suspension
buggybones
08-11-2003, 05:08 PM
I have a buggy based on the VW front and rear gearbox suspension set-up.
As the front and rear springs are still set for a VW beetle - it pushes too much in the steering. Do I make the front suspension softer to help steering. It already has neg. camber and toe-in.
As the front and rear springs are still set for a VW beetle - it pushes too much in the steering. Do I make the front suspension softer to help steering. It already has neg. camber and toe-in.
V-8Fan
08-16-2003, 11:52 PM
I don't think there's a thing you can do to make the thing steer like a street car. When there's no weight on the front end, your stuck with severe understeer.
HOWEVER...driving technique can make up for this problem. What you need is weight on the front end, and I'm sure you don't want to put a bunch of heavy junk on it. So what you do is put weight on it by decelerating when you want to turn. Find yourself a nice wide-open area where it's safe to experiment. Get going to a good speed and try to turn by only using the steering...you'll not have much luck (as I am sure you know). Then do the same thing, only let off the accelerator completely just before you turn the wheel. This should shift some weight onto the front end and make the car turn. Next, try doing the same thing, only downshift by a gear just before you turn the wheel. That should make the steering even more responsive. Practice and learn how the car responds. You should be able to throw the buggy around turns like nobody's business using this technique.
But DO be very careful, and ESPECIALLY the first few times you do it. Work up to high-speed turns slowly, and you'll figure it out.
Be safe!
HOWEVER...driving technique can make up for this problem. What you need is weight on the front end, and I'm sure you don't want to put a bunch of heavy junk on it. So what you do is put weight on it by decelerating when you want to turn. Find yourself a nice wide-open area where it's safe to experiment. Get going to a good speed and try to turn by only using the steering...you'll not have much luck (as I am sure you know). Then do the same thing, only let off the accelerator completely just before you turn the wheel. This should shift some weight onto the front end and make the car turn. Next, try doing the same thing, only downshift by a gear just before you turn the wheel. That should make the steering even more responsive. Practice and learn how the car responds. You should be able to throw the buggy around turns like nobody's business using this technique.
But DO be very careful, and ESPECIALLY the first few times you do it. Work up to high-speed turns slowly, and you'll figure it out.
Be safe!
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