S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

Pocket Guide to Suspension Settings

Thread Tools
 
Old Nov 13, 2001 | 02:47 PM
  #1  
Triple-H's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 58,680
Likes: 2
From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Default 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
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2001 | 09:14 PM
  #2  
Mike Schuster's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: CA
Default

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)
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2001 | 09:27 PM
  #3  
josh3io's Avatar
Registered User
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View
Default

thanks for the cheat sheet! that's incredibly useful...should be a FAQ
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 04:11 AM
  #4  
Triple-H's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 58,680
Likes: 2
From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Default

Posted by Mike Schuster
In my experience the factory alignment tends toward understeer...
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.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 04:16 AM
  #5  
Triple-H's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 58,680
Likes: 2
From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Default

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.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 01:12 PM
  #6  
Schatten's Avatar
Registered User
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 2
From: Austin
Default

Originally posted by josh3io
thanks for the cheat sheet! that's incredibly useful...should be a FAQ
actually it is, if you'd look in the faqs.

http://www.s2000online.com/faqs/showfaq.ph...?threadid=17418
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 02:14 PM
  #7  
Mike Schuster's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: CA
Default

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.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 04:18 PM
  #8  
jschmidt's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 0
From: Laurel
Default

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.
I think the car does both. Its natural state is understeer transitioning very quickly to oversteer under power. I think the skinny front tires and skinny rear rain grooves were to dial out oversteer under power.

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.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 04:40 PM
  #9  
Triple-H's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 58,680
Likes: 2
From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Default

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.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2001 | 04:58 PM
  #10  
Schatten's Avatar
Registered User
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 2
From: Austin
Default

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. =)
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:04 AM.