Suspension set up
Discussion
Hi all,
I hope that someone can help, I've got a Smart Brabus Roadster which is great fun however when push hard it has a tendency to under steer.
I ideally would like to try and reduce the under steer and set the car up so it has more or a over steer tendency.
I understand that this can be achieved through setting a lower tyre pressure at the rear? (Correct me if I’m wrong), I was also thinking of having the suspension set up professionally as I did with my Tuscan, however I'm not sure that this is possible as I assume that unlike the Tuscan my Smart doesn't have as the same level of adjustment.
What is everyone’s thoughts?
I hope that someone can help, I've got a Smart Brabus Roadster which is great fun however when push hard it has a tendency to under steer.
I ideally would like to try and reduce the under steer and set the car up so it has more or a over steer tendency.
I understand that this can be achieved through setting a lower tyre pressure at the rear? (Correct me if I’m wrong), I was also thinking of having the suspension set up professionally as I did with my Tuscan, however I'm not sure that this is possible as I assume that unlike the Tuscan my Smart doesn't have as the same level of adjustment.
What is everyone’s thoughts?
I believe it's the other way round, lower tyre pressures will give more grip. So increasing the pressures at the rear and/or reducing the pressures at the front should give the front more grip.
Do you have front and/or rear anti-roll bars? Generally, an anti-roll bar reduces grip. Therefore by increasing the strength of the rear anti-roll bar, or reducing the strength of (or removing completely) the front anti-roll bar, understeer should be reduced.
I'm no expert, at all, so my best advice would be to play with pressures first and test for any difference in balance. Then, if required, you could go further by experimenting with anti-roll bar changes. Don't rely on what some prat on a forum says.
I have a MK1 MR2 with front and rear anti-roll bars. Understeer is an issue, however it makes the car easier to push to the limits in a controllable way for a mid-engined car. I have changed tyre pressures, with little detectable effect. I'd like to disconnect the front anti-roll bar, as this may yield a greater change.
Do you have front and/or rear anti-roll bars? Generally, an anti-roll bar reduces grip. Therefore by increasing the strength of the rear anti-roll bar, or reducing the strength of (or removing completely) the front anti-roll bar, understeer should be reduced.
I'm no expert, at all, so my best advice would be to play with pressures first and test for any difference in balance. Then, if required, you could go further by experimenting with anti-roll bar changes. Don't rely on what some prat on a forum says.
I have a MK1 MR2 with front and rear anti-roll bars. Understeer is an issue, however it makes the car easier to push to the limits in a controllable way for a mid-engined car. I have changed tyre pressures, with little detectable effect. I'd like to disconnect the front anti-roll bar, as this may yield a greater change.
You are correct about the lower rear tyre pressures increasing oversteer (it is one of the things Alfa did to make the Alfasud handle more like a rear wheel drive car) - but you will increase tyre wear and if you really cane it round the bends are more likely to peel the tyre off the rim (depending how low you go!) or just have the rim roll over the sidewall and scrape on the ground - damaging the rim.
Other things to look into are
1)Bigger rear anti roll bar (or smaller front one (take it off?))
2) Fit wider tyres at the front (I did this to a Punto HGT - went from 185s to 195s) and the effect was pretty dramatic, much less understeer and much more lift off oversteer
3)Camber adjustment plates - don't know if available for your car, but if you can increase the negative camber at the front you will improve turn-in and reduce initial understeer.
Other than that, you have standard toe-in adjustments etc - but depends if it is adjustable on your car - I have no idea about your Smart car..sorry!
Hope it helps
Other things to look into are
1)Bigger rear anti roll bar (or smaller front one (take it off?))
2) Fit wider tyres at the front (I did this to a Punto HGT - went from 185s to 195s) and the effect was pretty dramatic, much less understeer and much more lift off oversteer
3)Camber adjustment plates - don't know if available for your car, but if you can increase the negative camber at the front you will improve turn-in and reduce initial understeer.
Other than that, you have standard toe-in adjustments etc - but depends if it is adjustable on your car - I have no idea about your Smart car..sorry!
Hope it helps
Edited by filski666 on Thursday 18th June 12:24
You could ask the same question on http://www.theroadster.net there are a few people with different suspension setups on there.
Edited by moribund on Tuesday 30th June 01:41
MK_Bob said:
I believe it's the other way round, lower tyre pressures will give more grip. So increasing the pressures at the rear and/or reducing the pressures at the front should give the front more grip.
Road tyres work differently to race tyres. With road construction, road speeds and road loads increasing pressure increases grip. With race tyres, lower pressure increases grip due to the vastly different construction. Obviously all this as a general rule - there are probably exceptions to both!Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff