Nissan 370Z Forum  

Can I fix understeer without killing ride quality?

I use my car as a DD with a autocross thrown in about once a month. The roads where I live suck and right now I'm really impressed with how

Go Back   Nissan 370Z Forum > Nissan 370Z Tech Area > Brakes & Suspension


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-06-2010, 08:57 AM   #1 (permalink)
Base Member
 
gozfast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Earth
Posts: 67
Drives: 370Z Sport
Rep Power: 15
gozfast is on a distinguished road
Default Can I fix understeer without killing ride quality?

I use my car as a DD with a autocross thrown in about once a month. The roads where I live suck and right now I'm really impressed with how well the stock suspension handles it. I don't want to lose that quality, and turn this thing into a buckboard just to make it handle better at the track. I understand to fix the understeer I can increase front camber (reduced tire life), increase front spring rate (harsher ride), stiffer rear swaybar (harsher rough road ride). I believe my best option would be to replace just the rear sway bar with a slightly stiffer one (+15 to 20%), but I have limited information on them. I think the Stillen bars are the softest out there but the rear alone might be too much of a jump from stock even at the softest setting. Are the better rear swaybar options out there (Nissmo maybe)? I can't have this thing tail happy either. Will adding the Stillen's front and rear bars get me to neutral handling without making my car less enjoyable on my day to day crappy roads? I can live with some body lean but not the understeer. It would also be nice if the fix was cost effective too. Lowering the car is definitely not a option. My car's a 2010 hardtop with the sport package and I usually drive with the VDC "off" 99% of the time. (I'm old school)
gozfast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2010, 09:03 AM   #2 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
m4a1mustang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 55,385
Drives: on two wheels
Rep Power: 6962
m4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond reputem4a1mustang has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Try the Stillen sways and see how they work out for you.

A little bit more negative camber up front will help with understeer as well, but you will definitely change the factory tire wear characteristics if you do that.
__________________
- Steve
MAZOC Meet Thread
Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!
m4a1mustang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2010, 09:04 AM   #3 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
cossie1600's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: californee way
Posts: 5,380
Drives: 370, Leaf
Rep Power: 30
cossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond reputecossie1600 has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Just get a bigger front tire, you will fix most of your understeer. As far as ride, the RE11 is a nice autox tire that rides better than stock. Toyo RA1 and R888 also ride better, but they emit a lot more noise (265 or 275 or 285 all around)
cossie1600 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Road Construction is killing me! fairladyZ34 North East Region 4 07-13-2010 07:23 PM
New Ride and ya my Dads ride pwns mine!! Rockstarr New 370Z Owner 20 02-11-2010 10:51 AM
370Z Quality BrianMSmith Nissan 370Z General Discussions 14 12-08-2009 06:27 PM
My right hip is killing me billydsz Nissan 370Z General Discussions 28 11-07-2009 12:40 PM
The wait is killing me! ct63084 Nissan 370Z General Discussions 15 04-23-2009 02:45 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2