Tein Flex Z Coilovers with EDFC Active Pro

[Chris_19Si]

I just have to say, running on the highway this morning at 115mph and doing some very quick lane changes (no traffic), this car jumps to the next lane super quick and flat. This was just in manual mode and 18F/22R, which is still fairly soft and comfortable. The quicker you steer the quicker it responds. I've always had confidence in this car for high speed maneuvering, but this is at a whole new level of response, and this is just the street setup!

I'm still super impressed with these coilovers, regardless of the electronics. Just running around town they are more comfortable, albeit a little louder if you hit a bump. I've gone over some really bad train tracks twice and the left front hit hard. It certainly sounded louder than it was since there is no rubber damper on the top mount. The suspension just took it no problem and I kept on going.

I have a fun event and a points event in autocross to attend this weekend. The weather will be warm and dry for me to work on optimizing the suspension and tire pressures. Once I gather data and build a couple videos from the event, I'll share my suggested autocross configuration. This will likely be my last post for that chapter of this thread. With the street and autocross configurations taken care of, I'll update the install guide for a final draft. This should be enough information for anyone to install and configure their equipment as a good starting point.

I may continue to post videos to show off the value of this setup if there seems to be any interest in that. If not, I'll move on quietly to developing the interior for stability for the driver. My chair needs an upgrade and I'm thinking about the bolt-in bar that goes behind the chairs for a harness. I want one to mount a GoPro anyhow, so adding proper belts would compliment a better chair. If the chair could be quickly changed out for the stock chair, that would be optimal. That's for another thread.

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[Chris_19Si]

What a pain in the ass to change front LCA bushings. The stock ones were stuck and had to chisel them out. Got new ones in and the front end is definitely stiffer. Will put them to the test tomorrow at my next event.

 

[Chris_19Si]

Here is my fastest run for a fun event today. Nice weather for sure. Ended up going softer on the dampers to deal with the choppy course. Might try and keep the static settings at 12F/13R and start the runs in G-A mode, then move to G-L (more aggressive control) mode as the grip comes up. I didn't get a chance to try this today as I was busying sorting out other stuff. I also disabled stabilization on the side camera to see if I could capture more action. Might try some other stuff tomorrow with that camera.

 

[Chris_19Si]

Here is a fast run from today. 3rd place is pretty fast in XA. Damn Subarus.

I'll have my final suggestions to make for an autocross setup when I can sit at a PC. After that, I may just post a few more videos and move on.

Super cool setup. Just pressed a button for the trip home in comfort.

 

[Chris_19Si]

Like what I did for the street setup, here are my suggestions for a good starting point for autocross.

Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE71RS (200tw) 245/40-18 - I love these tires for autocross. These tires have great sidewall stiffness and very good traction from about 100F to 126F (so far that's as hot as I have gotten them). They are forgiving in turns when I have made an error judging speed. Paired with the Tein coilovers and electronic control, the combination produces intense grip. There may be other tires that are comparable, but my experience with this setup is based on these.

Brakes: EBC Yellows on EBC slotted rotors, stock calipers, and braided flex lines - I think my race-season brake setup is a pretty good configuration for cutting your teeth but lacks consistency when really pushed into very quick braking events. I have G-Loc R6 pads to install when they get delivered soon and will bed them in and heat cycle before tracking with them. I may follow this post up with an update if they are that much better.

Sway bars: Eibach front and rear bars - The front bar really helps with front end response to turning quickly. The stock bar is way too soft if you are trying to build a quick turning car. It complements the Eibach rear bar as well and maintains balance. I set the rear bar to the stiffest of the two settings. The rear end of my car is super stable and fairly neutral on rotation, with mild understeer. Very predictable when driving aggressively.

Bushings: If you intend to really dial things in, do yourself a favor (class rules allowing) and replace your front control arms with a kit that already has an ALK and front poly bushing. The feedback is fantastic, and the brake feel is also improved.

Alignment: Camber is -1.9F/-2.3R, Toe is 0F/+0.1R, Caster is 6.3 with ALK.

Driving Experience: Aggressive autocross.

Tein Coilover: Configured per mfg suggested instructions (1" drop all around, same as Eibach Pro Kit springs).

Tein Controller: Street settings with range set to 32 clicks - Manual mode is 12F/13R for cold tires, then advance to 8F/9R as tire temps increase (lower number is stiffer). I find I can start with 10F/11R when the course is smooth. G-mode is best with G-L for track tires. The added grip from track tires can take advantage of stiffer adjustments.

Discussion:
Realizing the cost for adding the EDFC Active Pro controller, it is a game changer in terms of having your cake and eating it to. The ability to switch comfort modes and then immediately switch to race mode is fantastic! Having the option to run manual or a number of automatic modes allows you to tinker with settings to get the car to behave the way that suits your application and driving style. For the autocross setup, if you don't get the fancy electronics, just run 10F/11R for performance. The 1-click spread will keep the car very close to oversteer. With the electronics, everything gets better.

If you plan to track the car, get the EDFC so you can go between street and track use in seconds. It's worth the money and will help improve control and confidence. The difference between manual mode and the active modes is remarkably different. On the street, using my tires, it is very noticeable, and traction is improved. On the track, with track tires, the difference is enormous.

Sway bars will help round out this package, so make sure you install both front and rear bars to maintain balance. My suggested settings are with Eibach bars. They are a great street bar. For anything stiffer, I wouldn't know which way to go on settings.

As for data, running in G-L mode and 8F/9R with air temps around 78F, tire temps 126F/106R, pressures 28F/24R, I was getting the following g-forces:
Acceleration = 0.93g's, Braking = 0.99g's, Lateral = 1.19g's.
My tires were still not at optimal grip and the track surface was sealed and broken up. Not the best condition for max values. I was launching the car for the first time at 3,200 rpm and the frontend took it! Super impressed. Never have stood on the brakes, as I only do enough braking to enter a corner and not stop. I'm sure I could get well above 1.0g on braking under better conditions.

These suggestions are intended to be a starting point. If you made it this far with this setup and mean to win races, you'll have to experiment to find the best configuration. I am still refining things myself. I only have 3 events under my belt, and the weather is only getting better for more grip. My experience with this setup is also improving at each event. I'm about 3-4 seconds faster than before and about 1.3 seconds from a consistent first place finisher. Hopefully I can learn quickly .

Did I say this is worth the money?

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