Re: Oversteer

[skerocdriver@juno.com (SHAWN C MEZE)]

On Fri, 19 Sep 1997 12:47:34 -0700 "steve theodore"
<theodore@mail.wsu.edu> writes:

>I've noticed over the years that in damp conditions if I get aggressive
in
>second gear (dunno about first but probably also) that I actually induce
>oversteer in corners.  This may seem like no big deal to you autoxers
and I
>actually enjoy it a lot but I'm curious since it is my understanding
that
>front wheel drive cars aren't likely to do this (and I've never had one
>that did).


Right the basic make up of a FWD car makes oversteer a luxury we Don't
get to enjoy very often. 


>I should point out that I always keep my best tread up front and I know
>that it contributes to this oversteering but I'm curious:  if I add an
>upper stress bar, wouldn't it actually cause more oversteer due to the
>front end gripping a bit better?  


It might add to the oversteer you experience in damp conditions. What it
will do is not allow the front of the chassis to flex causing the front
outside wheel to maintain a little more camber than rolling over to a
positive camber scenario. Then again, because the road is damp, you are
probably not loading up the suspension as drastic as when its dry. Does
that make sense to you? Adding the upper stress bar might not be as
noticeable to you but it will frame up the front chassis and make it feel
firmer. When I removed mine recently and drove it durring a test run I
really did notice how much the front does flex without the bar. then
again, I think I tend to be overly sensitive to my cars characteristics. 


>My car is bone stock as far as suspension
>is concerned (88 16V) and I run 195/60/14 tires.  Hmmm.  I think I'm
>answering my own questions since I have diff. brand tires on front and 
>rear and probably always have.  Let me know what you think anyway. 
Thanks
>
>Steve Theodore


For wet conditions you can do a few easy things to induce oversteer.
Maintain the front tire pressure and raise the rear pressure by 5-8lbs.
You've already found his out on your own but the least amount of tread to
the rear wheels and you've seen what this does to a tires traction when
wet. You can install a stiffer rear swaybar. Remove the front swaybar. 
Just be carefull you Don't overdo it because then you run the risk of it
"snapping" around on you and the end result would suck. (hit something if
your at any kind of speed.) 

I got a real quick understeer story which just happened 2 days ago. it
involves a red MGB on one of my test roads. The 18 yr old girl driving it
was going too fast for an actually slow right hand turn and she couldn't
make the turn and stay in her lane. She drifted out into the oncoming
lane and she hit a truck head on. DOA. A friend of mine was behind the
girl when it happened. She walked up to the MGB and the girl had the
steering wheel stuck so far into her chest she knew she was dead. Eyes
wide open, mouth open as if to scream. The other people were hurt but not
bad. 
Understeer sucks!



              Shawn Meze
86' Jetta GLi           82' Scirocco GTi
The Fastest, Quickest, Cleanest and
best looking Scirocco in all of San Diego!
http://www2.netcom.com/~trnsfrma/vws.html
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