On Monday I went to Snetterton for a track day. As I have suspected for a long time my car suffers from lots of understeer. So what is wrong ?
My set up is :

Bilstein shocks
FCSS lowering springs
Uprated front ARB ( Lancia Dedra ?)
22mm uprated rear ARB
Front upper strut brace
Toyo tyres

The lack of front end grip is so frustrating.

Opinions anybody ?

Sean

I've heard on here mentioned that a front and rear uprated ARB counteract each other. I think its best just to have the uprated rear ARB without the front but i'll let someone with more experience comment as i may be wrong.

General rule is that to reduce understeer on FWD cars you only fit stronger rear ARB.

As I told you on the day, practice trail braking, add to this 'heel and toe' to match engine revs to those of the transmision and it will pretty much sort your understeer and improve your exit from the corners. It did certainly help me in the corners a lot thou I got still a lot to improve.

I suspect its your uprated Front ARB, basic rule is on a RWD have an uprated Front ARB on FWD have an uprated Rear ARB.

My setup is almost the same as yours (I have Eibach springs and Poly Rear subframe bushes) and I have almost zero understeer.

Stiff front end with a softer rear will always lead to understeer, FWD or RWD. If you want to reduce the understeer you need to change the stiffness balance to stiffen the rear compared to the front.

Or, reduce the weight percentage over the front substantially. That means making the rear heavier (probably not ideal!!) or reducing front weight. A carbon bonnet probably helps, about the only other idea I have had is to move the battery to the boot, and possibly the washer bottle too, but that won't make much difference.

Also check your toe, too much toe-in is fatal.
And add a bit of camber, that's done the most of it for me. I use H&R bolts set to -1.5deg.
Another thing that helped me was relocating the battery to the rear (yes you can certainly feel the difference).

All these mods adds up to a neutral, almost oversteering, Coupe!

Camber is key.

Charlie I hope you don't drive that hard on public roads

Dan, I drive like an old lady, I certainly would not be pushing things on the public highway.

That's true, I remember the convoy to the tunbridge wells event the other year

How is heel and toe going to reduce understeer? Regardless, you want to have completed your down changes before you enter the corner, not upon entry.

Maybe driving style, slower in, faster out.
I think i found maybe being a little slower in but with an aggressive turn in, then power through the corner gradually increasing throttle to 100 % once the front wheels are straight. I find if I’m too fast in I always get uncomfortable understeer.
Try different techniques out for yourself, a slight lift or left foot jab on the breaks can transfer the weight of the car too.

Not saying that heel and toe will reduce your understeer but trail braking will then add to it heel and toe and you have just competed nice smooth corner.

Why don't just use 2 second hand(if new too expensive)full race slick tyres......you'll be amazed how much difference can make no matter how good your Toyo is......
Coupe too heavy front end....

Not driven on a track before? Accelerate flat out to the corner hard on the brakes - if you changed down before you'd wipe out your engine, since you want to turn in on the brakes you'll either change down during braking like Deannn said (heel toe) or change down in the corner (usually only done in error). If you don't heel and toe you'll create a braking reaction from the engine and the car will understeer more.

I second the 2 used slicks comment, save your decent road tyres and beat the hell out of some slicks. plenty of negative camber will help.

Any pictures of the way you did the battery move? I know it is pretty logical in some ways but I have thought about this to help balance the weight slightly.

I'm aware of what heel and toe is and how you use it. I never drive without using it. As I said, complete your changes before entry to the corner i.e. under braking but you've seemed to back me up with your comments.

I did a guide on here but I can't find it. The pics for it was here..;
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/index.php?sub=viewcar&car_no=123

A few completing, later, pics here:
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/showthread.php?5311-Coupe-projekt-batteriflytt&p=134638#post134638

Thanks Per - interesting that you have used the wheel well, for balance the weight of the wheel could also be helpful!!

Sean - I may have the answer for you - a 24mm rear ARB - just about to come off my car, as it's a bit excessive with a stock front ARB - going back to my 23mm Novitec

Sean, like others I would say add some negative camber, sticky tyres (I recommend the federal Rsr as a cheap option) and work on your driving style.

Slightly off topic but everyone should get on at least one track day. The best way to safely learn how your car reacts when you corner too rapidly. My cars pretty much standard bar lowered springs and was slightly suprised by the amount of understeer a near OE Coupe has designed into it (though that is probably safer for road use). I'm sure there would be fewer accidents if everyone learnt more about how their vehicles react under speed in this way....

Track days are indeed both good and fun.
And obviously a terrific way of validating your recent mods!


No problems! Well, I want as little weigth as possible (with sustained comforts that is) so away with heavy spare wheel etc. Dead weight, also - 1. The battery sits much lower than otherwise, and 2. A flat untouched luggage space with sustained flat floor, i.e. How Fiat Would've Done It.