Where To Start.

[KezR33]

So I just attended my first SAU Deca skidpan day, and to put it simply: I had the most fun I've ever had in a car. For the record, I drive an NA manual Supra.

I've recently purchased HPC extractors, HPC, etc to extra power, but I now realise I've been going about it all wrong!

I've been doing reading on this board but it's all confusing me. I don't know where to start. I want to cut my times, get around the cones quicker, become a better driver and try and stick it to those turbo boys! I'm guessing most important of all are tires, but my current ones still have a lot of tread left and I don't want to replace them quite yet.

So what next, suspension, and what part? I was reading some of the stickies and there are so many parts, pieces and aspects to take into account. Are coilovers the most important part? This car is a daily driver, so if I got coilovers I'd want them to be damper adjustable, and I've read that you do not want to go cheap on them.

Is there anything I should be aware of or taking into account because I drive a Supra. They're rather front heavy (I think) and probably prone to understeer (I read that in a sticky ).

I don't know really what I'm trying to say. I'm looking for help and advice, even if it is just a link to newbie suspension 101 thread. I've never really looked heavily into the aspect of my car and am unsure where to start.

Appreciate any input, cheers.

[blind_elk]

Cheapest fix - add some air to the front tyres - at least 2psi higher than the rears. That will reduce the tendency for understeer. Maybe add air to the rears as well, but always have higher pressure in the fronts.

Then, fit a heavy duty rear sway bar. That will further reduce the understeer.

Then heavyduty springs all round.

IMO, you don't need "coilovers", just a simple upgraded shock - KYB, Tokico, Bilstein. "Coilovers" are generally fully height adjustable, and are usually installed so that the weight can be distributed evenly across the suspension. If not set up correctly your car will probably handle even worse than it does now.

[scathing]

No offense but if you want something fast through the cones you should get something lightweight and with a short wheelbase. The Supra isn't the best car for it (neither are Skylines).

That said, depending on how narrow the cone distances are NA is probably quicker than turbo. With no lag and immediate response its easier to control the car, and too much power is actually a downside.

Pull out as much weight as you can. A reduction in weight helps acceleration, braking and turning.

Bang for buck after doing your tyre pressures you can't go past sway bars. They'll have the car cornering flatter while not making the car too much worse over bumps.

Get them adjustable. Run them in a neutral to understeery setup for safety on the street, and stiffen the rear up when you're on the skidpan. It doesn't matter as much if you spin out, and this way you can get it to turn in.

At first you could even try just disconnecting your front swaybar. With no swaybar effect in the front it'll make the rear relatively stiffer, and help the tail come around. You might find the front rolls a bit too much afterwards, but if the balance of the car is better then you'll know a stiffer rear swaybar is the way to go.