Hi everyone!
I am the owner of an Ap1 2003 model with the following specs:

-Wheels: OEM 16 inches wheels with pirelli P-zero nero tires.
-Suspension: KW Variant 3 Coilover kit
Settings (clicks-turns from full stiff) :
front:
rebound -> 11 clicks
bump -> 1 turn
ride height -> 10/16 inc (2cm) lower than OEM
rear:
rebound -> 13 clicks
bump -> 1.25 turn
ride height ->1/2 inc (1,5 cm) lower than OEM

-Alingment:

Front
Camber -1*3'
Castor 5*15'
Toe in 1/16 (2mm)

Rear
Camber -1*5'
Toe in 1/16 (2mm)

In Greece, where I live, the roads are in a really bad condition with lots of bumps or fully slippery..this is why my settings are not stiff enough..
What I really need is traction under these conditions..

But I have a problem I can not solve even after having 3-4 different alingment settings..( I know they are not enough, but unfortunately they are not free )
The problem I have to solve is that I feel my car a bit "flabby"..
I can not aim the "apex" as good as possible, because the car seems to "float"..
Driving on the highway, I do not feel safe either, because the car "floats" there too..
On the last steering correction on the end of drifting I do not have enough feedback to find the center..

Stiffness and better feedback is what is missing from the car but I feel it's not stiffness that has to do with suspension because if I change this one, the car starts to oversteer or understeer because of the bad road condition..
The traction of the car is very good, but this feeling does not allow me to push it to it's limits..
I tried 17 inces wheels and I found my car really improved, but that bad feeling still existed..

Any suggestions...?

I forgot to mention that I want an all around car, suitable for twisty mountain roads for speeds around 80 mph and also suitable for drifting -as you can see on the video above in my signature - with no understeer at all (that's why I use such a high front camber angle and only -1*4' rear).. Increasing castor, would give me more feedback, but more understeer too...wouldn't it...?

I believe that toe in is responsible for my problem, but I would like to read your opinions..

 

i am offering no help, but to your video:



~tina~

 

did you preload your suspension when you installed them?

 

thanks tina!

yes...absolutely...!

I feel the problem has nothing to do with the suspension because all started after having my first alingment with about 45.000 miles on my S2000..
It is really strange, because my current settings are very close to OEM and there shouldn't be a problem..

The garage had not kept the previous alingment settings (which were great!! )..and neither did I, because I delieved that after so many miles everything else, would be much better..
But finally, it wasn't...


*ADVICE: ALWAYS HAVE YOUR ALINGMENT SETTINGS PRINTED !!!

..so you always know your previous settings in order to compare..
I didn't do that for a single time and that was enough for making me trying to find out everything about alingment setting, but still haven't found out what's wrong..

In my opinion, I need more toe in (about 6mm - 1/4 inches Total) but I used to avoid it because of tire wear..
But I am not quite sure, either...
Maybe 225/50/16 is too high for a pirelli, but I tried 17 inces with avon ZZ3 and the problem still existed..not in such a high level as with 16 inches but still existed

 

Try inspecting your shock absorbers for evidence of fluid. Dead dampers will definitely produce a floating sensation and sap confidence. Other things to look for are compliance in any of the ball joints and bushing during a solid shake of the wheel with your hands.

Something which is unclear is whether the problem is just general bad sensations, or if it is only at the limit.

 

i don't know about the settings for the kwv3

but for your alignment, you should be able to get more caster. on my car i have -2.2 degrees of camber in the front with 6.5 degrees caster. also, you may want to try running 0 toe in the front.

 

It's general bad sensations..

My compliance bushings (castor bolt) are not in the best condition and I have already ordered new ones but it takes some time because I have to import them (compliance set does not exist in Greece..!! ).. Do you think that this could be responsible for that bad sensations ?