Plainsman

Our Story So Far:

I have some power upgrades [18g, TXS intercooler, utec delta-3 and friends] and the only handling upgrade was an agency power rear sway bar. This helped but left me with a ride which was oversteer-prone. And during a recent autocross thru a long sweeping left-hand turn I remember a distinct lack of traction. I was later told that my left rear tire was 6+ inches off the ground thru the entire turn.

I was also determined to keep the comfortable ride as I live up some miles of gravel [rock] and like my comfort. That was until a recent track day when I was out-handled by an altima - a rental altima.

Silke was very nice in responding to my query about springs and recommended the Swift Sport springs for the FXT - saying they were at least as comfortable as stock - and I felt I could live w/ a drop of 1".

And I had the front Agency Power sway bar but couldn't install it at the stock ride height - needed to be lower.

This weekend was the first time I tried the new front bar w/ the springs in an autocross - and my FXT is now nearly running on rails. The nasty oversteer has become a more neutral-to-understeer and the tires are staying on the ground.

w/ the lower ride and springs and bar, I am now more competitive - the results aren't posted yet but even w/o those pieces I was 6th fastest out of 20 at a previous event; w/ the new bits I'm beating people I have been chasing at previous events. very happy. I'm sure there are setups out there which are much better for autoX - but I like my comforts.

More importantly, I take immense pride in racing a genuinely comfortable daily driver. A daily driver raced on street tires.

and on the road the FXT feels solid - since the ride is nearly stock but the car is lower, when the springs compress more than a little, it hits w/ more of a jolt - stiffer in that part of its travel and less far to go ... not a problem so long as I pay attention going over speed bumps. normal bumps and shocks are no problem - comfortable as stock.

The car feels a bit darty - but that could be me noticing the change from stock/soft/oafish to a much more responsive ride. I may play w/ the alignment a bit ...

Overall - very happy - an excellent upgrade. I wish I could point to how much of this is the front bar and how much the springs - I don't feel the bar except under cornering, and in all situations the ride+handling are better. call it 75% springs, 25% new front bar.

ymmv,

-PM.