Autocross sway bar settings?
 

Can someone help me with sway bar settings for my car?
Base Sport 7at
Stock tires: 60%F 40%R
Whiteline sways: ? (Currently set to softest on front out of 2 settings anf medium on rear out of 3 settings)

Swift springs: Height Drop: 1.25" / 1" (front / rear)
Spring Rate: 10K / 10.5K (front / rear)
Stock end-links

I'm not trying to be competitive; I know my mods are not ideal for autox. If I enjoy it I'll consider proper mods.

Also I'll change the brake fluid but it will have to be a local brand(suggestions?) and what cold/hot tire pressure should I be aiming for?


Thanks

More important are alignment specs and tires you are using. I suspect your current bar settings are compensating for lack of tire, toe out and negative camber upfront?

I'd step up to firmer bar setting in front.

I would also go with the stiffest front setting.

With the re050, car isn't going to turn one way or another

Thx
+1
+1

I was kinda thinking my car would have understeer up front with my current settings but what I'm reading doesn't always specify high vs low speed cornering.

I did have an experience that might help understand my car's handling characteristics, but this may be useless bc I was braking hard AND turning at the same time. I was approaching a 100 degree left turn and braked too late. Usual speed here (mid corner) is around 35-40mph, this time i was going around 50mph. I tried to brake hard before I started turning but it wasnt enough. I started plowing, still braking, then my left rear came off the ground, then my VDC came on and my LSD clicked once or twice and I was fine. This may not be helpful at all, thx to my multiple driver inputs, but I thought I would share.

I realize that my car saved my a$$ from snap oversteer and a spinout so I'm happy to leave VDC on all the time... And apprehensive about turning it off for autox, but like I said I'm not tryin to be competitive and don't want the only spinning out to be a Z.

Thanks again. I've got a whole bag of rep if anyone else wants some. :santa:

Noted. But there's nothing i can do about it. I'm kinda asking how to compensate for my lack of tires. The only adjustments I can make are front/rear sway bar stiffness and tire pressure. Next time I get tires they'll prolly be re11s but I'm waiting until spring.

Thx

At an autocross, who cares if you spin? You really need to take off the VDC so you can learn how the car behaves at the limit. With your tires you are trying to do too much when you brake and turn at the same time. You need to work on smoothness as the tires won't respond well to jerky movements. You need to get off the brakes, which will unload the front tires, and then smoothly turn in, and then use the throttle as soon as you can to further help you turn through the corner.

+1

Yea I was trying to admit fault in my late braking which led to multiple driving inputs(bad). I know thats not the way to drive. My focus here was to determine swaybar settings based on my low grip tires and springs only suspension mod. So I should increase front stiffness and leave the rear on medium setting?

And when it comes to the VDC, my concern is wheel spin on launch and corner exits. Hopefully the track is a safe distance from curbs and trees and I'll feel better. I'd like to make a run without the VDC engaging to boost my confidence. I wouldnt mind spinning out and learn my boundaries if I had a safe place to do it.

I understand, but there is no quick fix in your situation. You can change it all you want, the difference will be relatively minor. I mean the car will feel different, but it won't drive much faster. You start stiffening the front bar, your car isn't going to turn. You start stiffening the rear bar, the back end is going to twitch everywhere.

You have to learn sooner or later. As soon as you feel comfortable, hit the button and call it a day. You are not going to make any run without the VDC kicking on unless you run dirt slow. The system is so intrusive that you are not going to be able to do anything.

As has already been said, until you take the VDC off it doesn't matter what you do with your setup. The VDC in this car is very restrictive and won't let you get the car to a point where you will notice a change in sway bar settings.

That being said, I would soften the rear as much as possible to help put power down and en adjust with the front to how you like it. Also get yourself some real dampers. The oems can't handle the stock spring rates much less what you are running.

BSP 350z

Full stiff on front bar
No rear bar

Springs rate....higher than yours.

Well I went today and had a blast so I may be hooked. I didn't have time to change any settings but the car handled decently. My tires were definitely my limiting factor, and my high psi didn't help. The rear felt good and the front was plowing slightly. But the whole car was sliding evenly so maybe the settings would be okay with re11's.

Im already thinking about coilovers so I can represent our car a little better. My first lap 76sec followed by 66 & 63. Most cars ran high 50's and the best time was a miata at 51.xx. I need to do my homework on ax suspensions but if anyone has suggestions I would appreciate them. There r some kwv3's at a good price in the classifieds but a quick search showed some people said they weren't the best for ax. If so, what should I be looking at instead? Or maybe keep my springs and add Koni shocks? First step of course is tires but if I find a deal I'd rather pull the trigger to save money.

Thanks again everyone. I'm still slangin rep so any positive comments r welcome

Also I forget to mention I ran all laps with VDC off and didn't spin out(although I kinda wanted to). The course had very safe margins and every one was nice and eager to help. Great experience.

Tires first

+1

Also if you are having trouble hooking up out of turns more bar up front and less in back will help.