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Handling and the effects of changes in set up


MADMALC

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Doe's any one have knowledge of a book or 'Paper' written specifically for the Caterham that shows the result that any changes to steering and suspension settings might have on the car.

I am particularly interested in getting more from my ACB10 tyres, but would like info for radial type tyres as well.

So many adjustments available so would appreciate some guidance.

MAD MALC

 

S7MAD

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Allan Staniforth's books are available from many 'quality' book shops; also from Demon Tweeks, I recall. I have seen them advertised in various 'motorsport' specialist book stockists, such as advertise in Motorsport, etc.

 

I am sure a search in Amazon might turn something up as well.

 

Andrew

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I have found that "ideal" set ups on a 7 is quite a mind blowing subject.

You can ask 3 different people in the know about a particular aspect of geometry, spring rates etc. and get 3 totally different answers, but I think that's part of the fun. One persons ideal set-up may scare the pants off another guy who drives his car. After a couple of years chopping and changing components the best investment I made was a lap timer and beacon, and I was shocked to find that the best feeling set-up nearly always turned out to be the slowest, I also learned why F1 drivers are paid so much...I feel it's their ability to relay to team what the car is actually behaving like, something I feel (speaking for myself) amateur drivers can sometimes get confused with, when diagnosing handling issues.

 

Kenny HPC

 

 

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Thanks for the advice, I have 'Staniforth' and 'Carroll Smith's handling clinic' but what I am looking for is not 'what set up' but WHAT EFFEC will any change to castor camber bar pressure etc be on a seven.

Any one who knows willing to give the info for now't ?????

MAD MALC

 

S7MAD

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Thanks for the advice, I have 'Staniforth' and 'Carroll Smith's handling clinic' but what I am looking for is not 'what set up' but WHAT EFFEC will any change to castor camber bar pressure etc be on a seven.

Any one who knows willing to give the info for now't ?????

MAD MALC

 

S7MAD

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Allan Staniforth is a guest speaker at the WSCC area meeting being held at The Boars Head, Middlewich, on the 14th of Novembercool.gif Ticket details from Steve Davies on 01606 836354. If any-one calls please make it clear that you are NOT a WSCC member, (unless you areblush.gif, or are Chris Clarkeek.gif) but would like to come along.....tawink.gif

 

Edited by - Blatman on 11 Oct 2001 21:04:41

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There have been a lot of threads about handling and chassis adjustments and they have all been very interesting but generally they are considering specific problems.

 

I think it is useful to try to consider a basic matrix so that we can define the fault we are trying to eliminate or the improvement we are trying to make and then chose the best method and keep a track of the adjustments that we have made.

 

The problem is that most of these adjustments are interactive and changing one setting means you have to change something else as well.

 

I guess springs are the classic example. The higher the spring rate the more energy they will store at a given deflection and the rebound damping will probably need to be adjusted to stop them bouncing. If a spring/damper combination has been well matched it may cause a problem to alter the spring rate.

 

I think that the fastest way around a corner, on tarmac, is when the handling of the car is completely neutral and all four wheels can slide evenly. This uses the total friction circle of each tyre and all of the available grip is being transmitted to the tarmac. It is quite difficult to tune suspension to achieve completely neutral handling and I have always found cars like this quite difficult to drive on or close to their limit. (probably due to lack of skill).

I tend to try to set up my car with mild understeer because I find it easier to drive. Cars which basically oversteer are quite difficult to catch and can be slow as they do tend to scrub off quite a lot of speed in corners and obviously conserving momentum is the fastest approach.

 

Starting with a suspension system that is correctly aligned and tyre pressures that are optimised for a particular set up is quite important. Dialling in some negative camber, increasing the front tyre pressure, reducing the rear tyre pressures can produce interesting results at very low cost.

 

Adjustment Less Understeer/More Oversteer More Understeer/Less Oversteer

 

Front Spring Rate Softer Stiffer

 

Rear spring Rate Stiffer Softer

 

Front Anti Roll Bar Softer Stiffer

 

Rear Anti Roll Bar Stiffer Softer

 

Front Shocker Softer Harder

 

Rear Shocker Harder Softer

 

Front Wheel Camber More Negative More Positive

 

Rear Wheel Camber More Positive More Negative

 

Front Tyre Width Wider Narrower

 

Rear Tyre Width Narrower Wider

 

Front Tyre Pressure Higher* Lower*

 

Rear Tyre Pressure Lower* Higher*

 

Front Track Wider Narrower

 

Rear Track Narrower Wider

 

Front Wheel Toe Towards Toe Out Towards Toe In

 

Rear Wheel Toe Towards Toe In Towards Toe Out

 

(* I think that this is true for most radials but I am not sure if applies to cross-plies and Bias (Hoosier) Belt types.)

 

I believe that virtually all of these adjustments affect the slip angle of the tyre but if some of the adjustments are taken too far they will cause other problems.

 

I realise that this may be over simplified but it may help to define some starting points and some basic adjustments.

 

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Chris,

 

 

 

 

Adjustment Less Understeer/More Oversteer More Understeer/Less Oversteer

 

Front Spring Rate Softer Stiffer

 

Rear spring Rate Stiffer Softer

 

Front Anti Roll Bar Softer Stiffer

 

Rear Anti Roll Bar Stiffer Softer

 

Front Shocker Softer Harder

 

Rear Shocker Harder Softer

 

Front Wheel Camber More Negative More Positive

 

Rear Wheel Camber More Positive More Negative

 

Front Tyre Width Wider Narrower

 

Rear Tyre Width Narrower Wider

 

Front Tyre Pressure Higher* Lower*

 

Rear Tyre Pressure Lower* Higher*

 

Front Track Wider Narrower

 

Rear Track Narrower Wider

 

Front Wheel Toe Towards Toe Out Towards Toe In

 

Rear Wheel Toe Towards Toe In Towards Toe Out

 

(* I think that this is true for most radials but I am not sure if applies to cross-plies and Bias (Hoosier) Belt types.)

 

 

 

smile.gif

 

Edited by - Alex Wong on 12 Oct 2001 21:09:02

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