I'm going to take the plunge and start modding my suspension - after this weekends AX I found that I was not getting the traction that I needed. Now, largely when it comes to buying components for street purposes, I know what I need to look for - but for racing applications I sort of crawl up in the fetal position and fly the white flag.

I know I need;
Springs
Shocks
Coilovers(?)
strut bars
sway bars

Any advice from any of you guys?

 

Hotchkis springs and bars
Koni shocks

 

If I were you, I'd get a set of sways and a set of light wheels with hoosiers.

 

What SCCA class are you planning on running in?

 

The BEST mod is to "tighten the nut holding the steering wheel."

If you are positively set on modifying your car, the first thing to do is to get a copy of the rules to find out what class you want to run in and what is allowed for that class.

If you want to stay in stock, then you can change: tires (DOT-R), wheels (same size and 1/4" of the same offset), shocks (Koni Sports), front sway bar (Hotchkis, Eibach, CT-1), cat-back, fluids (oil, transmission), and the air *filter*.

At this point, I'd strongly advise AGAINST jumping directly into BSP or SM2.

 

I went with Hotchkis springs, Tokico D-Spec shocks, Hotchkis sways, and GT-Spec lower tie bars

 

Couldn't agree more. I have run 4 autox now with my Z on stock suspension and stock tires in BSP and have at every event beat out the M3 and Evo 9 RS in BSP who also race on street tires. The two regulars on race tires one in an evo 8 rs, the other a 99 m3 barely beat me out. The M3 beat me by less then a tenth. Not to sound like an ***, but after reading your other post and seeing your times you said and the times posted in that past Salem event, seat time is going to be the best thing.

 

That's 4 in the Z -- I know you've been around a few of years before that running your previous car.

I still don't get enough seat time to be really good, but I'm getting to the point where the times that I don't suck are starting to outnumber the times I do.

Plus, although I've already taken the Phase 1 Evo school, I'm taking it again so that I can "suck less." You can NEVER get enough seat time or instruction!

The stock allowances give you enough adjustability to help counter some of the bigger issues surrounding any car, but not so many that you get yourself over your head in adjustments and never learn how to drive the car. WAY too many people jump into the game and get all of the adjustable parts, and then spend too much time trying to adjust the car instead of learning how to drive. In fact, unless you can consistently turn in consistent times, lots of adjustability will be a hinderance, not a help.

 

Actually last year was my first year ever autoxing, I am still just a kid! I sorta just took to it like a fish out of water.

 

Sure could have fooled me...