mega understeer

[matute]

Hi Guys

I'm new to the forum. I live in Chile in south America and just bought the only mk2 in the country. Today I went to give it a ride at the local track and I was amazed on how much understeer this car has. Everyone had warned me about the back drifting at the corners but the real problem was the understeer. I have been reading different sites but I have not manage to find any definitive mods that might help cut this understeer... so any advice will be really valued

thank you

 

[Adrian]

Hello Matute! Welcome to the forum! Where in Chile do you live? Do come there often but sadly without my Vee

What tyres are you running?

Happen to have any pictures of your car?? :race: :salut:

 

[Jamesv6]

Welcome Matias,

Some of our more enthusiastic track lovers will be along soon to discuss your findings.

I recently had the pleasure of being driven round a track by a very experienced driver, much faster than I would ever have driven the v6 myself. The car didn't put a foot wrong even at very high speeds. I found it comforting to know and amazing at the same time.

 

[matute]

Hello Adrian i live in Santiago

it has the original Michelins

 

[Adrian]

Ah ok! I'm in San-Antonio a few times a year. Never thought of the possibility of spotting a Vee there :approve:

 

[Jamesv6]

Put understeer into the search box and you will read many interesting topics.

 

[matute]

James the first thing I did was search understeer, but from what I read there is not a definitive conclusion or solution that is why I'm asking

sorry if it is a newbie question

 

[rustedandrotten]

10 year old Pilots would be about as good as polished leather! They have a very finite life as they are a synthetic rubber, the compound will have degraded due to UV and ozone, they also should not ideally be subjected t osub zero temperatures. Order a new set of Supersports in the correct size and ask the supplier to ensure that they are factory fresh and not some that have been hanging around for a year or so, get the tracking/full geometry checked and it should be a transformation. No other mods done to the car? LSD or locked up diff by any chance?

 

[Ali]

Welcome! This forum truly connects all corners of the globe. I'm heading to Chile later in the year for business.

 

[clarkeeuk99]

I second the tyres opinion.

The only time I've ever felt lack of preciseness on the front-end is because of:
a) Old tyres/low tread - This tends to cause the understeer you mention (or cold tyres on a cold day).
b) Bad geometry - This causes twitchiness in my opinion though, rather than understeer.

I've always found the V6 to be a very precise and non-understeering car. I've never pushed it so hard around corners to feel any kind of over-steer though!

It might also be worth checking for leaking shock absorbers? I've never had this, but I know some people have.

Cheers, and welcome :welcome:

Phil.

 

[k1ano]

Hi Guys

I'm new to the forum. I live in Chile in south America and just bought the only mk2 in the country. Today I went to give it a ride at the local track and I was amazed on how much understeer this car has. Everyone had warned me about the back drifting at the corners but the real problem was the understeer. I have been reading different sites but I have not manage to find any definitive mods that might help cut this understeer... so any advice will be really valued

thank you

Wow must be amazing to have the only one in the country :bow:

The understeer is deliberate in the Ph2 set-up to reduce the possibility of oversteer. I expect a combination of better tyres, weight in the front and softening up front suspension may help but am sure there are other options ...

Martin

 

[hualpa_jo]

James the first thing I did was search understeer, but from what I read there is not a definitive conclusion or solution that is why I'm asking

sorry if it is a newbie question

The reason you found no definitive conclusion or solution is simple: there is none! Because there are so many things that heavily influence steering characteristics. For example:
- Tires (profile, grip level, pressure etc, especially the relation between front and rear)
- Geometry (again the relation between front and rear plays a role)
- Driving (how fast you turn in, how much power you give in the corner, how long you brake etc)
- some other facts like underground condition or mods you made (dampers, lowering, LSD etc)
Also very important is how close you are to the limit. From my experience the car has a general tendency to understeer which suddenly changes to oversteer if you are brave enough to keep on allying power. In the case of our vees oversteer usually results in a spin :race:

 

[matute]

Thank you guys

This week I will change the tyres and see what happens

Another question antes of you have done the steering rack modification posted in the DIY page that improves your turning radius? Any feedback would also be very apreciated

Thank you

 

[Lankan]

Agree with all of the above.......

I am sure when you switch to a new set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports much of your problems should go away, but make sure the geometry and tyre pressures are spot on as well.

I had understeer with nearly new Falken 452 tyres (fronts were 225's), that was on when I bought the Vee. Checking and correcting the geometry did not help, but changing to Pilot Super Sports (fronts 215's) made all the difference.

 

[matute]

Guys

And what about the steering rack modification on the phase 2 cars? Any advantage in doing this mod?

 

[Kett]

Guys

And what about the steering rack modification on the phase 2 cars? Any advantage in doing this mod?

Jury's out on this... I think it was seen as advantage to manoeuvre the Vee - rather than catch it's tail.

An example of going to extremities was: The dragon trophy V6 had it's wheel base increased by 20mm (ish) to help catch drifts - though it was used for road rally sport.

I would have thought that decent rubber is first base. Laser alignment next. Perhaps explore simple weight savings after that? Maybe Quaife differential if still unhappy...

 

[Brett]

Personally I'd move the engine to a better posision.

 

[Rusty]

Guys

And what about the steering rack modification on the phase 2 cars? Any advantage in doing this mod?

Steve did the modification to my car when he owned it. As to how much it's improved it I couldn't tell you as iv never driven a vee without the mod. I can say that the car is still doesn't have the turning circle of a normal car but iv never had any major issues. Perhaps this summer we should test how much it's improved at a show.

 

[matute]

Hello guys; yesterday I changed all 4 tyres for fresh ones and I think I discovered that the OEM suspension was changed by one of the former owners to eibach springs and konis.... any comments on this setup? might this also be messing the undesteering?

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[Jamesv6]

Koni dampers and Eibach springs are original equipment