Gibbo205
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi there
So today was a very early start, the plan was to fit:
FRPP Dampers
Steeda Ultralite linear springs
FRPP toe knuckle bushes
FRPP air-oil seperator
Set car allignment up to my own settings.
So I arrived at XJK Jaguar early morning to crack on, put the Steeda Ultralite springs on the FRPP front dampers which look a little wonkey but was advised by Steeda and others this is indeed correct. The install went quite smoothly for the front being a typical McPherson setup, took around 1hr and with the cars weight on the front the springs/dampers as adviced by Steeda and other users did indeed straighten.
Next we moved onto rear, removing rear dampers is so easy, talking 5 minutes per side, but getting the rear springs out what an absolute nightmare, most of the rear suspension needed to be dismantled and giant pri-bar to give the clearance required to get those springs out, achieving it in my driveway would of bring near impossible. This took at least 2hr.
The FRPP bushes although simple in practice, the original ones were a little stubborn to get out and the new ones always wanted to go in at an angle so took several attempts, so again more time taken because we were being perfectionist and ensuring everything was done carefully and nothing just cowboyed in with force. Eventually it all went together.
Then put the car back together and tighten and torque all bolts to specification with the suspension loaded.
Next stop the allignment, the next nightmare was about to begin.
Ford factory specification is:
Front camber: -1.03
Front total toe: 0.00
Rear camber: -1.50
Rear total toe: +0.23
Ford Racing/Handling specification for circuit / auto X is:
Front camber: -1.55
Front total toe: 0.00
Rear camber: -1.98
Rear total toe: +0.23
As most of you know I've being researching parts for a year and settings so I knew the Ford Racing specification was truly only for track and not ideal for road as a few users had reports using such settings on the road impeded the cars performance, did not improve it.
So I went with following settings:
To translate that into American it reads as following:
Gibbo's recommended settings for UK roads:
Front camber: -1.33
Front total toe: +0.05
Rear camber: -1.55to1.65
Rear total toe: +0.26
So a little more aggressive than the Ford Performance Pack settings from the factory, this will give a great balance of wet handling on roads along with good sporty driving in the dry.
Now onto what the stock suspension adjustments offer:
Toe front and rear, you can dial in easily with stock components.
Rear camber: IT IS ADJUSTABLE, once lowered you can get -1.00 upto -2.50, just undo the upper camber arm bolt, it is slotted, and has a good 2-3 degrees of adjustment available.
Front camber: Camber bolts are an absolute must, there is practically zero adjustment available for front camber, so bolts or top mounts an absolute must. I used BMR camber bolts, they work very well and cost £20.
Some pictures from the install, starting with the giant Brembo brakes, my are they a work of art and the calipers for how big they are are so light.
The stock toe knucle bushing on the left and on the right is the FRPP bushing a clear difference and a spherical bearing.
Ride height before we started, with nearly 80-100kg of suspension and tools in the boot:
Now the results with no tools/suspension in the boot:
Here is a picture of the decals I fitted, sorry the car is so dirty, but oh well snow, grit and rain with daily usage makes it hard to keep clean always:
I also fitted the FRPP air-oil separator, an incredibly easy install taking about two minutes and looks completely stock because it is an OEM part:
I cannot give you any driving feedback until maybe later or a few days, that will follow!
So what is left?
1. Fit spacers & mud flaps to prevent paint from stone rash.
2. Fit tubular FRPP anti-roll bars.
3. Change colour of wheels to a shade of grey, un-decided.
4. Maybe de-chrome car.
5. POWER!
6. New wheels/tyres once these tyres are shot.
So what I had planned is very nearly completed.
P.S. Car has 5-6" ground clearance to front splitter.
P.S.1 I trial fitted the 23mm rear spacers, they touch the rear of wheels meaning about 1-2mm needs removing from studs, 25mm fit fine.
So today was a very early start, the plan was to fit:
FRPP Dampers
Steeda Ultralite linear springs
FRPP toe knuckle bushes
FRPP air-oil seperator
Set car allignment up to my own settings.
So I arrived at XJK Jaguar early morning to crack on, put the Steeda Ultralite springs on the FRPP front dampers which look a little wonkey but was advised by Steeda and others this is indeed correct. The install went quite smoothly for the front being a typical McPherson setup, took around 1hr and with the cars weight on the front the springs/dampers as adviced by Steeda and other users did indeed straighten.
Next we moved onto rear, removing rear dampers is so easy, talking 5 minutes per side, but getting the rear springs out what an absolute nightmare, most of the rear suspension needed to be dismantled and giant pri-bar to give the clearance required to get those springs out, achieving it in my driveway would of bring near impossible. This took at least 2hr.
The FRPP bushes although simple in practice, the original ones were a little stubborn to get out and the new ones always wanted to go in at an angle so took several attempts, so again more time taken because we were being perfectionist and ensuring everything was done carefully and nothing just cowboyed in with force. Eventually it all went together.
Then put the car back together and tighten and torque all bolts to specification with the suspension loaded.
Next stop the allignment, the next nightmare was about to begin.
Ford factory specification is:
Front camber: -1.03
Front total toe: 0.00
Rear camber: -1.50
Rear total toe: +0.23
Ford Racing/Handling specification for circuit / auto X is:
Front camber: -1.55
Front total toe: 0.00
Rear camber: -1.98
Rear total toe: +0.23
As most of you know I've being researching parts for a year and settings so I knew the Ford Racing specification was truly only for track and not ideal for road as a few users had reports using such settings on the road impeded the cars performance, did not improve it.
So I went with following settings:
To translate that into American it reads as following:
Gibbo's recommended settings for UK roads:
Front camber: -1.33
Front total toe: +0.05
Rear camber: -1.55to1.65
Rear total toe: +0.26
So a little more aggressive than the Ford Performance Pack settings from the factory, this will give a great balance of wet handling on roads along with good sporty driving in the dry.
Now onto what the stock suspension adjustments offer:
Toe front and rear, you can dial in easily with stock components.
Rear camber: IT IS ADJUSTABLE, once lowered you can get -1.00 upto -2.50, just undo the upper camber arm bolt, it is slotted, and has a good 2-3 degrees of adjustment available.
Front camber: Camber bolts are an absolute must, there is practically zero adjustment available for front camber, so bolts or top mounts an absolute must. I used BMR camber bolts, they work very well and cost £20.
Some pictures from the install, starting with the giant Brembo brakes, my are they a work of art and the calipers for how big they are are so light.
The stock toe knucle bushing on the left and on the right is the FRPP bushing a clear difference and a spherical bearing.
Ride height before we started, with nearly 80-100kg of suspension and tools in the boot:
Now the results with no tools/suspension in the boot:
Here is a picture of the decals I fitted, sorry the car is so dirty, but oh well snow, grit and rain with daily usage makes it hard to keep clean always:
I also fitted the FRPP air-oil separator, an incredibly easy install taking about two minutes and looks completely stock because it is an OEM part:
I cannot give you any driving feedback until maybe later or a few days, that will follow!
So what is left?
1. Fit spacers & mud flaps to prevent paint from stone rash.
2. Fit tubular FRPP anti-roll bars.
3. Change colour of wheels to a shade of grey, un-decided.
4. Maybe de-chrome car.
5. POWER!
6. New wheels/tyres once these tyres are shot.
So what I had planned is very nearly completed.
P.S. Car has 5-6" ground clearance to front splitter.
P.S.1 I trial fitted the 23mm rear spacers, they touch the rear of wheels meaning about 1-2mm needs removing from studs, 25mm fit fine.
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