The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

Chriz · 05-20-2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamu

You guys in Texas see my old FP Boxster yet?

YouTube - ‪FP #111 Texas SW Divisional Best Run‬&rlm;

Is that you driving? Ive gotten rides in Erik Strelnieks's RX-7 before, and man can he drive.

AutoX Z · 05-20-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamu

You guys in Texas see my old FP Boxster yet?

YouTube - ‪FP #111 Texas SW Divisional Best Run‬&rlm;

Yeah, they had it out at a divisional last weekend. Got second in FP I think? behind the Berry's EVO.

Chriz · 05-20-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Well make sure to make it out to some Houston events too. The SCCA club here puts on first class events with some great competition and friends mixed in.

I definitely plan to. Ive heard good things about Houston SCCA

handyman · 05-21-2011, 03:26 PM

I'm going to continue to share my experiences, hopefully they will help others in the future:

Alignment makes a HUGE difference. I went to -0.06* toe (out) in the front and -1.2* rear camber, left everything else stock, and suddenly the car has TONS of oversteer! So much so that I just lost to a bunch of Miata guys I've been easily beating for the past few weeks. It's good news because I should be able to reel it back in with a bigger front sway bar, which will help with overall stiffness and rear end grip as well. But until my front bar comes in, I'll be tuning the alignment back closer to stock (+.03* toe (in) in the front and -1.4* rear camber) to keep it under control.

If you are fighting understeer on stock (or otherwise staggered) tires, an alignment may be a cheap way to solve your problem.

cossie1600 · 05-21-2011, 04:56 PM

1.2 camber in rear seems little

handyman · 05-21-2011, 07:05 PM

Ideally I would like something like 2* camber all around, but since I can't get any more than 0.8* in front, I'd rather have balance than 0.8* in front and 2.2* in back (what it was stock)

cossie1600 · 05-21-2011, 07:49 PM

Camber is not like tires, you don't need square setup....

handyman · 05-21-2011, 08:23 PM

True.

Here is my logic: Increasing rear camber increases rear cornering grip while decreasing acceleration grip... if you are having trouble with understeer, and can't increase front cornering grip (in this case by increasing front camber), you must decrease rear cornering grip to achieve balance. You might as well decrease rear camber to sacrifice some rear end cornering grip for an increase in acceleration grip.

And to be honest, you don't need a square setup with tires either, you need a setup that addresses the needs of your car and driving style

AutoX Z · 05-21-2011, 10:35 PM

I run less than the stock camber setting on my car. It helps with tire wear and putting power down on corner exit. I don't run quite that low but less than 2*.

ChrisSlicks · 05-22-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

I run less than the stock camber setting on my car. It helps with tire wear and putting power down on corner exit. I don't run quite that low but less than 2*.

I agree. From driving with a few different alignments and checking tire temperatures along with driving feel I think the ideal rear camber is in the 1.7 to 1.8 degree range.

handyman · 05-22-2011, 05:58 PM

Yep, I think you guys are right. Thanks for sharing. The 1.2* wasn't enough, rear end was too lose. 1.4 is better, its enough that the car still understeers with the small amount of toe in I have atm. When I get my front bar on I will put toe out back in the front and bump the rear camber up to 1.6-1.8ish as a starting point.

For reference; yesterday with toe out (-.06*) and 1.2 rear camber I was oversteering badly and lost by over two seconds, today with toe in (.03*) and 1.4 rear camber the car was back to slight understeer and I won by 3/10ths against the same guys.

Shamu · 05-29-2011, 11:54 AM

Honestly all this camber talk is useless without understanding specific tire and wheel setup. Different type and size wheels/tires all require a little bit different setup. Also size of your sway bars impacts camber settings as well. Also type of LSD may influence your alignment settings as well. If your spinning inside wheel a lot with stock VLSD you just might be better off with less camber. But if your car has a good LSD you might not need to worry as much.

Funny thing is I run around -3 rear and -4 front with 285/295 A6s on 9.5 front and 10.5 rear wheels I didn't notice any rear issues with my OSGiken LSD then went back to the crappy stock VLSD and the car was spinning light wheel like crazy.

handyman · 05-29-2011, 04:10 PM

Yea, the VLSD is crap. I wonder how much temp effects it? Might be worth while to spray it down with water or something to cool it off between runs and bring the viscosity back up.

Bondfire · 10-02-2012, 12:09 PM

So I started doing autocross this summer and realize that I'm really in need of some new brake pads. This car is my daily driver and my only vehicle, so I'll have to be driving this during the Maryland winter weather. I am thinking Hawk HPS, but I just thought I'd toss out this question to see what other people think.

~Justin

03threefiftyz · 10-02-2012, 03:02 PM

I use the stoptech street pads, but Hawk offers contingency if you run/win national events.

05-21-2011, 10:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
AutoX Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 314 Drives: 370Z Base, Sport Rep Power: 18	I run less than the stock camber setting on my car. It helps with tire wear and putting power down on corner exit. I don't run quite that low but less than 2*. __________________ 2013 SCCA Solo National Champion VVV For Sale VVV

05-29-2011, 11:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
Shamu A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 1,059 Drives: 370Z Racecar Rep Power: 21	Honestly all this camber talk is useless without understanding specific tire and wheel setup. Different type and size wheels/tires all require a little bit different setup. Also size of your sway bars impacts camber settings as well. Also type of LSD may influence your alignment settings as well. If your spinning inside wheel a lot with stock VLSD you just might be better off with less camber. But if your car has a good LSD you might not need to worry as much. Funny thing is I run around -3 rear and -4 front with 285/295 A6s on 9.5 front and 10.5 rear wheels I didn't notice any rear issues with my OSGiken LSD then went back to the crappy stock VLSD and the car was spinning light wheel like crazy. __________________ Grant

10-02-2012, 12:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bondfire Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Jessup Posts: 81 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z - Yel Rep Power: 15	Best Autocross Brake Pads? So I started doing autocross this summer and realize that I'm really in need of some new brake pads. This car is my daily driver and my only vehicle, so I'll have to be driving this during the Maryland winter weather. I am thinking Hawk HPS, but I just thought I'd toss out this question to see what other people think. ~Justin

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05-21-2011, 03:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 17	I'm going to continue to share my experiences, hopefully they will help others in the future: Alignment makes a HUGE difference. I went to -0.06* toe (out) in the front and -1.2* rear camber, left everything else stock, and suddenly the car has TONS of oversteer! So much so that I just lost to a bunch of Miata guys I've been easily beating for the past few weeks. It's good news because I should be able to reel it back in with a bigger front sway bar, which will help with overall stiffness and rear end grip as well. But until my front bar comes in, I'll be tuning the alignment back closer to stock (+.03* toe (in) in the front and -1.4* rear camber) to keep it under control. If you are fighting understeer on stock (or otherwise staggered) tires, an alignment may be a cheap way to solve your problem.

05-21-2011, 04:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 32	1.2 camber in rear seems little

05-21-2011, 07:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 17	Ideally I would like something like 2* camber all around, but since I can't get any more than 0.8* in front, I'd rather have balance than 0.8* in front and 2.2* in back (what it was stock)

05-21-2011, 07:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 32	Camber is not like tires, you don't need square setup....

05-21-2011, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 17	True. Here is my logic: Increasing rear camber increases rear cornering grip while decreasing acceleration grip... if you are having trouble with understeer, and can't increase front cornering grip (in this case by increasing front camber), you must decrease rear cornering grip to achieve balance. You might as well decrease rear camber to sacrifice some rear end cornering grip for an increase in acceleration grip. And to be honest, you don't need a square setup with tires either, you need a setup that addresses the needs of your car and driving style

05-22-2011, 05:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 17	Yep, I think you guys are right. Thanks for sharing. The 1.2* wasn't enough, rear end was too lose. 1.4 is better, its enough that the car still understeers with the small amount of toe in I have atm. When I get my front bar on I will put toe out back in the front and bump the rear camber up to 1.6-1.8ish as a starting point. For reference; yesterday with toe out (-.06) and 1.2 rear camber I was oversteering badly and lost by over two seconds, today with toe in (.03) and 1.4 rear camber the car was back to slight understeer and I won by 3/10ths against the same guys.

05-29-2011, 04:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 17	Yea, the VLSD is crap. I wonder how much temp effects it? Might be worth while to spray it down with water or something to cool it off between runs and bring the viscosity back up.

10-02-2012, 03:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
03threefiftyz Track Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: MD Posts: 536 Drives: 03 350z 6mt Rep Power: 18	I use the stoptech street pads, but Hawk offers contingency if you run/win national events.