Sandown Trackday (Australian video content!)

[AussieM20]

Next stop, PFC06 Pads!

Already have the PFC 06 pads, They're awesome. The whole package is coming along nicely now, thinking of a heavier front sway bar too.

Regards
Greg

Hello Gents,

Have now fitted the 15 inch rims and Kumho KU36 205/50/15 semi slicks. What a difference, ultra direct and pin sharp steering and response on the road. Did use the subframe bush fillers as the previous owner had recently replaced them with oe rubber bushes. The rear end feels firm now.

Keen for the next track day, June 19th at QR. Have an action camera and made up a mount for the parcel shelf. Will report times and if i can master the video, put it up too.

Regards
Greg

[AlpineAde]

A heavier front bar is well worth considering but you might want to add a rear as well. Look to upgrade everything associated with their mounting, too (bushes, links, etc.).

[AussieM20]

A heavier front bar is well worth considering but you might want to add a rear as well. Look to upgrade everything associated with their mounting, too (bushes, links, etc.).

Mine has a factory rear bar fitted. I am usually inclined to stiffen the front and leave the rear with plenty of articulation to reduce oversteer. Theory is that a stiff rear swaybar should increase oversteer. Always keen too hear of cases where swaybars, springs,shocks, etc have been successful.

Ade, What swaybars are you using.

Regards
Greg

[AlpineAde]

Anti-roll bars work proportionally. If you whack the front bar up you will increase understeer; the rear, oversteer. Keep your upgrades proportional, yet with an eye to balance. For instance, you might want a little more bite in the corners that necessitates a little bump up in the rear anti-roll bar. Yet you want more initial turn-in from the front. bigger bars will work but you don't want bars wildly out of proportion. Our stock cars (the 325i) run a 20mm front and a 14.5 mm rear. If you bump the front to a 22 or 24mm front the rear, at 14.5mm will be dreadful. Perhaps look at 16mm at the rear?

Me, I'm upgrading to UUC's Sway Barbarians (22/19 adjustable). Dave (djs325) has another solution that he has actually tested and appears to be very happy with...but he'll speak to you about that when he sees this thread updated.

[djs325]

Whiteline's 24/16 package seems to work very well with my spring rates; but the UUC (22/19) package is sized to match the requirements of the SpecE30 Suspension package in the USA, which is a fair bit heavier in spring rate. First suggestion I would make is the Whiteline 16mm Adjustable Rear (BBR-36Z), which comes complete with bushes for the factory shackles, and urethane bushed endlinks.

I only used the bar from the Whiteline package; I mount using Ireland Engineering Billet Mounts (reinforced through boot floor) and made custom solid endlinks out of rod ends, E30 front link brackets, and spacers.

I just upgraded a friend's E30 Racing Car with this setup, and he's still got the standard 20mm front bar. He runs the rear bar in the softest setting, and has commented numerous times (including today after practice at Sandown) that the car is a lot more neutral and balanced with just that change. Probably helps with the solid mounts and links take out most of the slop in the anti-roll bar system as well, making any bar more effective & responsive.

[AlpineAde]

What sort of spring rates do they run in the specE30 series, Dave, if you don't mind me asking?

The only other packages that really appealed to me were from Eibach and H&R. The Eibach kit, whilst adjustable, is a little soft in front I reckon, with a 20mm front bar, though the rear at 16mm is well matched.

[MillRat]

I run the Eibach adjustables on my E30. I need to run the rear bar on softest, and the fronts medium to hard to get a neutral feel (depending on which tyres I am running, or how I am driving on the day).

I have not reinforced the sway bar mounts but I will in time, as I have heard from many sources the stardard ones are prone to failure.

[AussieM20]

Hello All,

Just a quick note. Had my second track day today in the E30 325i.

Managed to achieve a 1.07.87 today as my best time. Best time last time was 1.10.57, so near a 3 second improvement. I was rapt. Biggest issue was the new Kumho KU36 205/50/15 semi slicks. The car is just so different over the 195/60/14 road tyres previously fitted. Only other improvement sive last time was Dan's subframe bush void fillers. The combination of the tyres and Void fillers has made the car so much sharper and more responsive. It is also less prone to spinning the inner drive tyre(No LSD Fitted) out of tight turns.

Had a ball and was really pleased with the times.

Regards
Greg

[AlpineAde]

That's a top result mate. Well done! 3 seconds is a great improvement...really looks like you've taken full advantage of the new tyres.

Micheal, thanks for the word on the Eibach ARBs. Is that the 20mm/16mm kit?

[AussieM20]

Hello Gents.

A Continuation on the track day thread. I had another day at Queensland Raceway in the 325i on Saturday. Now my best time is 1.07.0698 on the Sprint Circuit. I feel i have reached about the best time with the car without furthur mods. I pushed it quite hard and will say i am so impressed with how controllable and safe the car feels when really pushed, understeer and oversteer.

i have ordered a heavy front swaybar and will dial in some more negative camber for the front for next time. Maybe an LSD after that.

I have a Video on a mini SD Card taken by a cheap action camera, it is not crash hot but not i would not mind posting it up if someone could give me some clues. I am not overly IT savy.

Regards
Greg

[MillRat]

Hey Greg,

Thanks for the update, and good work on the continuing improvement.

A suggestion though, to save cluttering and diluting Ade's thread, start up your own thread in the motorsport subforum to record and track your progress (thats what the motorsport forum is for).

Keep us posted.

Regards,
Michael.

[djs325]

Greg, upload the video to YouTube and then post the link or embed the video here. It's all pretty easy to do!

Might want to look at at an upgraded adjustable rear anti-roll bar first, with some extra negative camber on the front as well.