Handling

[TLicense]

Hello all,

 

I've been thinking for some time about suspension and finding a good set-up.

I've only taken my car to a single track day, and other than lots of body roll I couldn't really tell you much about how the car handled.

What I'm interested in is what other peoples experience of the car's handling is. I'm not interested in makes of suspension, or which is better than what.

All I'm interested in is "I've got such and such, and I've found the ride to be harsh/understeering/oversteering/turn in oversteer with exit understeer blah de blah de blah.

With the exception of CW, I would generally say improving handling is generally not understood for our cars, maybe that's why the majority of owners prefer drag racing to circuits/road courses?

 

So what are people's experiences?

[Aerotop Dave]

Originally posted by TLicense

With the exception of CW, I would generally say improving handling is generally not understood for our cars, maybe that's why the majority of owners prefer drag racing to circuits/road courses?

 

Or that not that many are brave enough to start hanging the back end out! A need to improve the handling suggests either lots of track days or some mad driving on public roads (lots of things to hit). I'd be surprised if there are many people who do that. Is drag racing just all round safer maybe?

 

I reach my limit long before the car does - I'm sure I'm not alone in that

[attilauk]

I have Koni Sport Yellow Shocks and Eibach Springs

 

the handling on a track is great, greatly reduced body roll and far more predictable oversteer. i dont know whether it is any faster than a stock setup (in fact i doubt it is) but the car feels more stable and planted through the corners which gives me more confidence to push it further:cool:

 

the car is pretty low (too low really for a daily driver but seeing as its my fun car i dont mind) and the ride is firm but not too harsh for a spirited drive down a country lane or a long motorway journey.

 

Personally im not a big fan of drag racing, i have a lot of respect for the guys who take the time and effort to build a fast car but my enjoyment comes from cornering at speed and the supra handles a hell of a lot better than most people think!

 

is that what you were after?

[TLicense]

Puurfect! Yep that's the kinda thing!

[Terminator]

I have new Bilstienes (Yellow) and Eibachs. Which has transformed the car, from when it was was on stock JDM suspension.

 

The car feels far tighter, flatter and a gives me more confidence round corners. It feels more stable and slightly firmer and has far greater feed back from each corner. The car is lower by approximately 20mm front and 30mm rear, as far as you should go with out compromising handling IMHO

 

I spoke to Chris Wilson about this matter and he suggested my setup for fast road use and occasional track use, The Eibach Blistiene comb being hard to beat on handling and value for money

 

If you really want a track set up Chris is your man. He does re-valved Bilstienes and his own spring setup which give the car the same stance as my set up, but with improved cornering response. Pretty awesome by all accounts.

[TLicense]

Do you not find that a stiffer set-up lends itself to more turn-in understeer, or increased power over steer?

[SimonB]

Stock Jspec facelift RZ suspension for me (which is to say yellow Billsteins and stock springs). Handles beautifully, there's a bit of turn in understeer but otherwise fairly neutral, just what you want from a fast road/occasional track car. The standard car can manage 0.98 lateral G, so Toyota knew what they were doing with suspension set up. I doubt you'd improve it unless you spent a lot of money and time or you were wanting a specialist track setup.

 

It's a bit harsh and skittish on a bad road as is, I wouldn't want it any harder that's for sure. I don't find it rolls too much either for a road car - I find a bit of roll lets you feel what's going on better anyway.

 

EDIT: You guys picked your second driver yet Tony?

[TLicense]

Cheers Si, No news yet. We've got a test in a week or two after which I think we'll have made our minds up.

 

All good stuff by the way keep it coming guys!

[Guest Terry S]

Tony, I actually cant stand drag racing..

 

anyway, I have what I believe is the best street/occassional track set up:

 

JIC FLT-A2 valved inc. pillow balls

Titan Chromoly ARB's

Poly bushes

TRD Front Brace

 

Once I have finished modding, I will get her corner balanced. I am only in Watford, you are more than welcome to come down the A40 and try her.

[Guest Terry S]

BTW, the geometry makes a big difference to the car, just depends how aggressive you want to be on the tyres.

[TLicense]

Originally posted by Terry S

Tony, I actually cant stand drag racing..

 

anyway, I have what I believe is the best street/occassional track set up:

 

JIC FLT-A2 valved inc. pillow balls

Titan Chromoly ARB's

Poly bushes

TRD Front Brace

 

Once I have finished modding, I will get her corner balanced. I am only in Watford, you are more than welcome to come down the A40 and try her.

 

Cheers Terry,

 

When you've got it all finished (I imagine it'll be published on here) I'll definitely take you up on that.

Out of interest how are you expecting the car to handle with that set-up?

 

Regards

[lovatt]

im not into drag racing thats why i wont go big single, i love nothing more than hitting the local country roads hard. track and racing is much more my thing and i have been featurd in a magazine for my racing, i have also done some drift events in my supra and i know how it handles on the limit, just ask Rays The Roof

i think the supra is one of the best handling cars i have ever sat in and to much emphasis is put into straight line speed, im not saying that is no fun i just find the thrill of coming out of a long sweeping bend with the back end slipping out at over 100 and bringing it back round straight the ultimate thrill !

 

i have cusco coilovers a cusco front strut brace 275/30/19 rears 245/35/19 fronts 32psi rear 32psi front

 

i find if its slightly damp i get understeer quite bad especially at low speed, in the wet the car is actually dangerous as it is so stiff (non adjustable) and the mrs corsa would show me up in the bends !

in the dry it feels like a go cart, seriously chuckable and there is no end to the handling ! long bends can be taken at VERY silly speeds and it is totaly controled with very little roll, around island i will get oversteer first but it is very slow and controllable

 

as it is so stiff anything but the best roads and it gets a bit scary, bumps and jumps in the road at speed feel like the car is falling apart and the ride could be described as bone shattering

[Guest Terry S]

Tony, I had a very similar set up on the last car, and it was absolutely different class.

 

Lovatt, my new single will out spool twins all day long, make more power, and generate less heat. Not all singles are the same

[TLicense]

Originally posted by lovatt

i find if its slightly damp i get understeer quite bad especially at low speed, in the wet the car is actually dangerous as it is so stiff (non adjustable) and the mrs corsa would show me up in the bends !

in the dry it feels like a go cart, seriously chuckable and there is no end to the handling ! long bends can be taken at VERY silly speeds and it is totaly controled with very little roll, around island i will get oversteer first but it is very slow and controllable

 

as it is so stiff anything but the best roads and it gets a bit scary, bumps and jumps in the road at speed feel like the car is falling apart and the ride could be described as bone shattering

 

So you would definitely not suggest using a stiffer anti-roll bar then as that would just make the wet weather understeer even worse?

[Guest Terry S]

Tony, if Lovatt has the Cusco tha CJ bought from Envy, the are too stiffly sprung for UK roads IMHO. Mine is fine in the wet with ARB's.

[b_have]

Bilstein/Eibach with Whiteline (Aus) anti-roll bars back and front, Spent a day at Powerstation having the alignment and cambers etc set to comp spec. The car is perfect for track days and although a little harsh feels totally planted the whole time.

Who needs a Ferrari !

[supratoy]

hey, i had a upper front strut on mine, but took it of to see any diff. It tends to understeer more now when before it just keep oversteering.

[TLicense]

So I take it you'd prefer to have something in-between the two so you could get into some funky 4 whel difts!

[lovatt]

Originally posted by TLicense

So you would definitely not suggest using a stiffer anti-roll bar then as that would just make the wet weather understeer even worse?

 

my car does not need anti roll bars any stiffer, it would make it unusable on most roads and any damp would make it a risk on the road !!

 

Terry i have CJ's old suspention and it is to stiff, is there anything i can do as the rattles in my car are getting worse and the mrs wont travel in the car i dont want to sell it though as the handling is seriously amazing in the dry

[Guest Terry S]

Originally posted by lovatt

Terry i have CJ's old suspention and it is to stiff, is there anything i can do as the rattles in my car are getting worse and the mrs wont travel in the car i dont want to sell it though as the handling is seriously amazing in the dry

 

I bet it is great on a track or ultra smooth tarmac, but really was never intended for our roads. There are places that will custom wind springs but you would need them ( extg springs) off the car for a bit possibly. CW may well be able to arrange this. I have the JIC rates that we use here if that is any use. They are much more suited to UK roads.

[lovatt]

thanks mate, i may look into this