Suspension Set-up Advice
Discussion
Hello People,
I'm getting some front and rear suspension work done (worn links and bushings) and will go in for a four-wheel alignment right after.
Instead of the technicians dialling in the standard alignment settings on the rear suspension, can anyone recommend specific settings that would give me a slightly more oversteery balance? For example, different toe or camber settings?
It's an e36 318i, so powerslides on dry tarmac aren't really an option for arse-out antics. Also, it's riding on standard springs and dampers, so it's really benign when I do provoke it, but I would like a more tail-led handling balance if it's possible...
I'm getting some front and rear suspension work done (worn links and bushings) and will go in for a four-wheel alignment right after.
Instead of the technicians dialling in the standard alignment settings on the rear suspension, can anyone recommend specific settings that would give me a slightly more oversteery balance? For example, different toe or camber settings?
It's an e36 318i, so powerslides on dry tarmac aren't really an option for arse-out antics. Also, it's riding on standard springs and dampers, so it's really benign when I do provoke it, but I would like a more tail-led handling balance if it's possible...
I have just had my car four wheel aligned and with advice from www.munichlegends.co.uk/homepage.html I have had the front toe in taken out to run parallel and the rear left normal, I have noticed a difference especially at staright ahead speed much more stable.....not a lot in it on the twisties though although mine was 4 degrees out 
when it was checked and my front wheels needed balancing.
when it was checked and my front wheels needed balancing.
. Or get a different car with more power?To minimise corner entry understeer, one of the following will help.
1,soften front springs.
2, soften front dampers.
3,lower the front suspension.
To minimise mid corner understeer.
1, stiffen front springs.
2, stiffen front swaybar.
To minimise corner exit understeer.
1, stiffen rear springs.
2, stiffen the rear dampers.
3, raise the rear ride height.
4, stiffen the rear roll bar.
5, More toe out in front .
6, more negative camber in front.
General stuff to minimise understeer .
1, reduce the size of the rear contact patches by overinflation.
2, reduce the sidewall stiffness by underinflation.
3, more rear camber positive.
4, rear toe adjusted out by very little....car will be twitchy and less stable at higher speeds so be VERY conservative.
5, grippier rubber on the front.
Work in very small increments and note how the corrections for handling conflict for the three main segments of a corner/bend.
Pick up some reading material for further research before you start.
m
>> Edited by weed on Tuesday 11th April 19:16
1,soften front springs.
2, soften front dampers.
3,lower the front suspension.
To minimise mid corner understeer.
1, stiffen front springs.
2, stiffen front swaybar.
To minimise corner exit understeer.
1, stiffen rear springs.
2, stiffen the rear dampers.
3, raise the rear ride height.
4, stiffen the rear roll bar.
5, More toe out in front .
6, more negative camber in front.
General stuff to minimise understeer .
1, reduce the size of the rear contact patches by overinflation.
2, reduce the sidewall stiffness by underinflation.
3, more rear camber positive.
4, rear toe adjusted out by very little....car will be twitchy and less stable at higher speeds so be VERY conservative.
5, grippier rubber on the front.
Work in very small increments and note how the corrections for handling conflict for the three main segments of a corner/bend.
Pick up some reading material for further research before you start.
m
>> Edited by weed on Tuesday 11th April 19:16
What about this:
Someone has also suggested that I increase negative camber at the front end (to about 1.7 degrees). The idea is to improve overall front-end bite, with a side effect being that this adjustment naturally cancels out some of the toe-in that is designed into the geometry (presumably further sharpening turn-in response).
This guy claimed a very noticeable improvement in front-end grip, with tyre wear remaining nice and even.
It kind of made sense to me, as my main gripe was with turn-in understeer, and the only thing I intend to do is make adjustments to the existing suspension's geometry when the alignment is done. The rear can already be made to play, but I have to provoke the chassis too much to overcome understeer.
Any opinions on this guy's suggestion?
Someone has also suggested that I increase negative camber at the front end (to about 1.7 degrees). The idea is to improve overall front-end bite, with a side effect being that this adjustment naturally cancels out some of the toe-in that is designed into the geometry (presumably further sharpening turn-in response).
This guy claimed a very noticeable improvement in front-end grip, with tyre wear remaining nice and even.
It kind of made sense to me, as my main gripe was with turn-in understeer, and the only thing I intend to do is make adjustments to the existing suspension's geometry when the alignment is done. The rear can already be made to play, but I have to provoke the chassis too much to overcome understeer.
Any opinions on this guy's suggestion?
hongkongfooi said:
I have just had my car four wheel aligned and with advice from www.munichlegends.co.uk/homepage.html
Hmm...
may have to give them a ring then -- I was planning to go to Feltham Tyre, but I'd be silly not to talk to a BMW specialist. Especially when I have to cover such great B-roads to get there 
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