Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 03:53 pm, by: David Vaughan
Reading back over old posts, I saw that Ollie and Justin (Hughes) had fitted Whiteline adjustable bars front and rear. Do you have yours yet Benny? A couple of questions if you will:
What characteristics were you after?
How do you have them adjusted?
Anyone else who has the same bars, feel free to jump in.}
I needed to reduce front end roll around corners. Was pretty savage in the Soarer (well, too much for my liking).
I adjusted both front and rear to maximum stiffness, and wish there was one more notch on the front bar, but that's probably to do with my driving style.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 04:34 pm, by: David Vaughan
So you both wanted a flatter attitude, possibly reduced roll camber, but Juzza (gosh!) you actually added understeer? Was that to reduce oversteer on corner exit? Was there much effect on low or high speed corner entry?
Simon I remember you making a similar comment in the ALSC thread. Is it an understeer/oversteer balance for which you want that notch and where in the corner (entry/power-on/exit)? Alternatively, is it primarily a feel of stability in the front end?
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 05:03 pm, by: Justin Hughes
Flatter Attitude - Yes, Reduced Roll Camber - Yes, Understeer - Yes. Low Speed Cornering is now more of an effort, but I feel much safer diving into Turn 1 at 190 KPH. I was taught by a Real Race Car Driver to work the wheel like MAD, if you watch one of my Hot Laps you will see that the steering wheel never stays in one position whilst cornering. At high speed, Understeer is Good It suits MY driving style at least !!!! I hate driving Stock Falcons and Front Wheel Drive Cars because of the oversteer factor.
My main reason for stiffening up the front was to reduce front end roll on corner entry. Compared to my last car (a FWD of all things) the Soarer still doesn't seem to have the same turn in capability. Possibly need a few lessons on the track as there is probably something I'm missing in my approach.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 07:40 pm, by: Ken Packer
I've just had white line adjustables fitted today.The soft setting on the rear is actually to reduce oversteer ( snap oversteer) on exit of corners on the track. Reducing the body roll ,will keep more rubber in touch with the road. I'll be on the trach in two weeks. I'm looking forward to the improvement.
Friday, August 19, 2005 - 01:25 pm, by: Damien Smith
I have them fitted front & rear but have them both on the softer setting as I also have coilovers and I like this balance.
Simon, I think the turn-in ability has a lot to do with the amount of mass in the front of the car. I've read somewhere it's 70/30 for the TT which would explain why spring rates are about double at the front compared to the rear. Need to get some weight out of the front of the car
Damian, I hope I'm reading what you've written in the wrong context. You shouldn't be using the coilovers to compensate agains body roll. That leads to unnecessarily stiff damper settings which can compromise other handling characteristics. Sway bars are there to prevent roll, shock absorbers are there to absorb bumps.
I've got coilovers too, but they are on the default setting as I like a (relatively) smooth ride, but enjoy flat, controlled cornering.
Friday, August 19, 2005 - 02:34 pm, by: Damien Smith
The coilovers have a stiffer spring weight than the airbags so they also help reduce body roll. My coilovers are softer than most and I'm not a proponent of stiff suspension at all - you should have the softest suspension you can get away with for the required task.
I've read a few books on car suspension and for slow-slung cars like the Lotus 7 the ideal situation is to not use sway bars at all because it creates a link between each side reducing the "independence" of the suspension system. This isn't possible in a saloon car like the Soarer so sway bars are necessary but it is a system and all components work together.
Whiteline Supra adjustable swaybars on mine Firmest up front and softest at the rear gives me the most traction out of corners - oversteer is always only a twitch of the right toe away!