Adjusting Your Dampers for the Race Track 101

[rzm3]

As requested by several members. From Allan Staniforth "Competition Car Suspension".

First page is for UNDERSTEER. Second page is for OVERSTEER.

Note:

'increase' rebound or compression = increase/stiffen the rebound or compression damping
'decrease' rebound or compression = decrease/soften the rebound or compression damping
'excessive' = too much damping, that is, too firm

[Porschefile]

Thanks for posting! This should be a sticky for sure.

[kaiv]

Thanks!

[The HACK]

You mean, you don't magically get rid of "teh understeer" by removing the stagger? Or by going to a larger swaybar? WTF?

I just lost all faith in the internets.

EDIT: If there ever was a thread worth "sticky-ing" on the interwebs, THIS is it.

[klammer]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Thanks for posting! This should be a sticky for sure.

+1000000

[Sean05]

NICE...

[sleepless]

Originally Posted by The HACK

You mean, you don't magically get rid of "teh understeer" by removing the stagger? Or by going to a larger swaybar? WTF?
.

The flow chart assumes the car has:

- properly sized tires.
- racing oriented camber
- racing oriented suspension, like double adjustable dampers and adjustable sway bars

But, yes, removing the stagger is the first step. In my opinion, camber plates are next. That is all you need to get rid of the understeer.

[ZRODDICK]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Thanks for posting! This should be a sticky for sure.

+10086

[tibra1]

Similar write up for ASTs..

Tuning AST Shocks.pdf

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by sleepless

The flow chart assumes the car has:

- properly sized tires.
- racing oriented camber
- racing oriented suspension, like double adjustable dampers and adjustable sway bars

But, yes, removing the stagger is the first step. In my opinion, camber plates are next. That is all you need to get rid of the understeer.

Yup. Tires will probably have most significant impact per dollar amount you spend than any other modification.

But one important point re stagger is that you always want to ADD traction to the axle that lacks traction, and NOT removing traction from the axle that has "too much" traction... unless you are limited by tire sizes, regulations, etc.

[carter2]

Thanks for this!
I was looking for this thread