suspension tuning help
#21
I think when I do Konis with stiffer springs next month I will finally take it off for good. It was surprising just how long the rear would stay glued when N/A without rear sway. With turbo oversteer always comes first, I'm just trying to find out now if the bar makes it more predictable or not.
#22
A car being neutral depends on a lot of factors, so in fact removing the rear bar could make the car more neutral, which would follow in a RWD. I personally like having front and rear bars.
Swaybars are good for fine tuning, not so much as a solution to a problem.
#23
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hustler: you should also check with more knowledgeable people about your alignment. you are running more camber in rear then front which is not exactly a good thing for miata with its dynamic rear camber (camber changes during turn) so you have barely enough grip in rear during turns. here is an example of dynamic miata camber on my previous car:
thats -2.2 degrees front and -1.8 degrees rear. see how in this picture rear camber is WAY more then -1.8? dynamic camber
ps: look at inner rear wheel, not outer.
Last edited by UrbanSoot; 05-28-2009 at 05:42 PM.
#24
what's the range of settings on your tein flex? i would raise the shock settings. i would say rear only, but it might change to oversteer if you don't raise the front also. (or try them at the same level) by raising the rear shocks stiffness, it might help to keep from transferring as much weight to the rear under acceleration while cornering.
also wonder why your running more camber in rear than frt.? i run 1.7 frt. 1.2 rear
also wonder why your running more camber in rear than frt.? i run 1.7 frt. 1.2 rear
#25
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Are you worried at all about side impacts with the door bars? Thats the only thing keeping me from doing them. A side impact looks like it would ram that bar into your hip, probably shatter your pelvis and leg and what ever other damage in that area it could cause. I've never seen any in person though, so I can't really say anything about how you fit into the car with them.
#26
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I'm not sure about turbo miatas, but for spec miatas, a good alignment for r888s is about -2.7 front camber, 1/16 out front toe, -3.3 rear camber, and rear toe depends on the track. For RA-1s, same but -3.0 front camber and -3.5 rear camber.
Hustler, why are you only able to get -1.7 out of your front? Something isn't right there... either the guy who aligned your car doesn't know what they are doing, or you have a bent control arm or subframe, or a bad lower ball joint.
Hustler, why are you only able to get -1.7 out of your front? Something isn't right there... either the guy who aligned your car doesn't know what they are doing, or you have a bent control arm or subframe, or a bad lower ball joint.
#28
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Bent upper or lower control arm
Bent subframe
Bad lower ball joint
It's also possible it's bushings, but unlikely. Just as likely that it is because the entire car is tweaked.
If they built it and didn't address that issue, that's a shitty shop and I'd never bring my car there.
#29
Wouldn't removing the rear sway have the exact opposite effect on a Miata? Unless I miss understand your meaning of rotate. Take off that rear bar and the car is going to shift it's balance from oversteer to understeer. I noticed a significant difference when I went from the solid RB bar to the hollow, the car had much more tendency to push.
A car being neutral depends on a lot of factors, so in fact removing the rear bar could make the car more neutral, which would follow in a RWD. I personally like having front and rear bars.
Swaybars are good for fine tuning, not so much as a solution to a problem.
A car being neutral depends on a lot of factors, so in fact removing the rear bar could make the car more neutral, which would follow in a RWD. I personally like having front and rear bars.
Swaybars are good for fine tuning, not so much as a solution to a problem.
#32
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Are you worried at all about side impacts with the door bars? Thats the only thing keeping me from doing them. A side impact looks like it would ram that bar into your hip, probably shatter your pelvis and leg and what ever other damage in that area it could cause. I've never seen any in person though, so I can't really say anything about how you fit into the car with them.
Another problem, though only cosmetic, is there is some minor wear visible where my shoes sometimes scrape the bar getting in and out, and where the seat belt buckle gets caught between the bar and the door (sticking retractor). Also, it is entertaining watching passengers not used to the door bars get in and out of the car, especially larger passengers.
#33
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Yeah after reading up on it that seems to be the biggest debate point, especially on m.n. I think some modest padding on the part of the bar next to one's hip would take care of it. Some fixed back race seats would take care of it too since it is low relative to hip position (at the area near the seat back hinge); a race bucket would cover the bar.
Another problem, though only cosmetic, is there is some minor wear visible where my shoes sometimes scrape the bar getting in and out, and where the seat belt buckle gets caught between the bar and the door (sticking retractor). Also, it is entertaining watching passengers not used to the door bars get in and out of the car, especially larger passengers.
Another problem, though only cosmetic, is there is some minor wear visible where my shoes sometimes scrape the bar getting in and out, and where the seat belt buckle gets caught between the bar and the door (sticking retractor). Also, it is entertaining watching passengers not used to the door bars get in and out of the car, especially larger passengers.
And its also not that the entire door caving in on a side impact is preferred either. I would imagine a side impact from an SUV would feel like a huge wave coming for you. Top edge of the front would be above the roof of our little cars, so it would pretty much crush the entire side. At least maybe the door bar would reduce intrusion, but your day would still suck *****.
#35
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All it has to do with is one (or multiple) of the following:
Bent upper or lower control arm
Bent subframe
Bad lower ball joint
It's also possible it's bushings, but unlikely. Just as likely that it is because the entire car is tweaked.
If they built it and didn't address that issue, that's a shitty shop and I'd never bring my car there.
Bent upper or lower control arm
Bent subframe
Bad lower ball joint
It's also possible it's bushings, but unlikely. Just as likely that it is because the entire car is tweaked.
If they built it and didn't address that issue, that's a shitty shop and I'd never bring my car there.
#36
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I'm also worried about the bar pushing the lower side bolsters of the seat up and making me sit crooked. I guess a narrow race seat would be ideal with door bars. Just doesn't look like any room down there for a 1 1/2'' bar (plus padding preferred). What seats are you running?
And its also not that the entire door caving in on a side impact is preferred either. I would imagine a side impact from an SUV would feel like a huge wave coming for you. Top edge of the front would be above the roof of our little cars, so it would pretty much crush the entire side. At least maybe the door bar would reduce intrusion, but your day would still suck *****.
And its also not that the entire door caving in on a side impact is preferred either. I would imagine a side impact from an SUV would feel like a huge wave coming for you. Top edge of the front would be above the roof of our little cars, so it would pretty much crush the entire side. At least maybe the door bar would reduce intrusion, but your day would still suck *****.
Yeah either way a side impact that bad is going to be a big pain in the butt, and the side, and a big headache (puns intended). Though there is already a smaller bar for it incorporated into the door, side intrusion is an argument for the door bar. Though really an SUV bumper is so high it is going to be coming at you at chest or even head level.
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