in the brake zone late to get the car downshifted, I am just now learning heel/toe.
I've fracked this car for many years, although I just made a ton of changes. I know what a bad downshift does. This is different. Like I said, I can hop the axle with no downshift, just very very smooth application of brake. I could feel the rear dancing around as the rear tires started to loose grip. If I asked any more of the brakes, the reads would start to lock and hop the axle.
Are you hearing the engine match rev on the downshift?
#16
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntersville NC
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah I didn't know track tires have a 2 yr shelf life. I know now.
You know I haven't driven the car with no helmet. I'll check it out. I never thought to check the posi for damage. Thanks for the tip.
You know I haven't driven the car with no helmet. I'll check it out. I never thought to check the posi for damage. Thanks for the tip.
#20
On The Tree
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Bossier City, LA
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know I had a lot of issues with brake hop in AutoX. Swapping to a full length torque arm helped tremendously. I'll be putting a more aggressive pad on the front vs rear and hopfully clear most of it out this year.
sorry I have no advice on anything else. Never done a road course.
sorry I have no advice on anything else. Never done a road course.