The ls2 Monaro VXR, any preffered handling upgrades?

[bigfatnick]

Hi all. I've had my monaro a while now, and i do like it, but i find the handling somewhat unnerving, i know it isn't an M3, and i don't want it to be, but i have to admit, i find the rear end a little unnerving.

When seriously pushing through a corner, with plenty of power, it seems to get to a point where it almost feels like the loaded rear tyre is folding under itself, grip isn't lost, but it feels like that rear corner of the car suddenly squats. its as if the car doesn't want to transfer from grip to oversteer nicely - this is a shame, i love oversteer!

So i'm wondering what, if any handling upgrades are preffered by the collective of this forum? i imagine some upgraded bushes in the rear end would help. Do many people upgrade the rear anti roll bar? What, if any spring and damper upgrades do people prefer? i guess you are limited to bits from aus or for the the states for the gto. not exactly the euro roadtrip/ b road capable vehicle i'm looking to create.

thanks all and apologies for not finding it all on the search button, but since the proper search broke on pistonheads, its such a pita.

[jonnM]

What tyres are you using?

[bigfatnick]

toyo proxies. the fancy ones, same all the way round, recently replaced the rear ones whuch has made little difference except for less on tap oversteer, haha.

i have delved a little more into the monkfish website and is says for the rear end bushing back, it says "Is your car suffering from axle tramp? Does the back end squirm under hard cornering?" - Well i guess thats me, so these bushes could go some way to helping my problem, but i cant help thinking that just a set of bushes will change the on limit handling of the car so much. Have many people done this and would they recommend it? Worth the upgrade?

thanks

[SturdyHSV]

You've inadvertently started a tyre thread

I experienced something like that, also it wasn't just on limit that the rears slumped about, it was even changing lanes etc. The cause? I put some Avons on. Been back on Michelin PSS ever since.

Assuming you still want some compliance in the ride, keep stock suspension, get some upgraded dampers from monkfish, and do the polybushing all round.

You can upgrade the rear ARB, I think this may have worsened my low speed ride over jiggly surfaces at low speed (hardly a big deal) but otherwise the car feels fantastic.

Don't bother stiffening the front ARB as it'll introduce more understeer.

Get PSS all round

[LS2Noir]

You've inadvertently started a tyre thread

[007 VXR]

Mpss
coilovers and lower it.
and bushes.
upgrade the LSD.

[SturdyHSV]

Coilovers for track speed, may be a bit stiff for B roads, our roads are crap remember

[007 VXR]

SturdyHSV said:

Coilovers for track speed, may be a bit stiff for B roads, our roads are crap remember

but you have more yoom for movement,
don't think the pedders ones are to hard...

[007 VXR]

Quick rack worth adding too .

[Gary H 2008]

If you want the handling to be a bit more, you know, 21st Century, then sell the car and buy a VXR8
Happy to Help





(You could simply go through a catalogue and add anything and everything - however most of the suggestions offered here wont address your specific question. IMO it just sounds like a soft tyre wall - so a harder shoulder may be the first thing to try)

Edited by Gary H 2008 on Sunday 2nd November 12:28

[bigfatnick]

You lot want to bankrupt me! haha

007 VXR said:

Mpss

YOu'll have to excuse the ignorance. Whats Mpss?

[KMud]

bigfatnick said:

YOu'll have to excuse the ignorance. Whats Mpss?

A type of Michelin.

[007 VXR]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m55b0s336p102409/Micheli...

[007 VXR]

Gary H 2008 said:

(You could simply go through a catalogue and add anything and everything)

Errmm

[IXLR8]

It does sound like a tyre wall issue??
But your best bet would be to give Roger at Monkfish a call and actually speak to him in person. This way you can explain your findings and he will point you in the right direction.
Roger is the man when it comes to suspension.

[mikeyb1987]

There is a certain degree of lateral movement at the rear when cornering hard, and I believe the Pedders REP (poly bushes) will help cure this. This is my observation even when having MPSS tyres fitted.

Perhaps Roger @ Monkfish can chime in with more info.

[SturdyHSV]

That feeling of a sort of slumping movement sounds a lot like tyres. Put some shoe whitener or something on the sidewall, go for a drive, see if you've rubbed it off.

Michelin Pilot Super Sports are what you need

[wozzza]

Had the road response and rear end pack fitted last week. It's not a huge difference, however the car just feels tighter. Definitely helped, just want coilovers now.

Also on MPSS all round.

[monkfish1]

bigfatnick said:

Hi all. I've had my monaro a while now, and i do like it, but i find the handling somewhat unnerving, i know it isn't an M3, and i don't want it to be, but i have to admit, i find the rear end a little unnerving.

When seriously pushing through a corner, with plenty of power, it seems to get to a point where it almost feels like the loaded rear tyre is folding under itself, grip isn't lost, but it feels like that rear corner of the car suddenly squats. its as if the car doesn't want to transfer from grip to oversteer nicely - this is a shame, i love oversteer!

So i'm wondering what, if any handling upgrades are preffered by the collective of this forum? i imagine some upgraded bushes in the rear end would help. Do many people upgrade the rear anti roll bar? What, if any spring and damper upgrades do people prefer? i guess you are limited to bits from aus or for the the states for the gto. not exactly the euro roadtrip/ b road capable vehicle i'm looking to create.

thanks all and apologies for not finding it all on the search button, but since the proper search broke on pistonheads, its such a pita.

As already suggested, sounds like tyres to me.

Do you have a VXR or CV8? If VXR, then the Michelin pilot supersports are the ones to use. On the CV8 with 18's you choices are a bit limited since bridgestone stopped making the RE040 and RE050.

If its the tyres, you can throw all the bushes and suspension you like at it, but it wont solve it.

[Tattooboy]

Best handling mods I had fitted on my old LS2 Monaro was the road response pack and the Pedders Super Car Suspension.