what "rake" means?

There are some considerations here:
1
Raising the car a little helps me get the jack under the front! The 16's on 205 x 45 tyres lowers the car a further 10mm compared to the 17's with 205 x 45 tyres.
2
The rear was too low to the front compared to last year; I have got it back to the road-to-wheel-arch measurements of last year now
3
The rake is the axis of the car from front to back. It plays a significant role in the way the susension affects the dynamics of the car, in accelleration (weight transfer) and braking (anti dive) and changes the relationship for the suspension pick up points and how they behave together.

The 911 is very sensitive to the rake angle (1 degree nose down measured along the door sill), but the Impreza seems much the same.

It will be facinating to see if I can get the advanced AST's I have borrowed from Powerstation to give better results to the brilliant AST's I had last year (and Curtis' set up!).
I hope I can do them justice, or Rich will not be happy!

No pressure then :norty:

Graham.
( :D )

Ideally you want the rear of an Impreza 5mm higher than the front, or so I've been told.

If you lower one too far the bottom suspension arms end up parallel (nearly or even over so inboard end is closer to the ground than the outboard ends) with the ground which means you suspension won't work properly (as I have found) basically you end up with the suspension locked until you get engough body roll or loss of grip for the tyres to slide sideways...My car is now much higher than I had previously set it and suprise suprise I have suspension that can actually move :rolleyes:

I'll go with that.
The 911's rule is you set the front end with the wishbones level and bring the rear up at 1 deg then that is the ideal (old 911's that is).
I am always thinking that the driveshafts might run out of float if too low at the rear.

Some time in the past when the Prodrive guy used to answer questiond the rake subject got very deeply discussed, but those threads now lost to the old Snet!

Graham

before the scooby I had a seat leon and the inboard end was a lot closer to the ground than the outboard end. I never had any problems, always thought it had a good handling.

graham do you use wheel spacers? I'm asking because the standard rims have a high ET so wouldn't you have more grip if you have the tires closer to the outside?

No, and there is almost no room (on the rears especially) to widen the track...but, on my car i have the double adjustable lower arms on the rear and they are extended about 10mm so giving the widest track i can get without the half shafts binding.

Graham

hum... I've seen some pictures of classics with 8x17, 8x18 and even 8x19 ( et 35 ) after some "beating" to the fenders, I don't know how is the handling but I was thinking in doing the same thing to increase the grip.

Fit better tyres!
Such as Kumho v70
Graham

OK, time to start sorting the AST 3-way suspension.
This weekend is the Practice Weekend for my Club's hill climb track, so the real deal rather than fooling about on public roads (a no-no).

When Power Station gave me the units, Curtis set them at '5 clicks' on all 3 adjusters, 50% settings.
The ride was ok, bit 'giggly' but good on motorway surfaces.
Show them a country lane and they were a bit harsh.

Been out today to fuel the Impreza over a route with some VERY different surfaces (my private test track) and softened the Low Speed Compression off by 2 clicks.

What a transformation!

Really amazing how they changed! The car can ride so much better now on Country Lane surfaces and undulations.
Going to soften the high speed tomorrow over the same route and see where we stand then...

I am going to have 4 runs up the hill on sunday, so can try the high speed rebound in the morning of the day and try to coarsly dial in the system.

Hope to have some simple vids on sunday (maybe).

Have to say the car is bloody ballistic now compared to last year, that engine is great.
Where's the EVO?

I would like to hear from any of you on setting up 3 way units.

Graham
:D

Went several stages further today with the AST's.
Softened all settings by 1 click and now feels great.
Took Wadsey out in it for a ride (he was hill climbing today) and feels very smooth, better than the 2 way AST's of last year.
Acid test will be tomorrow on the track.

Just a few pics from the test day today:

Ready for tomorrow:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvl9c
Wadsy's RA in good company:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvlw2
Just so nice:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvnlk
Andrew's Legacy, 2.2/6 speeder/slicks = fast
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvo8j
Moody shot of a moody car:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvos6

Going to try to post a vid of Wadsy if I can later on here.( :norty: )
Andrew in the middle part of Loton:
http://dropshots.com/daymainframe.ph...0030101&cimg=1
[Martin in the same spot:
http://dropshots.com/daymainframe.ph...0030101&cimg=2

What a game getting these vids onto this thread are!.......
Graham.

Love the Audi :cool:

Think that last picture is my dads dream car, although be it the alloy version.:cool: :thumb:

The Alfa is Reg's 4th restoraton...you have to see it!

The Audi is one of 3 cars he has, One is a real Short wheel base (Tom Hammond's old tow car) and the other is a full length one.
This one is an early Dialynx car.

So sweet.
I hope to get a drive in it tomorrow!!

Eat ya hearts out guys.

Graham

My turn today.

Had 2 runs on the soft settings, one on a very wet green track, and the other on a drying track, cold and windy to say the least.

Both runs were solid just to get back 'into-the-groove' with the car.
Third run was in the dry, and with the rebound stiffened one click as the car seemed soft, but very in control (nothing to do with me..) and delivered a time of 60.09, just 0.1 sec slower than my best last year on a good sunny day well into the season.
Car was really solid, and everything was ok.
Bodes well for the year as all my 'contemparies' were around 3 to 6 seconds slower...:D

My friends Smart Car made it's maiden run also, but that is another story!

AST's feeling good, but i think i will try the softer settings again as the choppiness will be greatly reduced.
Loads more to come from the suspension yet.


Graham

Glad to hear all went well today for you, as you would have noticed it was a no show from me, had more pressing matters to attend to, Andrews Legacy has some very interesting sign writing on it.:wonder: . Hope to go and collect the gearbox this week, prior to having the clutch/flywheel done, so could be running sooner than i thought.

John

At long long last some vids for you:

http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?use...2&ctime=203558

http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0060402&cimg=2

And a surprise!
http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?use...2&ctime=203530

Graham

Did you realise you are picking up your rear inside wheel on that R/Hander, if only the AA was that quick.

John

nice vids graham, keep up the good work :)

Screeching tyres under braking and cornering, some early commitment during testing, near PB times, looking good.

[famous last words]

looking hopeful for this year then :thumb:

[/famous last words]

First real race meeting starts tomorrow at Loton Park.
The V8 Audi should not be there (:D ) but the EVO will ( :norty: )

I usually run 26 psi in my Kumhos in the damp/dry anyone have any comments on that?
ie fronts higher than rears?
Race day will be Monday.
I think I now have the AST's set right (thanks Job) but might experiemt a bit.

Kev:
Put my 'low' seat supports back in tonight, so much better...I now stare over the dashboard just about.

I want a still pic of the car on three wheels to show that Scottish bloke someone else can do it...
:D
Graham

good luck for tomorrow graham. keep us updated :)

First day of race practice over with today on a cold but dry track.

First run was on the settings of the event 2 weeks ago once I found that the number of clicks was uneven across the car; 2 corners were 1 click different...

Crossed the line on the first run @ 60.49 secs (personal best is 59.64 and a 64 foot start of 2.13).
Car felt good but so hard to get traction in the start and the corner exits, but the tyres are only barely scrubbed-in.
Took one click softer on the low speed bump, and left the rest alone (change one thing at a time and measure...)
This gave another crap start @ 2.35 but a personal best of 59.32! Difference was most noticable as here:

http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030101&cimg=1

Managed to squeeze -in a 3rd run in the sun, and went a little slower @ 59.8 but still the 2.35 start...that was 3 starts in 2.35 secs! Consistant if crap.
I can usually hit 2.07's and the EVO of course did a 1.9 :norty: (and a 57.8 run!)

So, tomorrow is the Day.

The EVO is a pain as ever, I'm 1.3 secs behind him, and a fast Sunbeam Lotus on slicks is 0.4 behind me!
Might be 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th.
WHY do I do this?

Another little vid:(with a bit of 'wifey' commentry!

http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030101&cimg=0

Graham
:D

Nice to see that things are moving forward for you ...and its early in the season yet.....:)

Graham,

You seriously need to do some drag racing to practice launches. For a 64 foot with no rollout, 1.8 is definitely realistic. I know we've been through this before, but you have 0.3s up your sleeve.

paul

yes plenty of time there to be made up ...I find the best thing with the evo is 5000 rpm feed the clutch in fast but not side stepping and do not change gear until the wheels have stopped spinning and you have reach your desired revs to change up....I have good success with this ...1.8 -1.9 every time..:)

Is that the dreaded evo?

not quite, I am the AMS evo that was in the same pit as you at GT Battle last year...but I think its Roy who he is going on about...:lol1: http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Fuel_Large.jpg

thats your car in the photo I think....