Potentially stupid suspension/geo questions!

[taipan]

Finally able to think about the finer details now the car is all but sorted. So here goes...

Now I've fitted aftermarket suspension:
1) How do I go about identifying the right values to set the car's geo up? Is it as simple as using the Renault values? Like everything else, I'm sure these could be optimised. Good starting point though?

2) After said geo session, if I was to say fiddle with the damper rate or wind the springs up/down will that render the geo session I'll have paid for null and void?

3) Finally, how often should the car's geo be reassessed? I've read that for some it's as important as an annual service? Bit OTT?

 

[Ali]

Not a stupid question at all.

1/ Renault's spec if certainly a good start point! You wouldn't be a million miles away with that spec.

2/ On mine i went for .5deg more negative at the front and a little more toe-in at the back...It's very stable at speed (Autobahn) and gives me the confidence in the bends too! Can't wait to try it with the R888...I may go back to a more Neutral set up with stickier rubber. In terms of bump and rebound....Tough one really, mine are 8/16 clicks, but tbh, i didn't feel much if any difference between 1 and 16...

3/ Annual for me. It's only £100-150. Worth it for piece of mind etc.

 

[rustedandrotten]

Start off with std settings for ride height, toe and camber as a baseline and then drop the car by whatever you think you want to max out at and see what effect that has on the camber and toe in/out and then note how many turns it takes if any to get back to std, shouldnt be too much if anything on toe in/out otherwise the cars would suffer bump steer which is not apparent on stock suspension. from that you can do some initial experimentation but once you think you are getting there it is worth getting them set up again accurately to avoid tyre scrub. Damper hardness tends to be a very personal thing and also depends on how much you want to spend at the dentist! Too much and the springs take control and you get bounce, too much and you end up with rigid suspension and the tyres doing all the work.

Definitely need to check regularly if you intend to use at the limit as things do move and wear.

 

[taipan]

Thanks Ali/Simon :approve:

I think I'll have to go down to the local geo experts with the OEM values in hand, have the car's new height set up (don't think I would want to change that too much over time) and then see how far we are from the OEM values.

Then it's a matter of personal preference though I've no idea what my personal preference- other than not to be spat into a bush! How do you define "fast road"? lol

Just to confirm, we're saying adjusting damper/springs or even fitting stickier tyres after the geo session will mess with the geo results?

 

[rustedandrotten]

Thanks Ali/Simon :approve:

Just to confirm, we're saying adjusting damper/springs or even fitting stickier tyres after the geo session will mess with the geo results?

Tyres and bounce/rebound settings will not alter the the geometry though you may want to dial in a touch more neggy for grip increase at the rear,
the ride height is the one that really has an opportunity to alter the angles of dangle as dropping the car is effectively putting the geometry to a state of compression on the std susp set up

 

[taipan]

Gotcha. :approve: