Ok.. I got to autocross today for the first time on a non stock suspension. I have Koni Yellows, Neuspeed race, ITR rear sway, and Falken Azenis. Anyway, for some reason I was experiencing some MAJOR understeer. I tried to correct it by bumping the rear shocks to stiffest and front to softest (my friends said this would help), and it seemed to reduce it some. However it was still giving me trouble. I think some of it may have been due to both cold tires (I was the last run group) and my lack of autocross experience. Still, with my setup I expected to be getting the tail out at least a little bit.

I did think of one possible cause though. When I installed the ITR sway bar, I was not able to remove the spot welded nuts because I did not have a chisel. My friend claimed that this would not be an issue, but I wonder if maybe he was wrong? BSQ would probably be able to shed some light on this issue (hint hint )

Any help is appreciated.

 

I broke 2 spot welds on the stupid motor mount brackets soo far, lol. Just but a 6pt half inch socket on it..extensions, and a 12foot bar over the wrench, and turn baby! worked for me

 

Ok.. well that may work too.. but that still doesn't help with my question at all. :\

 

how about you fix that first and see how it is. If the nut wasent a big deal to remove....then we all wouldnt be removing it..get the picture?

 

Understeer is very usual case for novice driver. They usually over-drive their car. Same happen to my first 2~3 event.
Usually, new autoX driver try to get the maximun speed to cornering. They don't really understand smooth=fast, and over cook every single turn. (Base on my personal experience). I use alomst the same setup as u did in autoX. With nothing change to the car in 2002 ssason. I start the 2002 season ( my first season) with extreme understeer to minor oversteer now.
So, Instead of try to do mod to your car, adj your driving style first.

 

I agree with him....having a better suspension doesn't mean u can slam the gas before, during , and after the turn

I noticed that if i autoX with a heavy foot....i do bad...but if i try to cruise, I do better

I only have 5 autoX's worth of experience...but i'm learning

I have KYB AGX, Neuspeed Sports, ITR swaybar with Beaks kit for my suspension mods....and I don't have as sticky tires as u

Next time on the course...try letting off the gas a little...its amazimg how much lift throttle oversteer u can achieve by....get this.....lifting the throttle

 

very good advise, my fastest runs were when i was being smooth. get smooth and you'll be fast.

 

Understeer/oversteer is probably more easily correctable by adjusting tire pressures rather than crankin' your shocks. When you understeer, your front tires are losing traction before the rears...so you can (a) take some air out of the front, or (b) put some air in the back. Do a run, and see how it feels, and adjust from there. Good luck!

 

The tack-welded nuts would not cause your understeer problem. But I would definitely remove the tack-welded nuts before it causes a more severe problems (ie. subframe damage). Since you were not able to remove the tack-welded nuts, what did you do?

I would have to agree with other peoples analysis...more than likely you were overdriving the car in the corners. Remember this simple phrase..."slow in, fast out". And I would also agree with being smooth.

HTH

 

One of my fastest runs last autoX was with no tire squeal (I'm running Kumho 712's so they like to make some noise). I tried to drive the car faster and ended up having a slower time. Smooth is good!