Originally posted by whiteyg2RS I’m really curious about these things. Can someone give me some insight? TIA.
That depends on a number of factors. With my stock suspension, I found the car rotated better when I had people in my back seat and over a half tank of gas. I contributed this to what I will call the “Porsche 911” effect, based on the early 911’s that were notorious for oversteer. Based on weight distribution, with the engine behind the rear axle, most people would think that the 911 would understeer. However, because of the rear weight bias, there was alot of energy in the rear of the car. It turned out to be difficult to change the direction of all this energy, which produced sudden oversteer. However, there is also the same concept you find in pickup trucks, which have a very light rear-end and can be prone to oversteer for the opposite reason. With the center of mass farther forward, the vehicle pendulums around that point. Neither of these situations would be very optimal for me, since both can be very tricky at the limit. I don’t know if this explanation has helped you any. Just experiment and see which setup you like best(try to go off of times also, since sometimes a setup can feel faster than it really is). Personally, I would be willing to sacrifice a few pounds in order to have a well balanced setup, rather than having the lightest, but least balanced, car on the track.
Originally posted by SerialOne I’m running skunks now and I have the heavier rate springs in the front, now if I switch it around would it be a noticeble difference? Would it just dial out some understeer I don’t really want the car to oversteer at all.
Yes it will be very noticable difference. it shouldnt oversteer but it will dial out understeer. My civic oversteers a little off the gas because I have a stock 18mm front sway and a 4dr teg rear sway (15mm). With a bigger front sway (22 I think) and pretty much the same rear one it shouldnt oversteer as much as mine (or at all). I say just try it. Experimentation is the best way to figure out things like this.
Even switching to the springs around heavy out back not so heavy in front. Would a bigger rear sway bar(ST or Progress) do more then having the higher rate spring in front and the lower rate spring in the back?
SerialOne- I would suggest tuning your car using spring rates. Then, once you have done that, use sway bars to make rough adjustments. [/B]
I agree and it costs nothing but my time. I’ll give it a try and see what happens, but I think all the solo2/autox events are done for the year up here. So I won’t have a definite answer till next year, 'cept what I feel on the streets.
Originally posted by BeatuPls503 Umm passive rear wheel steering? when did this happen? or show me something in text pertaining to this and i will believe it. I own an RSX and nowhere do i see anything about this passive rear wheel steering you speak off. IMO the car is just well balanced.
Well, I haven’t researched it, but he drove an RSX and Celica back to back and took the same stretch of road with each car. There’s a pretty tight loop at the end of that street, and he took them at the same speed in each car. The celica basically stayed level and handled very predictably. The RSX started to lean a little bit, but all of the sudden the back end seemed to swing out and there was suddenly oversteer (gasp! on a fwd??). Kinda scary at first.
And I’m not 100% certain on this, so don’t hold it against me, but from what I understand it has to do with flex in the rear sway bar actually affecting the rear toe-in just enough to give some oversteer. I’ve heard that getting a stiffer rear sway bar in the RSX can actually reduce the oversteer.
Originally posted by SerialOne I agree and it costs nothing but my time. I’ll give it a try and see what happens, but I think all the solo2/autox events are done for the year up here. So I won’t have a definite answer till next year, 'cept what I feel on the streets.
It’ll be a big difference, trust me. Just be sure to be off the brakes around the corner. Spinning out on the street is bad.
I’m guessing braking mid turn will cause the back end to come around? But I should have time during the Thanksgiving weekend to swap the springs around. Thanks for the insight, I’ll keep you posted.
Originally posted by SerialOne I’m guessing braking mid turn will cause the back end to come around? But I should have time during the Thanksgiving weekend to swap the springs around. Thanks for the insight, I’ll keep you posted.
