New Penske Shocks - first official race test day

just some further feedback on the Penske shocks post Cota

I set my car up for COTA at normal Bilstein ride heights  which for me is 4 1/2- 4 5/8 on all four corners at pinch well. I set the cross to 50.1 % which is again 'normal" for me there. I left my bent up washer in place and didn't bother pulling the others down to check.  Other than fixing the front toe after I jumped a curb, we made zero suspension changes, which is VERY rare for me.  The car was on rails all weekend. In the past, we have been able to overdrive the Hoosiers in 3 laps and they would fall off a cliff. I was able to drive 9.5/10 the entire race and the tires stayed completely under me.  I was able to over drive the car from the esses through the exit of turn 9 which  usually destroys the tires.. I had no issues.  Really can express how much i like these shocks. The best thing we have done in SM in a long time

Jim or anyone, any comments about driving this shock in the wet compared to the Bilstein?

The replacement washers are being shipped out now.

Mine came in yesterday, along with a few extra conical "lock" washers. One, may be 2, of mine snapped when installing. I had noticed that one had a seam in it when I installed it. I kind-of felt that it would break, so I placed in the middle of the stack. When I was tightening down the nut, before torquing, I heard a ping. Sure enough that washer had snapped. I had not inspected all the washers, only spotted that one at assembly, but had heard a ping on another top-hat, but that could have been a thread pulling past the hat hole. I could not identify another broken washer by sight or dental pic probe, so probably won't bother taking the other 3 apart. The washers are recessed in the top-hat, so I don't believe they could work out, maybe the top or middle could, but not the bottom. So hopefully, I'll get the suspension back on the car this weekend and do setup the following.

Curious if anyone has experimented with different tire pressures with the new suspension?

Curious if anyone has experimented with different tire pressures with the new suspension?

Good question.

Curious if anyone has experimented with different tire pressures with the new suspension?

yes , quite a bit.

We ended up at what I would call "normal" hot pressures 34-38 psi

Just ran them for the first time. I concur with Jim. No setup differences for us including ride height. Tells me people were running very very low before with the Bilsteins

Could be.  In more recent times I've seen some cars with more "Harry Manning like" ride height.  He ran the car on the ground when few else did.  Maybe he was ahead of his time and others learned to drive with very little suspension travel. 

Jim or anyone, any comments about driving this shock in the wet compared to the Bilstein?

Frank - I found the car no easier to drive nor harder to drive in the wet than on the Bilsteins. Ran with bar on, full soft, and with my scary high initial bite 3,500lb G-Loc Brakes. Car was very predictable on the Penske's in the wet and I was able to run very consistent lap times without issue

Frank - I found the car no easier to drive nor harder to drive in the wet than on the Bilsteins. Ran with bar on, full soft, and with my scary high initial bite 3,500lb G-Loc Brakes. Car was very predictable on the Penske's in the wet and I was able to run very consistent lap times without issue

Thanks Danny, I was expecting that with the firm rear shock it would have have had less grip in the wet but i guess its relative to the weight of the car.

Haven't seen any feedback on NA's with Penskes..  Installed and had the car set up from Mickey Carter in Savannah for run at Roebling Rd..    Car feels more steady and planted.  Ran about half inch higher to start out with.   After 2 practice sessions I went back down the half inch all the way around to the normal ride height.  Put some stickers on for qual.  Really had a great run.   The NA is way more composed with these shocks.   To me it is a significant difference in how the car handles the transition into the turns now.     No role at all. 

Another observation..  New tires...  Stickers at Roebling.  When I came off track.   They still looked almost brand new..  All I did was heat cycle them and ran one good QUAL lap.  1.237.  Cool down lap and returned to pits.  Still had sticker residue in the channel on the tire..   No roll over of tire material as we all usually see..  Really stumped me.. 

Unfortunately in the race I had a throw out bearing literally disintegrate on lap 5... 

I am really pleased with the feedback and stability improvements when kicking the car around.   Very exciting times.   Love the new shocks!

Pat, temp, sun, wind?

Pat, temp, sun, wind?

cycle of the moon, most recent time you sacrificed a chicken, most recent time you've eaten shellfish .... 

FYI I put in my order about 10 days ago and the shocks and bump stop kit appear to be on back order.

Nice partly cloudy day..  70-73 degrees...   Bout a 10 knot headwind..  3:30 in the afternoon..  I still have not installed my unicorn axles so...   There may be some time i am leaving on the table... 

There may be some time I am leaving on the table... 

See there is something we can agree on    

See there is something we can agree on  

I agree with you on all kinds of stuff...   I don't know what your talking about.   

i ordered mine almost a month ago from mazda, still on backorder .... anyone know when more will come through? id like to get my car setup by april ....