Help needed. I have had my scoob for a while now and know it pretty well apart from understeer. I am a fairly competent driver but want some advice from people in the know before I come unstuck.
I was having a rather booring race with a focus ST170 last evening, all over him. Came to a roundabout, slow in accelarate through and it understeered like bxxery, ST170 through no probs.
How do I set the car up to avoid this as I looked a bit (A lot) of a prat with all the screeching & wide eyes.
Help please.

 

If you use the search you will find loads about it and lots of explanations.

Basically if you get the bumpsteer mod done to remove it and a full suspension setup the car will no longer understeer and handle like a dream. You need the solid anti roll bar links as well.

Les

 

Cheers, I'll do that

 

What tyres do you have ? What tyre pressures are you running ?

I had the same problem with my first MY00 and found that changing the tyres getting the pressures right, and have the cambers changed to the Pro-drive settings made a world of difference. As mentioned on the last post the bump steer mod (including the camber changes) will make the car more controllable. I don't think you'll ever completely lose the understeer!!

I'm used to the small amount of understeer and use the throttle while cornering to correct the understeer. Bit scary when you first try it, but brilliant when you sussed it out.

Phill

 

Bumpsteer and geometry will help to get a more neutral balance, but will not completely remove understeer.

 

You need a DCCD to do that

 

I get no noticeable understeer now with solid Whiteline anti roll bar links, and using F1 Eagle D3's. It is possible to induce progressive oversteer with power. 35 PSI front/33 PSI rear. MY94 STI, standard STI suspension and anti roll bars.

Les

 

Strut brace will give you oversteer instead

 

Uprated rear ARB would be the first mod I'd do to correct this behaviour, along with geometry at same time if it's never been done properly.

The rear ARB does lead to a higher tendency of lift-off oversteer....but so what, it really helps setting up for those difficult corners

Richard

 

submannz,

"Strut brace will give you oversteer instead"

Did you mean rear "anti roll bar" aka "sway bar", or are you telling us that a strut brace will affect handling balance more than we may previously have thought?

 

Practice what you preach.

Aintbroke dontfix :

 

I agree, but I may have to change my username soon to aintincontrol ohsxit.

 

Correct that, I'll change to Aintable Tochangegear, see seperate thread. It has however sorted out the understeer as I can't move now.

 

try fast in, loads of stoppers and drive out. works much better on awd its all a matter of grip. Or hard in lift off at apex and power out.

 

hmm just changed my tyre preasures today to 32psi allround and now i have sum nice lift off action going on

car seams to drive a bit more neutral as well, which is nice

 

With my strut brace and may others I have driven after fitting you get virtually no understeer and have found the car(s) to oversteer instead, of course under power out of a corner.

 

Its the bumpsteer which causes the understeer and things like camber and toe in adjustment will not cure it. You have to get rid of the bumpsteer first. I have a front strut brace anyway and my car handles exactly as Submannz says.

Les

 

Is it only Powerstaion that can do the bumpsteer thing or is there anywhere else a bit closer to Cambridge (100 mile radius) that can do it ?

 

I dont know anyone else, might be someone in Scotland but not sure.
If you book in they do it while you wait and watch, they tell you what they are doing. You could do it easily in a day from Cambridge. Bit nearer than from my place to there I think. Worth considering the solid anti roll bar links to complete the set up while you are there.

Les

 

I think it's Star Performance (or possible Falklands) who do the Bumpsteer mod in Scotland. Can never remember which, but they are both based in Glenrothes, Fife.

Stefan

 

i had an anti lift kit fitted, it was a white line kit, and some anti roll bar bushes front and back, WOW WHAT A DIFF IT MADE TO MINE, YOU CAN REALLY GIVE IT FULL THROTTLE IN THE LOWER GEARS IN BENDS OR ROUND ABOUTS NOW, AND IT WILL HOLD THE LINE, AND MAKES THE STEERING SHARPER, A TRUELY EXELLENT MOD, RECOMMENDED.MARK

 

Totally agree with the comments.
My type r came across with fully adjustable Tein suspension and STI uprated rear bars and although very good on smooth surfaces it understeered something terrible.

Finally had the geometry and bumpsteer done at Powerstation last week and WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! What a difference.
After getting rid of the 26mins of toe out!!!!!!!!!!! and 6 mins of rear thrust the car now feels amazing.
Very very solid indeed........

Within 5 mins my brakes gave in completely , I was carrying far more speed than ever before and putting far more pressure onto the stoppers.

Cant wait to get the new brembos on to further exploit its capabilities.

 

nice one

 

Right then, reading this I've decided on powerflex drop links and AVO coilovers along with powerflex anti roll bar bushes. Who makes a good anti dive kit, and any idea of cost ?

Was thinking of replacing all the front and rear bushes, but this is going to cost around £400. Is it really worth all that ? I want to do all of it together then go to Powerstation for the bumpsteer and 4 wheel alignment

Thanks Phill

 

oops double posted

[Edited by submannz - 8/9/2003 8:03:43 AM]