understeer

[oakfloor]

hello all. I live near sacramento,ca. does anyone have a alinement shop they can recommend? my s2000 has a push, anyone have specs? i only want to balance it out a little. thanks

[nate@comptech]

There are many shops in the Sacramnto area that can align it. G12 downtown is well know for being able to align the toughest sportscars, how far do you want to drive? There is a Big O tires that many of our customers use for alignment located a couple of blocks from us in El Dorado Hills. They are very familiar with the S200 thanks to us. If you want to swing out there I'd be happy to give you a tour of our facility on your way back.

-Nate

[oakfloor]

thanks nate, for the info. i was also looking for specs. thanks for the invite. lenny k

[monkeymaker]

You might want to do a search of this site to find recommendations on alignment settings. The UK performance specs seem to be popular, but it's going to depend on how you drive your car... track, street, grandma style... different environments demand different setups, as do your driving style and ability.

[WestSideBilly]

An alignment shop will be able to look up factory specs for alignment.

[WestSideBilly]

Also, what condition are your tires in, and what sort of pressure are you running?

[oakfloor]

I have 13000 on the front at 29psi, and 1000 on the rear at 32 psi

[Kirk]

amazing for the fronts to last that long but regardless.. you need to air them up. this is the cause of your understeer here if nothing else. yes, tire pressures can do that much. you need to tune the steering with the fronts - air them up to say 32-36#'s, whatever works for you, and then tune the rears for understeer/oversteer characteristics.

[oakfloor]

With less air pressure you have a larger contact patch,right? I tried 34 psi in rears 29 in front made no difference. Besides it rides a little softer. Its Good for right now. With rain coming, thanks for the reply. Lenny

[WestSideBilly]

Your understeer may be coming from the difference in tire. A 13k mile tire is a lot harder (and thus less grippy) than a 1000 mile tire. I've had the same problem before, and tire pressure alone can't compensate for the huge difference.

[oakfloor]

Yeah that sound right. I think the fronts are the original tires. That makes them about 4 years old. I will plan on a new set. Thanks

[Kirk]

Originally posted by oakfloor
With less air pressure you have a larger contact patch,right? I tried 34 psi in rears 29 in front made no difference. Besides it rides a little softer. Its Good for right now. With rain coming, thanks for the reply. Lenny

your tires are already different sizes. don't try to increase or decrease the contact patch by inflating or deflating the tire itself. you are actually giving yourself the headache here.

by decreasing the front pressure, you are flattening out the tire and causing it not to turn as easily. ever carried around a wheel barrow and the tire goes flat? it's the same principle - you cannot turn it as easily - thus putting you into an 'understeer' characteristic.

inflate the fronts up!