Pocket Guide to Suspension Settings
#1
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Pocket Guide to Suspension Settings
The following info has been in my wallet for a very long time. This data is taken from the BFGoodrich TEAM T/A Pocket Guide to Suspension Setting.
Who would leave home without it?
I don't think tabs will work in the post so where you see a "/" it divides the words into columns. This chart should be three columns.
Adjustment / Increase Understeer / Increase Oversteer
Front tire pressure / Lower / Higher
Rear tire pressure / Higher / Lower
Front tire section / Smaller / Larger
Rear tire section / Larger / Smaller
Front wheel camber / More positive / More negative
Rear wheel camber / More negative / More positive
Front springs / Stiffer / Softer
Rear springs / Softer / Stiffer
Front anti-sway bar / Thicker-stiffer / Thinner - softer
Rear anti-sway bar / Thinner-softer / Thicker-stiffer
Weight distribution / More forward / More rearward
So to fix an oversteering car you need to increase the understeer.
Pick and choose from the following menu, have fun!
Front tire pressure = Lower
Rear tire pressure = Higher
Front tire section = Smaller
Rear tire section = Larger
Front wheel camber = More positive
Rear wheel camber = More negative
Front springs = Stiffer
Rear springs = Softer
Front anti-sway bar = Thicker-stiffer
Rear anti-sway bar = Thinner-softer
Weight distribution = More forward
Who would leave home without it?
I don't think tabs will work in the post so where you see a "/" it divides the words into columns. This chart should be three columns.
Adjustment / Increase Understeer / Increase Oversteer
Front tire pressure / Lower / Higher
Rear tire pressure / Higher / Lower
Front tire section / Smaller / Larger
Rear tire section / Larger / Smaller
Front wheel camber / More positive / More negative
Rear wheel camber / More negative / More positive
Front springs / Stiffer / Softer
Rear springs / Softer / Stiffer
Front anti-sway bar / Thicker-stiffer / Thinner - softer
Rear anti-sway bar / Thinner-softer / Thicker-stiffer
Weight distribution / More forward / More rearward
So to fix an oversteering car you need to increase the understeer.
Pick and choose from the following menu, have fun!
Front tire pressure = Lower
Rear tire pressure = Higher
Front tire section = Smaller
Rear tire section = Larger
Front wheel camber = More positive
Rear wheel camber = More negative
Front springs = Stiffer
Rear springs = Softer
Front anti-sway bar = Thicker-stiffer
Rear anti-sway bar = Thinner-softer
Weight distribution = More forward
#2
In my experience the factory alignment tends toward understeer. These changes seem to provide a better balance in an otherwise stock car:
Hot tire pressures of 36 to 38 psi
Increase front negative camber (-1.0d to -2.0d)
Increase front toe out (-2mm to -3mm total)
Reduce rear toe in (2mm to 4mm total)
Hot tire pressures of 36 to 38 psi
Increase front negative camber (-1.0d to -2.0d)
Increase front toe out (-2mm to -3mm total)
Reduce rear toe in (2mm to 4mm total)
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Posted by Mike Schuster
The reason I posted this chart was because many people have expressed a tendency for the S2000 to snap OVERsteer without much warning. Your setting would have the tendency to exasperate the problem on the S2000.
In my experience the factory alignment tends toward understeer...
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josh3io - You're welcome! As I was looking for that silly little chart I had the same thought but I will leave it up to the web deities to put it into FAQ. I have found the chart very helpful over the years. I sure hope others hit upon this thread and copy the info out for themselves.
#6
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Originally posted by josh3io
thanks for the cheat sheet! that's incredibly useful...should be a FAQ
thanks for the cheat sheet! that's incredibly useful...should be a FAQ
http://www.s2000online.com/faqs/showfaq.ph...?threadid=17418
#7
Triple-H, I agree, if you feel your car oversteers then absolutely don't do what I suggest. My point in posting was only to let people know the things that I have found to be effective at reducing understeer on an otherwise stock car that has such a tendency.
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Originally posted by Mike Schuster
Triple-H, I agree, if you feel your car oversteers then absolutely don't do what I suggest. My point in posting was only to let people know the things that I have found to be effective at reducing understeer on an otherwise stock car that has such a tendency.
Triple-H, I agree, if you feel your car oversteers then absolutely don't do what I suggest. My point in posting was only to let people know the things that I have found to be effective at reducing understeer on an otherwise stock car that has such a tendency.
Don't believe the understeer? Try this: Find a good cloverleaf and spend some time coasting around the curves. See what you think.
Anyway, the chart is good and applies to whatever state you are trying to control.
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Mike Schuster - I agree, many cars do have the tendency for understeer, I also think that is good in general for the basic camper. When they finally realize they are in trouble and panic, their lift from the throttle causes the backend to come out a bit as the weight transfers to the turning tires and some of the problem is reduced. Your suggestions would help the terminally understeering car to be a bit more neutral.
Schatten - WOW, my info was from a small business card size handout. The link you provided was much better. Thanks, I am in the process of updating what goes in my wallet!
jschmidt - I keep running across your name. This was a brilliant insight. I'm a strange duck, I've ordered a '02 S2 but don't own it yet. I've test driven two so far and have had no reservations in pushing them to their limit because they were used, but I don't have one to drive everyday yet. I've been driving a CRX-Si on the racetrack for 10+ years and am now a driving school instructor so I've had my share of rear wheel drive experiences.
Schatten - WOW, my info was from a small business card size handout. The link you provided was much better. Thanks, I am in the process of updating what goes in my wallet!
jschmidt - I keep running across your name. This was a brilliant insight. I'm a strange duck, I've ordered a '02 S2 but don't own it yet. I've test driven two so far and have had no reservations in pushing them to their limit because they were used, but I don't have one to drive everyday yet. I've been driving a CRX-Si on the racetrack for 10+ years and am now a driving school instructor so I've had my share of rear wheel drive experiences.
#10
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triple-h - the one I got was from a Yokohama advertisement some 10 years or so ago when I worked at Discount Tire. It works great but keep the list small, like you have it, since increasing/increasing front/aft downforce is kinda difficult to do at the track. =)