Has anyone looked at the bump steer curve for the rear suspension? Often when there is a rear bump steer issue mfgers stabilize things by adding static toe-in such that toe-out won't occur.

Another factor could be bushing compliance or flex in the other components.

FWIW, SCC magazine seems to feel that the car has a rear bump steer issue, which becomes more pronounced when the car is lowered or when race rubber is used.

Steve Millen seemed to feel that the bushings might be an issue.

Changing the bump steer via pick up point revision and/or tweaking any bushings or flexey stuff doesn't have to add understeer. Heck they may even be able to cut the rear toe-in setting which would help premature tire wear factors.

Stan

 

I partly agree, but would Honda make an issue of the suspension changes if they thought that there was a minor problem with the '00 & '01 models?

There are many rumours in Japan that Honda believed that there was a handling issue but that they wanted to keep quiet about it.

 

I'm just throwing this out there, but I havent had any problems on oversteer. Have you guys/gals considered the road surface you encountered these wicked oversteers? Oh well just a though. I can go through a turn in second gear and about 7k rpms. Its all about being smooth, SMOOOOOTH!!!!!

 

I haven't experienced this problem either. If anything, I experience understeer in sharp corners.

 

The bottom line is Honda as built a very pure sports car, with tremendous capabilities on the track, unfortunately it can be a handful if you are not an experienced driver. The easy way out, which most manufacturers take is either a softer more understeer at the limit suspension or electronic stability control, the latter means more money, which I am sure Honda wants to avoid, and perhaps a bit more weight. The former is probably where they will eventually go since the car is becoming increasingly popular and appealing to not only purists but just regular drivers that may find it easy to get in trouble with this car.
Honda wants to sell cars and if the S2000 sells well, they will certainly attempt to broaden it's market appeal, in other words water down the original formula.

 

Second that.

First of all, snap oversteer is going to be present in cars with very stiff setup, like the S2000. That's why I'm not too much into stiffer springs and sway bars.

Next, the super sticky S02s with very hard sidewalls will only make snap-oversteer worse. It's probably not a bad idea to replace the S02s with RE730s.

Unless you're a veteran racer, or you only drive the s2000 on a track, it's probably nice to have a more forgiving tire to play around with.

 

With a stock S2000 I have zero problem on the street. The point is I normally drive at 7/10th's or less for safety.

Take your stock S2000 out to an Auto-X and you will find some peculiar handling traits at 10/10ths and beyond. Like understeer in smooth traction circles and snap oversteer on "some" sharp transitions. There is something to that bump-steer comment mentioned above. The real track-day guys among us want that improved.

I think there is some fundamental improvement to be had in better controlling left-right weight transfer and that would NOT be just a tradeoff between under/over steer.

 

you know i thought that the general consesus was that the s2000 was a neutral car in handeling unless provoked

 

I've taken my S2000 to the track several times now and I still have yet to experience rear end problems that this guy is talking about. My times around PIR so far have only been about 2 seconds slower them my experienced boss's M5 and the Z06 that run every time. And I certainly dont claim to be an expert driver.

 

frankly, I hope the 2002 has taken care of the snap oversteer -- also welcomed would be tires that handle wet conditions better than the SO2's.