Oversteer/understeer tuning graphs

[Skeen]

Billy's thread reminded me of these graphs I had stored on the hard drive, thought you guys might enjoy having them too...

http://www.trackpedia.com/photogarage/data/500/medium/oversteer.jpg

http://www.trackpedia.com/photogarage/data/500/understeer.jpg

Comments?

[billy]

Awesome
Thats gotta go in a wiki page. So, camber is last on the list then.

:cheers:

[sbranda]

Your oversteer chart only talks about tuning the rear end and the understeer chart only talks about tuning the front end. This approach doesn't really gel with any of the vehicle dynamics books I've read. Stiffening the front end would certainly be another way to address oversteer, and likewise, stifening the rear end would be a way to address understeer.

[Eric]

Whether or not this meets the PHD level thesis analysis for automobile dynamic modelling, its a VERY helpful tool. Not only does it give step by steps for the basics, but it helps predict what sort of things you might want to do, or be prepared to do.

Y'all can start bickering about how differences in barometric pressure affect the results here, but I for one am printing and filing!

Thanks Skeen! Awesome!

[Skeen]

Your oversteer chart only talks about tuning the rear end and the understeer chart only talks about tuning the front end. This approach doesn't really gel with any of the vehicle dynamics books I've read. Stiffening the front end would certainly be another way to address oversteer, and likewise, stifening the rear end would be a way to address understeer.

You're absolutely right. This isn't my chart, I just had it on file. It's certainly not exhaustive, but it's a nice guide. Just to speak to the examples you mentioned, it's always better to "add grip" than take it away. In other words, if you've got an understeer problem, it's better (in general) to soften the front than it is to stiffen the rear.

That said, there's always a number of ways to reach your goal in setting up a car; to be really good at it you kinda have to get "the feel."

[sbranda]

Skeen, agreed. However, I can think of one example where stiffening the rear was the only logical way to solve an understeer issue. Conan's 350z. That car had some crazy tire-delaminating issues with camber and roll on the front end. Conan used a new sway bar set with stiffer settings on the rear to successfully manage the understeer in the rear and put out some damn good lap times with it.