other than the stiffening of the rear arb and droplinks (which reduces grip at the rear and thus makes the whole car more slipery) are there any other suspension mods that can be done to the front end to improve matters, give a stronger turn in and greater total resistance to sliding front and rear?

 

Increasing the rear roll stiffness doesn't necessarily reduce the available grip overall, it just shifts the balance, increasing the front, reducing the rear. It's been demonstrated that increasing rear roll stiffness to combat understeer can allow the car to produce higher lateral g-levels.

 

ok but is there anything else to do beyond that, eg coilovers, more neg camber? though from what you say it does look to be the cheaper and simpler option.

 

Usual suspects along with the rear ARB and droplinks would be tyres (pressure, make, size), Geometry (caster, camber, toe in/out), possibly get the bump steer mod done if you're driving a classic, consider the Whiteline "Anti-lift kit" which increases caster angle.

After that maybe prodrive or Eibach springs( and re-do the geometry).

After that a good coilover setup (AST or the upcoming Scoobysport ones perhaps ?)

 

cheers that's v helpfull!

 

Coilovers do improve things in my experience, but that will depend on spring rates. Good tyres and geometry improvements will also work wonders. I find my car feels a little skittish with ARBs front and rear, okay at high speed, but not enough compliance for low speed tight bends.

Paul

 

this has been a real project on my hill climb Sti v3. To kill it off:

Fit Whiteline anti roll bars, front and rear.+ solid links.
Fit MRT front top mounts (huge increase in Caster and camber and fully adjustable)
Fit camber bolts front and rear for coarse adjustment
Fit wider rear lower control arms (hub to subframe) from Whiteline
Fit bloody good tyres (massive debate ensues!)
Fit coil -overs with correct spring rates, make rear rate 80% of front
Have the alignment does by someone who really knows (Power Station/TSL/Roger Clark etc)
Use the Whiteline settings NOT Prodrive etc.

I have several more extreme mods also, but in my real world hill climbing experience (hill climbing is like driving a very tight Tarmac Stage) and road driving (3000 miles/yr) this set-up works a real dream.
Think you will find the new Spec C is close to the above.
Lots of CASTER will kill turn-in understeer, but there are some drawbacks, ie 'wooden feeling' steering etc.

OK, take that lot in, but there won't be any understeer.
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