AutoX Gurus: Turner J-Stock or H&R Race/Bilstein Sport?

[Bimmerman325i]

A good friend of mine has the TCKR kit w/ SA front DA rear in his e36, and swears by that setup. I would like to go with coilovers, but if I'm going 5 lug I need something that either can transfer relatively easily or is cheap, which is why I'm considering the Billy/HR Race combination as an interim. Although if TCKR is transferable, I may just bite the bullet on it instead.

[Danny]

Do you have shocks already?

GC sells just the coilovers themselves cheap.

[Bimmerman325i]

I have Bilstein HDs already, which supposedly don't like lowering springs. I plan on new shocks and springs with whatever setup I go with.

I like GC and their coilover/conversion kits; I've had nasty thoughts about doing that to my scoobaru.

[z31maniac]

I wouldn't drop $2k on a suspension you know you are going to replace once you go 5-lug.

H&R race and Billy sports. Me personally, I'd leave the suspension as it is, and put the money towards getting the 5 lug done and getting the suspension you want for it. No point in buying a pricey suspension twice.

But thats just my opinion.

[p0cket penguins]

I just came back from an autocross day... and i have to say the H and R springs, billies, 19mm/16 mm sways, front and rear strut brace really helped... the car was planted and the instructors were impressed with the set up.... the car was really in control... i was driving on kosie k1's with potenas

[E30 Racer]

I wouldn't drop $2k on a suspension you know you are going to replace once you go 5-lug.

H&R race and Billy sports. Me personally, I'd leave the suspension as it is, and put the money towards getting the 5 lug done and getting the suspension you want for it. No point in buying a pricey suspension twice.

But thats just my opinion.

+1

That said, the rear suspension will likely remain the same regardless of what you ultimately decide to do.

[robmespeedy]

Are you running the basket weaves? i took one to work last week and weighed it. i was surprised that little 14" wheels weigh's 14.1 lbs. and this is official using a fedex scale.
you can go with a bigger wheel that'll be lighter.

i know i jumped of the topic

[Bimmerman325i]

I'm running stock bottlecaps with Azenis until this winter when I'm planning on 17x8 Rota Boosts with 235 Dunlop Z1 Stars or Yoko AD07. IIRC they're 18lbs or so. Not super light, but the price is right.

Thanks for all the help guys, I've decided Vorschlag plates + Bilsteins + HR Race is a good setup until I go 5 lug, and I think all of that can actually transfer over with E30 M3 stuff.

[Danny]

Z1s are the best

[hootie]

I just came back from an autocross day... and i have to say the H and R springs, billies, 19mm/16 mm sways, front and rear strut brace really helped... the car was planted and the instructors were impressed with the set up.... the car was really in control... i was driving on kosie k1's with potenas

We have 22 mm/ 19 mm sways.

[Fair!]

Exactly, H&R Sports or Eibach Pro is OK for occasional autocross but both are WAY too soft...

+1 to this.

[hugh jass]

i've got jstocks springs/j stock revalved billy sports on my twincam e30 and they are just fine for the street. i haven't done any hpde events with the car yet.

[Bimmerman325i]

Update and bump from the dead.

I've rethought what I am doing with the car, and it is going to become more of a track rat rather than a competitive auto-x car. So, I am looking more towards a full track suspension rather than an autox setup.

I'm going to be going with 17x8 wheels of some kind and 235 or 245/40/17s, but not R comps just yet. I will be going with an AD08, NT05, or Z1-esque tire instead.

I have also decided against going with the 5 lug conversion, as the small benefit doesn't outweigh the added cost of wheels, suspension, brakes, and spares.

So....back to my original question: For primarily track and DD use, should I go for the J-stock (or H&R Race) setup for now, and plan to upgrade to ASTs later, or save longer and get the ASTs all in one go?

My thinking is: with just the J-stock suspension, I won't be trying to compensate for driver stupidity by fiddling with compression, rebound, or ride height. I would get far better as a driver that way. It would cost more, but I think it the Jstock parts still command a good price even used, so the net cost to me isn't terrible.

For those of you running the J-stock setup, did you buy the entire kit from Turner, including reinforcements, strut bearings, shocks, springs, sways, etc, or piece it together from different shops? How much negative camber can I get from the fixed camber plates and offset upper strut bearings? Would the Vorshlag or GC plates work better? Are there any other parts on the JS setup that I should substitute from other places? Turner J-Stock full Kit Link

What say R3V?

[z31maniac]

I'd be inclined to do the J-Stock kit and call it a day.

However at some point I'd like to up grade my current GC coilovers with Koni Yellows, to the bad boy Koni Single piston shocks.

[Bimmerman325i]

I'd be inclined to do the J-Stock kit and call it a day.

However at some point I'd like to up grade my current GC coilovers with Koni Yellows, to the bad boy Koni Single piston shocks.

That's what I'm really leaning towards. Would you choose the JS over the H&R Race combo? And what koni single pistons?