Understeer and Oversteer?

What are the definitions of understeer and oversteer? And what type of strut bars affect what (front upper, rear upper, front lower, and rear lower). I already understand what sway bars do, I'm just a little confused as to what strut bars do.

Understeer is when you want to turn into a corner and you keep going straight.

Oversteer is when the back of your car wants to come around.

Strut bars reinforce the body structure of your car. Picture your car like a 'U' and the shocks attach to both sides of the 'U' like /U\ and the strut bars connect the tops of the 'U' together to make the body ridgid.

How do strut bars affect handling. I realize they're good for it, but does each one affect a different aspect?

Upper strut bars really dont affect handling when the rest of the suspension is upgraded. I honestly can't feel a difference in over/understeer with the upper bars removed, the rear lower tie helps slighty with oversteer along with the rear sway bar. The biggest difference i feel is at idle with the bars on/off, off feels like a civic on doens't feel like a civic. Keep in mind if the bars have hinged ends they are completely pointless.

Without struts there would be no place to mount your springs so they are very important. If you were able to mount springs without struts the car would bounce uncontrollably, tires breaking contact, etc. Struts control springs & absorb energy. I think www.koni.com has some tech info on struts, more than I feel like typing.

Thanks, does anyone else think upper strut bars are pointless?

Thanks, does anyone else think upper strut bars are pointless?

Upper strut bars do more than lower strut bars.

CivicSiRacer you seem very knowledgable in the suspension catagory. I'm planing on buying some eibach prokit springs for better handling. I basically want to turn corners and take curves faster without that "If this door wasn't here, I'd fly out of the car feel" that stock cars have when the take turns at 25+ mph. Should I buy strut bars for the car? And if so, which ones?

CivicSiRacer you seem very knowledgable in the suspension catagory. I'm planing on buying some eibach prokit springs for better handling. I basically want to turn corners and take curves faster without that "If this door wasn't here, I'd fly out of the car feel" that stock cars have when the take turns at 25+ mph. Should I buy strut bars for the car? And if so, which ones?

Since I'm an autocross instructor I will tell you the best handling car comes from the driver who knows how to use the car. I know plenty of stock cars that can out-handle a car with $5000 suspension mods.

I would personally say take a Novice Autocross school in your area. They should be starting up pretty soon. Go to http://www.scca.com and go to Solo2.

In all honesty with my personal experience, if your suspension (springs and struts) are stiff enough, even having upper bars is barely even noticeable if any.

Thanks a lot guys, you just saved my a ton of money!

Since I'm an autocross instructor I will tell you the best handling car comes from the driver who knows how to use the car. I know plenty of stock cars that can out-handle a car with $5000 suspension mods.

I would personally say take a Novice Autocross school in your area. They should be starting up pretty soon. Go to http://www.scca.com and go to Solo2.

:werd: most people don't honestly know the feeling of an oversteering or understeering car because most of the time the car is being over-driven. Of course the car will push like hell or be loose like a $2.00 slut.

You can also check www.racingschools.com

www.mazdarevitup.com