I have been playing around with the stifness of my KONIs and was wondering what is better for what when it comes to stiffness. DO I want the front stiffer than the back, vise versa, or equal? Also, what is each going to cause?
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Stiffer in the back is going towards oversteer and viseversa. I'd get it somewhere comfortable with the back being a bit stiffer, and leave it. You're not going to be able to drive it much differently until you do many driver's schools.The BMW 318 is back. With a vengeance. -
I run full stiff in the back, half stiff in the front. Pretty happy with it :D
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I'm still unsure why people think changing the stiffness in the rear will creat more oversteer. the adjustments only affect rebound, compression isn't affected, and it's your springs that hold up the car, not the shocks.
basically what you want is the setting where the shock can effectively control the spring. for me I have the fronts cranked up to 100% (any less and the ride was too bouncy) and about 2/3 in the rear. I had the rear cranked up to 100% but it was too stiff and there wasn't any handling benefit. it will probably be different for a RWD car, but not much.
I've also had much more luck using tire pressures to change understeer/oversteer. I tried playing with the shocks before but it got me nowhere. basically, once you have it where you want it you shouldn't have to adjust it again.Comment
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Thats what Im wondering.Originally posted by nandoJames Peacock
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probably that adjusting the shock stiffness has nothing to do with oversteer/understeer, hence it isnt on the list. like someone was getting at, the shock is just supposed to match the stiffness of the spring. the spring determines the handling.Originally posted by nando
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Simple suspension adjustments
These are general rules about how some changes to your car can affect its handling:Originally posted by straight6pwr
Its not like that is the end-all giude on how to affect vehicle balance.James Peacock
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So nothing really covered what the stiffness affects. If has nothing to do with oversteer understeer then what does it affect?sigpicComment
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The stiffness of the dampers (or shocks, same things) can affect the transient response of the car, that is, how the car responds during the transition into a turn. Varying stiffnesses of the dampers front to rear can cause transient over or understeer. It can be used to help the car turn in. But that kind of affect is usually a function of the compression stiffness.Originally posted by DarkWing6
The koni's on our cars can only adjust the rebound stiffness, so we can't really affect our transient handling as much. Rebound stiffness affects the ride a lot more. The rebound stroke of the damper dissapates the energy contained in the compressed spring.
Low rebound damping will allow the spring (and car) to oscillate back to equillibrium gently and not impart any large accelerations (which feel uncomfortable). High rebound stiffness does not let the spring and car to oscillate much or at all. This quick return to equillibrium requires higher accelerations and thus more jerky movement (ie uncomfortable).
But, in a racecar, or atleast spirited driving, you would rather opt for a little less comfort and better response and road holding. The quicker the car reaches equillibrium the quicker it responds to your inputs and the next input or change can be made sooner. Though, go too stiff and the spring won't reach equillibrium as quickly and that's no good. Damping is very important and it's dictated by spring stiffness and mass. Look in to vibration theory if you want to learn more.318is -gone-
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Just to make sure I have this right. The stiffness causes me to get back to equilibrium quicker, which, in turn, readys me for the next turn etc quicker? This all at cost of comfort, but stiffer is not necessarily bettersigpicComment
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