reducing understeer/ increasing oversteer

little_twin · 05-06-2009, 01:16 AM

I have an 87 NA that I use mainly for track days, and plan on doing some NASA TT events in the future. right now the suspension is stock and I am looking for a way to increase oversteer slightly. Will adding a rear sway bar give me the effect I am looking for?

I also plan on replacing the shocks and springs soon (not before my next trackday in june

) and it seems the popular set up is Koni + GC coilovers. Is this the best bang for the buck as far as track car suspension goes. I'm looking to spend $1000 total on shocks and springs.

Thanks

Davis · 05-06-2009, 01:20 AM

Yes, adding the rear sway will make it want to oversteer more.

Jackstand Queen · 05-06-2009, 01:03 PM

Have you done a battery to Frunk relocate?

little_twin · 05-06-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackstand Queen

Have you done a battery to Frunk relocate?

No I have not. Does it make a big difference?

Jackstand Queen · 05-06-2009, 04:57 PM

its about the equivalent of any single suspension upgrade you can think of. Its better than some of them even.

There's a recent thread in the MK I section of this forum that addresses the nuts and bolts of battery relocate. Its pretty good, I've done two relocates, and I still learned something new and important about it. Fusing.

328FTW · 05-09-2009, 01:48 AM

Increasing rear toe out can induce better rear swing and response but also makes the car waiver at speed on straights and if you use too much it will be taily and be worse through the corners. Mine was well balanced with battery relocation, rear sway bar install and slightly harder rear springs. Oh yeah and good tyre choice makes a huge difference, it doesn't matter how you set it up to not understeer if you have 245 rears and 165 fronts for instance. Good tyres also make the car corner dramatically better so I would look into a good set for racing.

jaysgottavtec · 05-09-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 328FTW

Increasing rear toe out can induce better rear swing and response but also makes the car waiver at speed on straights and if you use too much it will be taily and be worse through the corners. Mine was well balanced with battery relocation, rear sway bar install and slightly harder rear springs. Oh yeah and good tyre choice makes a huge difference, it doesn't matter how you set it up to not understeer if you have 245 rears and 165 fronts for instance. Good tyres also make the car corner dramatically better so I would look into a good set for racing.

i need some clarification, please: slightly harder as compared to stock, as in bump from 4kg to 6kg rates? or slightly harder compared to the front spring rate, as in 6kg front and 7kg rear rates? thanks

328FTW · 05-10-2009, 01:46 AM

Slightly harder as in I had a load of springs from different cars I have owned and I went through them until I found a set that felt right. They were slightly harder then the stock rear springs and had a few extra coils. The front was kept at stock rates with harder gas insert shocks and the rear got some gas inserts later on which helped a little as well. I don't actually know the rate but it stopped it rolling so much weight onto the outside rear under throttle and kept a little more weight on the front but at the same time not so hard it started bouncing. They may be stock 88 SC mr2 or FXGT corolla aftermarket springs, they were on my suspension rack and those two are the most likely things that got chucked on there. I also spent a lot of time messing with camber and toe out/in, it just took a lot of time more than anything.

tjmr2 · 05-14-2009, 01:45 AM

89 NA, Black Top, Fidanza 9lb. Stock basket weave 14" wheels, Addco 3/4" sway bars front and rear, Eibach springs 1" lower front and rear, KYB gr2 struts all around. Prothane bushings all around. Custom rear strut tower bar, battery in frunk.

Rides like a truck, without any weight in it. But on the right road I could make you blow your Cheerios into a bag, grab the handle above the window and beg me to slow down all without squealing a tire.

05-06-2009, 01:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
little_twin No Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	reducing understeer/ increasing oversteer I have an 87 NA that I use mainly for track days, and plan on doing some NASA TT events in the future. right now the suspension is stock and I am looking for a way to increase oversteer slightly. Will adding a rear sway bar give me the effect I am looking for? I also plan on replacing the shocks and springs soon (not before my next trackday in june ) and it seems the popular set up is Koni + GC coilovers. Is this the best bang for the buck as far as track car suspension goes. I'm looking to spend $1000 total on shocks and springs. Thanks

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05-06-2009, 01:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 3,728 Thanks: 84 Thanked 104 Times in 95 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	Yes, adding the rear sway will make it want to oversteer more.

05-06-2009, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Have you done a battery to Frunk relocate?

05-06-2009, 04:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	its about the equivalent of any single suspension upgrade you can think of. Its better than some of them even. There's a recent thread in the MK I section of this forum that addresses the nuts and bolts of battery relocate. Its pretty good, I've done two relocates, and I still learned something new and important about it. Fusing.

05-09-2009, 01:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
328FTW Can you say grippy? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,513 Thanks: 12 Thanked 99 Times in 83 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Increasing rear toe out can induce better rear swing and response but also makes the car waiver at speed on straights and if you use too much it will be taily and be worse through the corners. Mine was well balanced with battery relocation, rear sway bar install and slightly harder rear springs. Oh yeah and good tyre choice makes a huge difference, it doesn't matter how you set it up to not understeer if you have 245 rears and 165 fronts for instance. Good tyres also make the car corner dramatically better so I would look into a good set for racing.

05-10-2009, 01:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
328FTW Can you say grippy? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,513 Thanks: 12 Thanked 99 Times in 83 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Slightly harder as in I had a load of springs from different cars I have owned and I went through them until I found a set that felt right. They were slightly harder then the stock rear springs and had a few extra coils. The front was kept at stock rates with harder gas insert shocks and the rear got some gas inserts later on which helped a little as well. I don't actually know the rate but it stopped it rolling so much weight onto the outside rear under throttle and kept a little more weight on the front but at the same time not so hard it started bouncing. They may be stock 88 SC mr2 or FXGT corolla aftermarket springs, they were on my suspension rack and those two are the most likely things that got chucked on there. I also spent a lot of time messing with camber and toe out/in, it just took a lot of time more than anything.

05-14-2009, 01:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
tjmr2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 309 Thanks: 0 Thanked 48 Times in 45 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	89 NA, Black Top, Fidanza 9lb. Stock basket weave 14" wheels, Addco 3/4" sway bars front and rear, Eibach springs 1" lower front and rear, KYB gr2 struts all around. Prothane bushings all around. Custom rear strut tower bar, battery in frunk. Rides like a truck, without any weight in it. But on the right road I could make you blow your Cheerios into a bag, grab the handle above the window and beg me to slow down all without squealing a tire.