Building for the road course...again

[gotovato]

Next event is a weekend event July 19-20. I’ll be towing again.

I’m hoping to have bags installed before then but I always wanna try loading the car and rolling it back as far as I can. Just to see if that helps with anything. I’m curious.

I definitely don’t want to back the car onto the trailer.

I'm looking to grab some airbags myself at some point, but my squat isn't as bad as yours and I have a pretty heavy metal 20' trailer. Bags should do it fine if it rides normally without a load.

Without the trailer it’s perfectly level. I guess soft springs and old age is what it is. So many people have suggested the airbags. For $200cad it’s at least worth a shot I think ?

 

[Easter Bunny]

Backing the car on is no more difficult than backing it off

Regardless of the springs you really don't want to be over the tongue weight rating on the car

 

[jdab555]

Next event is a weekend event July 19-20. I’ll be towing again.

I’m hoping to have bags installed before then but I always wanna try loading the car and rolling it back as far as I can. Just to see if that helps with anything. I’m curious.

I definitely don’t want to back the car onto the trailer.



Without the trailer it’s perfectly level. I guess soft springs and old age is what it is. So many people have suggested the airbags. For $200cad it’s at least worth a shot I think ?

It's definitely worth a shot, and the litmus test is really how well the tow vehicle drives when it's loaded up. A squat doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe to drive, you can tell pretty fast if it isn't in a safe configuration if the front feels floaty, you get a fishtail effect, etc.

 

[Easter Bunny]

Stiffer springs dont make it ok to exceed the tongue weight rating. There is a lot more structure in the back of the car than just the springs and ride height

 

[gotovato]

So overall drive seemed pretty stable. Starting and stopping was fine. If I took too much speed through some of the sweeping turns it felt a little sketchy but I’m guessing that’s normal?

10-15kph above posted speed limits seemed to be no problem. I am cautious of having a light front end due to the squat though.

Someone suggested maybe loading some of the heavier shit like tools or parts into the back of the civic to distribute the weight a little more evenly.

Looking at the picture of my buddies 2024 f150 he also had some squat going on. Maybe not as severe but definitely noticeable squat

 

[Easter Bunny]

If you exceed the tongue weight rating on the tow vehicle it is going to be sketchy as shit around fast bends. Regardless of the squat you are loading the rear end in excess of what it is designed for. In your case a rough estimate of triple the rating.

You need to find a shorter trailer to rent or start loading the civic backwards.

 

[Easter Bunny]

I just looked at U-Haul's website the trailer has an empty tongue weight if 750 lbs so I er the 700 lb rating of the tahoe

 

[gotovato]

I just looked at U-Haul's website the trailer has an empty tongue weight if 750 lbs so I er the 700 lb rating of the tahoe

ah shit. so sounds like loading the civic backwards would be correct. Backing it off is easy, just let the clutch out slow and gravity does the rest. Loading it up backwards though...thats gonna be interesting.

I guess ill give it a shot for my next event. Like i mentioned the uhaul documentation clearly states to load the car forward facing the tow vehicle but i guess this is a unique circumstance.

Airbags are probably still a good idea?

 

[Easter Bunny]

I read the U-Haul doc forward facing was more of a recommendation to ensure proper loading.

Airbags wouldn't hurt but aren't necessary. If you get it loaded right it shouldn't sag much they would be more to prevent bottoming out over bumps

I'm going to put spring spacers in the rear of our minivan for that reason. I can feel it bottom out over bumps when we are loaded up for trips

 

[gotovato]

ok well sounds like next up i should try loading the car in reverse. Ill see how that goes. Long as i have some help with guiding im sure itll be OK

 

[Enki]

Put some magnets on some tall sticks so you can gauge where you're going as you back in.

 

[gotovato]

Put some magnets on some tall sticks so you can gauge where you're going as you back in.

Great idea actually. I like this.

 

[gotovato]

Also. Mystery to the rear sag has been solved. Had the truck at my cousins shop today to do round 2 of maintenance.

All drive line fluids done minus transmission. That one is newer.


Front diff fluid looked great. Transfer case fluid looked great. Rear diff fluid was OK but definitely a little cooked. Replaced all that with some good shit.


Fresh spark plugs. Replaced a sketchy plug wire.
replaced a clamp on a coolant line that was completely broken and leaking.
alignment checked out to be perfect. 0 adjustment needed.
Fresh headlight bulbs. One connector was corroded so fixed that. Headlights both work now.



We found that this thing actually has rear air struts and a compressor. It has factory auto leveling. Both bags are fucked and apparently the compressor dies as well and that shits all expensive SO…


Monroe has an oem replacement rear air strut kit. Comes with some hose and Schrader valve so similar to the airlift bags. Just fill when towing.


That setup is a bargain at $200cad for both struts and the hose kit. We’re just gonna do that and call it a day

 

[Easter Bunny]

Or do what everyone here does when the factory ar suspension goes out. Put in shocks and springs.

 

[gotovato]

It’s got springs. That’s why it’s doing OK other than when it’s heavily loaded up.

I guess the air struts are for the out leveling only. Front is a strut and spring combo.

Gonna rock the Monroe setup for now. Itll get installed next week. That should at least help with towing to level the shit out a bit. Gonna try reverse loading the civic to

 

[gotovato]

I also found there are 35% stiffer rear springs and 70% stiffer rear springs. That would be a good solution too but probably ride terribly when not towing.

Apparently the hoe’s with the auto leveling got softer rear springs. Makes sense

 

[gotovato]

Air struts successfully installed. It’s very cool how they work. We tested it as well as we could.

I don’t think it’ll solve the squat entirely but it should be night and day over how it was. Maybe some 35% stiffer springs in the future but otherwise good to go.

Things been pretty good on fuel mileage too given the weight of the Tahoe and that big dirty 5.3. Significantly better than I expected. 3.08 final drive ratio is awesome cruising at 70mph seeing maybe 1700rpm. That’s like 3100rpm in the civic lol

 

[L337TurboZ]

I am not 100 percent positive but in the future you might be able to use newer Yukon/Suburban air ride shocks in the rear. Theyre heavier duty due to the increased size of the SUVs

 

[gotovato]

we couldnt get the compressor to kick on with the scan tool. "no communication to module". Im guessing the few fuses were pulled or something. We didnt really look into it too hard as the cost for those oem air struts was just way too much. If the compressor doesnt work then thats even more. It would be super cool to have the OEM setup working but im not gonna spend 1200+ trying to sort it out. not anytime soon anyways

 

[gotovato]

Race weekend was this past weekend. Had a great time camping at the track. Our setup was solid. Overall results were disappointing but it happens.

Day one was good other than the car going into limp mode in the finals costing me 3rd place by 2 tenths. What a bummer.


300whp wrx first
420whp sti second
400wrx third
My stupid self in 4th with maybe 215whp lol

I really need to figure out the classing. I shouldn’t be with the big turbo cars this is frustrating. There’s time in the car still but i was having a hard time getting a clean lap and I needed tires to last for Saturday and Sunday so I kept sessions short.


Sunday was also a bummer. Different track layout.
Went out for my 930am session. First session of the day. Qualifying session.
P2 in qualifying. First was the 420whp sti. Fully built car with aero.
Engine let go lap 5 I believe. Was a lot of traffic. Struggling to get a clean lap. I made a few good aggressive passes then the straight away. 3rd gear. Foot to the floor. Engine let go.


There’s a hole in the block. Looks like cylinder 2 something let go. This is racing…


We are assuming a rod bolt failed. I was into the not safe for stock bottom end rpm zone and I accepted the risk after my tuner warned me at the begging of the season.

Time for another engine