do I want 10/7 Tein Flex or 550/350 FCM?
 

yes...I posted this on m.net, but of course you guys are the ones I love, and the most attractive men in the interweb...


I've spoken to Shaikh and I'm leaning his direction...but I've driven one session in a car with those rates and Flex and at least know what I'm getting there.

I track my car about once per month, it makes 261whp/252wtq (dynodynamics), has 15x9's w/r-comps for the track, and I still drive it on the street when its nice out. Although I may do some time attack in the future, its basically a track day "battle" car because we all have something to prove before we waste away in an office on monday morning.

I will corner weight the car, remove the rear sway bar, and play with tire pressures if necessary, but...

Basically, the things that turn me on about Flex that don't about FCM are a short, but important list:
1) ability to pre-load
2) adjustability to dial oversteer in or out
3) 30-minutes of seat time in a Flex car with similar bracing

and the things I like about FCM:
a) dampers will probably last forever!!!!!
b) exact, perfect damping from the start

If the car is doing something I don't like, and a click on the dampers will fix it...I'm going to be a little upset.

Anyway, does anyone have input on a comparison? I think I'll be happy with both, but want the best I can get for the money.

you pre-op trannies better start answering my questions, or I'm going to cry. Robispec is back in the mix now.

I can't help you with comparison.....as I am a broke bastid.
Spring rates and some fiddlin' with the settings have netted some fun times and fast lap times in NA trim for me.
I would def. be up some 10/7 spring rates.....and granted they don't last forever, rebuilds are quite nice with the Flexes.
When you get your SPM "super pursuit mode" set up..... I will gladly take your throw aways. ;)
I think you might need to talk Emilio and look into his newest line of dampers.
That would be the route to go...... just a thought.

I want to stay around $1500, not $2k. Besides, I'm trying to give TDR some monies too.

If you're interested we can work something out. I'm trying to unload the springs, perches, shocks, stops, mounts, and sway-bar.

I'd keep a small rear bar on there if I were you. I don't know if you can get a ride in an FCM car but I'd try if I were you. Teins on a smooth surface are wonderful. On a track they're great. On bad roads 9/6 makes me want to cry.

When I was down in TN last year I forgot how stiff my suspension was. By the time I was going through PA I remembered. I don't know what your roads are like in TX but it's something to consider if you drive it on the street alot.

On a lot of the roads around NY I can't just slam on the gas because I'm just going to have the rear end skipping over potholes and ripples and cracks in the road. I already have traction issues in first and second but this makes it rediculous.

I've "heard" (for what that's worth) that the FCM setup is better over uneven surfaces.

edit: How soon are you looking to install something?

now-ish. I want to be done working on this car so I can get back to pimpin hizzos on the non-stop.

I have 2 "absolutely must be ready to to kill" track days with the first in late may and another June at Hallett for NASA TT.

I planned on dealing with what I have now but I want to be competitive out there.

FCM with adjustable perches. Flex are travel-short in the rear.

and your awesome track sessions may require you to get frequent rebuilds and with FCM, you have that option as a known quantity. or if you want just a little more hizzy-bazizzy in the mid speed damping, you can get it from Shaikh.

is curbing really that much more extreme than daily driving? The bilsteins really turn me on because they last forever...but does that cross over with FCM products?

I talked to Shaikh on the phone extensively, and he dazzled me with something...but I don't have any seat time with them and around these parts Tein Flex are the gospel...and they have the lap times to back it up.

I see Johnwag's car as the achievable bench-mark. It was really easy to drive, I could do things with it in just one session that I couldn't do with mine, and its way comfy enough on the street with his tein stuffs. Give me his car with my motor and I'm done. Now...can it get better with the FCM shit, or will I regret the purchase when I want more valve in the front or rear...and will they pull on me in the corners?

Let's swap cars for a session......this will make more of a definitive decision for you. And for the record, my car is WAY more stiffa than WaggerZ, just not as cool...... ;)

...says the man with a cage. I can't go the cage route, but I have a guy to put door bars in it who does good work.

Off topic......but I've sourced a 10 ton press and a "old" dirt tracker that wants to build the "Lemons" cage for peanuts. I will be visiting his shop come Monday. Hold off on your "purchase" for the door bars. I will make you a pair with left over stock. PM or e-mail with placement of front plate and we will make it so Captain.

shaikh will revalve for you. what's the problem?

/\ The "operator" :giggle:

lack of adjustability, pre-load, and spherical bearings

i have 9k/6k on my flex and i love them. Not TOO harsh on the street but they dont feel like stock either.. On track they are great, they outdrive my skills by far. Savington can compare my flex to his koni race w/ ground control setup, But i cannot compare them to any of shaikhs products. However on the 21st and 22nd ill be at Laguna Seca with tons of other miatas and im sure someone there will have a FCM setup on there car. Ill let you know if you haven't decided by then.

I'll wait for this. My buddies are going out there to watch...after they do the skip barber school. I'll ask them to check the shit out and ask around for me. I want to make this decision once.

fcm gets my vote

No kidding.....shocks to me have been like others trying to find that exhaust note they like. May take several setups to get what YOU are after.

I initially chose my 9/6 Flex because they were readily available...and I'd already sold my Billies. I'd also had good luck with 7/6 Flex on the NA.
They ride fine on the streets around me without being overly harsh at all. Very user-friendly in that regard. Like you said, they're gospel in these parts, and that's what our local parts slinger carries and endorses, so whatever.

While it might be a spendy idea, why not grab a set of each, set them up as close to identical as possible while off the car, then swap them out after a couple of sessions? Whichever you like less can certainly be sold off in short order to recoup (most of) the cost. If nothing else, it would make a great comparo write-up for anyone else comparing the same two options.

Since you mention Robispec (and since he's now local to your legal address), have to talked to Matt on this subject? I'm sure his input would be voluminous at minimum considering the number of setups he's tried out on his time attack car.

Shaikh says my 550/350 adjustable set should be done this week so hopefully I can get together with Nick (and maybe Andrew as well) and we can do a little comparison in the near future.


Your 3 concerns: can all be solved by Shaikh except the preload/body adjuster which I personally believe is a bandaid fix when you need more spring rate. The adjustable shock body length also adds weight which is never good.

I did all the research I could, talked to everyone who had an opinion and decided the FCM's would be the best for the money.

One of your pluses for Bilsteins I can also personally vouch for. I had a DD/track car that had 160K miles and innumerable autocrosses and track days on the same set of shocks. When a friend of mine who I sold the car to had the shocks rebuilt just because he couldn't believe they could be right with that many miles on them, the car worked and felt no different it just had nicer looking shocks. I've also had sets on 4 additional cars that were street and track driven with no issues (as well as a motorhome I owned). Bilsteins are DAMN stout.