Track set up? Help needed

[The Sherrif70]

Hi Folks,
Well, I am now the proud owner of a Ph1 172. It is only going to be used for trackdays, not for road use. It is currently on Standard shocks with Ktec lowering springs.
Any advice on what REALLY makes a difference, beside tyres, as I know where I am going with them.
Is it worth Polybushing?
Rear Anti roll bar?
Uprated Shocks? or Coilovers?
Strut braces?(will have a rear one anyway, to mount harnesses to)
Would like to hear from other trackday folk as to what they have tried or used.
Cheers
Rich

 

[Jay Payne]

BRAKES!

Biggest weakness as stock. Pads will cook after a lap or 2. get some decent pads and new brembo discs.

Strut braces, dont bother and using a rear one for harness mounting is about as safe as gaffer taping them to the floor.

It all depends on your budget and what you want to do with it. Trackdays are about having fun. By the time you have poly bushed it the money you spent would of paid for another trackday. drving it is where the enjoyment is not fitting parts. Unless your bushes are knackered, leave them as they are.

Giving the car a good service is always a good start and you'd be amazed at how many people miss that.

Also when you are at the trackday keep an eye on tyre pressures, again something some people forget to do


id stick some decent brakes on it, a set of tyres and go to a trackday. if you find you want to improve it them a 'decent' set of coilovers would be next on the list.

 

[BrianB]

Good advice^^^

I would add give your car a full once over as it's getting on a bit now, iv found that engine/gearbox mounts are very prone to going so I'm replacing mine with updated ones, same for the bushes again I'm swapping mine with polyflex items along with some solid topmounts

Have a look for a whiteline rear arb, no one has them in stock ATM but I have only read good things about them

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

If I started from scratch, I'd just uprate the brakes and get a set of tyres/wheels specifically for on track. That's about it.

I've gone a bit further than that with my car, but brakes and tyres (and tuition) are all you need really.

 

[The Sherrif70]

Hi,
Thanks for all the tips so far, but nobody has answered my questions, about suspension etc. I have sorted tyres, brakes, and the car will get a service etc before I go anywhere near a track. I am trying to find out, from other peoples mistakes/experience, what works, and what doesn't, so that I have a head start in the handling dept. Suspension is costly, and i don't want to waste money on coilovers to find out their main use is to alter the height of the car, and they don't make enough of a difference to the handling. Equally, I don't want to buy Koni's to find that its not much better than a standard cup set up.