Jump to content

Photo

New Penske Shocks - first official race test day

- - - - - penske shocks penske shock spec miata spec miata penske setup

  • Please log in to reply
81 replies to this topic

#1
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

A lot of us are running the new Penske shocks at Homestead this weekend and I thought I would kick off a discussion of the new shocks with my own personal feedback.........

 

We started with car setup settings very similar to what we were running with the the old Bilstein shosks in terms of ride height, camber etc.

 

This is what I noticed

 

  • Way more shock travel for the same ride height
  • Way more compression and rebound damping. 
  • Car feels completely different on the track
  • Car does not roll over anymore to take a set
  • It is set the instant you turn in, and stays planted and level
  • For me I could no longer stand on the gas, had to feed in the throttle progressively or the tail would brake away - function of shock, track and tire combo for sure, but very different experience to last year at same track 
  • Running over the turn 1 bumps at homestead now hardly moves the car, but it skates easier, and you have to straighten up before braking
  • Seems to prefer braking in a straight line and diamonding the turns, will have to see what its like on corners that like trail braking

 

Hope this helps in terms of what to expect and get your cars dialled in. And I am sure that there are other completely different experiences, so keen to hear what others are experiencing. 


  • Joe (dad) Jordan, Andy L, Keith Williamson and 1 other like this

Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#2
FTodaro

FTodaro

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,084 posts
  • Location:Columbus Ohio
  • Region:Great Lakes
  • Car Year:2001
  • Car Number:35

Thanks Danny, Interested in your observations.  I am expecting my shipment this week so still totally in the dark at this point.

 

One question, what was your normal ride height, We were running our cars pretty low, like 4 1/8 from pinch welds which would equate to maybe an inch above the shock and the stop at the front and 1/2 to 1/4 clearance in the rear, at flat short tracks.

 

Will be interesting to see how this package transfers to the wet. especially on a new tire.


Frank
TnT Racing
SCCA Ohio Valley Region
 

Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#3
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

Dumb question and too lazy to look up the answer, but are the Penske's mandatory for Homestead and Sebring? or are they optional?


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#4
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38
Optional
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports

#5
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38
Just wondering how many are still running the Bilsteins at homestead because the didn’t get their Penskes shipped to them?

And who in the top 10 are still on Bilsteins?
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports

#6
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts
Danny, “For me I could no longer stand on the gas, had to feed in the throttle progressively or the tail would brake away - function of shock, track and tire combo for sure...”

That sounds suspiciously like the loaded side rear is into the stops deeper/sooner than the front and you have no travel left when it tries to squat under acceleration.
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#7
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38

Danny, “For me I could no longer stand on the gas, had to feed in the throttle progressively or the tail would brake away - function of shock, track and tire combo for sure...”

That sounds suspiciously like the loaded side rear is into the stops deeper/sooner than the front and you have no travel left when it tries to squat under acceleration.

or it could be that there is so much compression dampening in the rear the weight transfer takes longer. back end to squat. Witch would make sense to me. Could be improved with setup. 


  • Danny Steyn likes this
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports

#8
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts

Sounds backwards, stiffer low-speed valving should speed up weight transfer. But that could still be good or bad depending on what everything else is doing. Sure, it could be something else, but as little power as these cars have what Danny describes sounds exactly like hitting the rear stops. It may be marginal and occur in only one particular corner or where the track has a slight hump increasing compression, but if it’s easily/reliably reproduced the first thing I’d do is go up at least a turn and see if it settles down.
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#9
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts
Curious about conditions today compared to last year. It appears that Friday lap times are roughly 1-1.3 seconds slower this year. Will there be a lot of setup changes for tomorrow or is there something other than shocks to account for it?
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#10
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

Just wondering how many are still running the Bilsteins at homestead because the didn’t get their Penskes shipped to them?

And who in the top 10 are still on Bilsteins?

 

I currently know of one in the top 10 on bilsteans :P


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#11
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38

I currently know of one in the top 10 on bilsteans :P

a really nice guy a bit shorter than me?
  • John Wilding likes this
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports

#12
FTodaro

FTodaro

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,084 posts
  • Location:Columbus Ohio
  • Region:Great Lakes
  • Car Year:2001
  • Car Number:35

I currently know of one in the top 10 on bilsteans  :P

Would be nice to see how this car stacks up to the cars on Penske and how their lap times compare to their last year times to see if any improvement or lack there of on the Penske's is track conditions so now we have a control group, Lol

 

Danica I put you in charge of data recovery this weekend :)


Frank
TnT Racing
SCCA Ohio Valley Region
 

Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#13
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14

One question, what was your normal ride height, We were running our cars pretty low, like 4 1/8 from pinch welds which would equate to maybe an inch above the shock and the stop at the front

 

and 1/2 to 1/4 clearance in the rear, at flat short tracks.

Frank, I'm reading what your typing, but surly not understanding.

 

Are you saying at the front with 4 1/8 pinch weld ride height, you have 1 inch clearance from top of shock to bottom of bump stop?

 

And when you talk rear, are you saying you have 1/2-1/4 inch clearance from top of shock to bottom of bump stop?

 

I have a linear measuring device on each shock for compression travel so after the fact when I don't do gators I know the greatest compression for a session. And I don't drive nearly as good/hard/deep as many on track.  


Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#14
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

Danny, “For me I could no longer stand on the gas, had to feed in the throttle progressively or the tail would brake away - function of shock, track and tire combo for sure...”

That sounds suspiciously like the loaded side rear is into the stops deeper/sooner than the front and you have no travel left when it tries to squat under acceleration.

Steve

 

I do not believe we are anywhere near the stops. SO much shock travel and car doesn't move at all, doesn't roll over to take a set


Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#15
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

Just wondering how many are still running the Bilsteins at homestead because the didn’t get their Penskes shipped to them?

And who in the top 10 are still on Bilsteins?

 

I believe Pardus is on Bilsteins

 

There has certainly been quite a bit of discussion,  that because you can essentially ride on the bump stops with the Bilsteins, you can run the car lower and there is signifincant aero advantage with a lower car. At a roval like Homestead or Daytona, it might make sense to run the car lower with Bilsteins, gain the aero advantage and since these tracks are essentially smooth, the Penske's handling advantages might not overcome the aero advantage.

 

But for the most part, other than those drivers who ran the champ car event at Sebring last week, most of us are trying to get a handle on the new Penske's, so most of the fast guys are running Penske's


Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#16
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

Curious about conditions today compared to last year. It appears that Friday lap times are roughly 1-1.3 seconds slower this year. Will there be a lot of setup changes for tomorrow or is there something other than shocks to account for it?

 

Last year was very cold. today was in the mid 80's with 67% humidity. Last year I was in the 1:37's last year and this year barely got into the 1:38's with a unicorn lap - push and pull


Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#17
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

or it could be that there is so much compression dampening in the rear the weight transfer takes longer. back end to squat. Witch would make sense to me. Could be improved with setup. 

YES


Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#18
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39

Thanks Danny, Interested in your observations.  I am expecting my shipment this week so still totally in the dark at this point.

 

One question, what was your normal ride height, We were running our cars pretty low, like 4 1/8 from pinch welds which would equate to maybe an inch above the shock and the stop at the front and 1/2 to 1/4 clearance in the rear, at flat short tracks.

 

Will be interesting to see how this package transfers to the wet. especially on a new tire.

 

Frank - we werent running quite as low as you - around 4-1/2 to 4-5/8th at pinch welds. This would give us a thin finger of shock travel at the rear and a fat finger at the front on the Bilsteins. With the same ride height you now have WAY more shock travel


  • FTodaro and lillyweld like this

Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#19
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts

Steve

I do not believe we are anywhere near the stops. SO much shock travel and car doesn't move at all, doesn't roll over to take a set


Interesting, thanks Danny.

Still something wrong with the assertion that weight transfer takes longer though.

So were you able to tune out the on-throttle oversteer?
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#20
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38

Interesting, thanks Danny.

Still something wrong with the assertion that weight transfer takes longer though.

So were you able to tune out the on-throttle oversteer?


With stiff rear compression when you smack power down the car does not have a chance to squat (front end up back end down) so the tire is spiked for load/grip. That’s why Danny has to squeeze into it waiting for the shock to compress to get the back end down. If it was a car with adjustable compression I would soften up the rear for that situation. But it will also take away from mid coner balance. In SM we have other tuning tools in our box to help on power oversteer. Adapted, overcome, press on.
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: penske shocks, penske shock spec miata, spec miata penske setup

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users