MA61 spring rates for street/occasional track use

[mullett]

Posted in the MA61 thread, but thought I might get more hits by farming it out in a proper thread (and makes easier searching!)

Need some advice from guys who've played/ researched suspension setups for their MA61s for quick road/occasional trackwork. I've listed the current setup below, the thing that really interests me is spring rates, I think (rear) springrate is my biggest problem. Also, don't take the spring rates I've listed as gospel, they are supposed to be 5kg front and rear, but the rear is very soggy, and the car pitches badly from the rear unless the rear shocks are at their hardest setting, which makes it feel jittery and does nothing to help the squat.

Setup front:
SA63 struts/LCA/steering arms (struts 40mm shortened)
Otomoto coilover sleeves, 5kg springs
KYB AGX ST185 shocks
27?mm swaybar (adjustable)
New urethane bushings everywhere
Mucho increased lock
1.5degree negative camber, 4deg castor

Setup rear:
5kg springs (supposedly)
KYB AGX focus shocks
17?mm selby swaybar
Urethane bushings including diff and cradle mounts
1.5deg negative camber

As it is, the car feels firm but not stiff in the front end, very soft in the rear, and always feels washy on turn-in (even with some toe-out). The car also 'hops' as the Tyres start to slip, more noticeable in the rear, but might be a function of the pitching. I'd like a more positive turn-in, get rid of the 'pitching' over bumps, and more stable and linear loss of traction, without making it a total pig to drive.

From what i've found, 8kg front, 6kg rear seems to be the most common, can anyone comment? I probably have less weight over the front (1UZ rather than 1J/2J)

If you've got this far...thanks for reading!

-RM

[sumfancyname]

hey mate.i have a ma61 track car and im running 11.5kg springs in the front and 9.5kg in rear.when u say the tyre hops as the tyre starts to slip sounds like ur lca is pointing up and RCAs fix that.i have 50mm RCAs in my car (best things ever)
i think sa63 sterring arms are the same as ra65 ps arms ( realy short) i found they binding and was horrible so when i went on full lock ud have to have a can of spinish to get it of full lock.i just have a ajps lock spacer.
im thinking also ur rear sring rate is too close to the front spring rate. i had 10kg front and 10kg rear and is was the horriblest car to slide.
hope that might help

[mullett]

Thanks a lot mate, what would you consider a streetable springrate? I had RCAs, but they left the arms at a retarded angle (and the swaybar link binding on the RCA due to increased angle) the car's not THAT low...I might make some 25mm ones though.

[CrUZida]

You can get 30mm ones from T3, they aren't that expensive.

What brand springs are you running in the rear?

[mullett]

They were supplied by a company over east (not naming names) along with some other suspension gear. No idea who made them, they're pale green, no markings.

[takai]

For a streetable setup push your front springs to 7kg and leave the rest.

[mullett]

No problems. I'll order some springs from Otomoto for the coilovers (man I love how easy the front is) and get the rear tested...the squat on accel is mental.

Also: rep added. Man it took me a while to find the button!

-RM