SJCoruja
04-03-2006, 05:40 PM
I really don't like to mod and don't do it intentionally. I do have a habit of blowing shit up and then having to fix it though. Case in point, my trusty Cusco Zero2R coilovers gave out on me and had to go. SO...what to do?
BIG thanks to Sam and the guys at RaceCentric/FIA for an amazingly quick hook-up on the brand new Tanabe Sustec-Pro Seven coilovers with the Tanabe Electric Active Suspension controller!!! They really came through in a pinch, and spent an entire day not just installing, but really taking the time to set it up right. Sam really knows his stuff on suspension, and the install was top-notch with a huge attention to detail. :thumbsup:
As for the coilovers, in short they ROCK! Build quality appears to be excellent. I went with the regular "Street" springs, but at 12k/10k I think they'll be just fine on track/autoX also. There is also the option to get the "Hard Driving" springs which are 14k/12k, and I will probably try those out later this year. Ride quality is very comfortable considering the spring rates are so high, and with the broad range of dampening adjustment (12 way manual, 16 electronic where every click is a noticeable difference) you really can dial them in for street smoothness or track aggression. I have put them through some nice canyon-carving and onramp mayhem, and I must say they are even more solid and predictable than my Cuscos were. No bounciness or twitch...car takes a nice set and then is easily controlled with the throttle. I really can't wait to try them out at Thunderhill on 4/27!
As for the TEAS - very nice unit and pretty high up on the cool gadget scale. You have the option of manually adjusting both front and rear dampening from the cockpit (similar to the Tein EDFC), with 4 memory presets and this can be done on the fly. The other cool thing (which I will be able to comment on more when Sam helps me dial it in later) is the auto setting. Based on speed, the suspension can be set to automatically adjust the dampening at whatever settings you want. For example, you can have it get gradually stiffer the more you accelerate. OR, you could set it up to be relatively soft at high speed then really bring on the dampening as the car senses the rapid decrease in speed for a corner. Pretty sick!
I will be posting more thoughts here as I get the chance to try it at AutoX and the track, but for now here are some pics. (gloomy day so not too bright)
Inside with the controller. It is actually a perfect fit in the stock ashtray location. Evens clicks in to place with no need to drill/tape/etc...
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxNzkyMTZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Another closer shot
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NTZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
The front: adjustment motor and camber plate
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NjZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
The rear:
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NzZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Passenger front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2ODZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Oh yeah, the meat on dirty rims:
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxNzkyNzZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
BIG thanks to Sam and the guys at RaceCentric/FIA for an amazingly quick hook-up on the brand new Tanabe Sustec-Pro Seven coilovers with the Tanabe Electric Active Suspension controller!!! They really came through in a pinch, and spent an entire day not just installing, but really taking the time to set it up right. Sam really knows his stuff on suspension, and the install was top-notch with a huge attention to detail. :thumbsup:
As for the coilovers, in short they ROCK! Build quality appears to be excellent. I went with the regular "Street" springs, but at 12k/10k I think they'll be just fine on track/autoX also. There is also the option to get the "Hard Driving" springs which are 14k/12k, and I will probably try those out later this year. Ride quality is very comfortable considering the spring rates are so high, and with the broad range of dampening adjustment (12 way manual, 16 electronic where every click is a noticeable difference) you really can dial them in for street smoothness or track aggression. I have put them through some nice canyon-carving and onramp mayhem, and I must say they are even more solid and predictable than my Cuscos were. No bounciness or twitch...car takes a nice set and then is easily controlled with the throttle. I really can't wait to try them out at Thunderhill on 4/27!
As for the TEAS - very nice unit and pretty high up on the cool gadget scale. You have the option of manually adjusting both front and rear dampening from the cockpit (similar to the Tein EDFC), with 4 memory presets and this can be done on the fly. The other cool thing (which I will be able to comment on more when Sam helps me dial it in later) is the auto setting. Based on speed, the suspension can be set to automatically adjust the dampening at whatever settings you want. For example, you can have it get gradually stiffer the more you accelerate. OR, you could set it up to be relatively soft at high speed then really bring on the dampening as the car senses the rapid decrease in speed for a corner. Pretty sick!
I will be posting more thoughts here as I get the chance to try it at AutoX and the track, but for now here are some pics. (gloomy day so not too bright)
Inside with the controller. It is actually a perfect fit in the stock ashtray location. Evens clicks in to place with no need to drill/tape/etc...
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxNzkyMTZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Another closer shot
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NTZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
The front: adjustment motor and camber plate
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NjZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
The rear:
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2NzZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Passenger front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxMzk2ODZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
Oh yeah, the meat on dirty rims:
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTIxNzkyNzZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg