Autotest/Autosolo geo/suspension/pressures.

[mikeh]

I want to experiment with the setup of my car for auto solos.

Currently I have Cup packed dampers and eibach sportlines, -1.5deg negative camber on the front and that's about it.

I figure that with autosolos, I'm looking to push the car closer to a tendency to oversteer.

Lower pressures and remove the back seats to lighten up the rear just for events? Is this enough or is there more I should be looking into?

 

[mikeh]

Bump. No other autotesters here?

 

[MG cup]

Not really sure what will be best for auto solos as I'm not familiar with the layout but you want high rear pressures for oversteer.

 

[McGherkin]

As above, high pressures at the back, low at the front. Tighten those handbrake cables!

 

[ed55j]

You will need a hydraulic handbrake for sure, the standard one is next to useless and you will probably end up snapping the cables like I did.

 

[mikeh]

There is very little need for a handbrake. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds the standard one useless, though - I had considered replacing the handbrake cable.

I keep reading conflicting stories regarding tyre pressures for promoting oversteer.

Some say lower pressures allow more movement and make it easier to destabilise the car.

Some say higher pressures offer less grip and the rest is obvious.

The higher pressures make a little more sense in my mind, though.

 

[aucky]

(Not speaking from autotest experience)
But, normal front pressure, high rear pressure
Rear anti roll bar
Hydraulic handbrake

 

[mark123]

I've done them in my race car and in my road car.

You will struggle to get rid of understeer as the corners are so slow and tight. But stiffening the rear will help.

I ran 30 psi all round, if I found the tyres were getting rubbing on the side walls I would add a few more psi to them.

I personally found very little difference between my road car (std) and race car (ASTs) for this type of event. Tyres make the biggest difference, I had the AD08s on both cars. Driving to avoid tearing your tyres apart with understeer and keeping a nice tight controlled line makes the biggest difference. You can see from the cars that do well that they don't need to have mods. Although an LSD makes a big difference from what people say, I don't have one so couldn't comment myself.

Handbrake is very rarely needed on an autosolo so difficult to justify getting a hydraulic one. Probably worth it for autotesting though.

 

[mark123]

There is very little need for a handbrake. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds the standard one useless, though - I had considered replacing the handbrake cable.

I keep reading conflicting stories regarding tyre pressures for promoting oversteer.

Some say lower pressures allow more movement and make it easier to destabilise the car.

Some say higher pressures offer less grip and the rest is obvious.

The higher pressures make a little more sense in my mind, though.

Regarding low or high pressure both of those statements can be true so I would just try it.

 

[mikeh]

I have a couple of my old wheels with AD08s on that are full of tyre weld. I might give them a try on the front.