Suspension stiffness

[Mieran]

I have spax suspension with the 30 click setting on rear and front.

What I want to know is on a FWD car is it usually better to have front stiffer than back or vice versa?

[Ashleyp]

depends on the driver and their personal preference as to whether they like it more understeery, or oversteery (check the two new words i made up lol)

remember, there is a possibility of under / overdamping both front and rear depending on spring rates / torsion bars

so its not always best to say "stiffer front end" when you dont consider if the stiffness of the dampers suits the springs

[Mieran]

front is 250lb, not sure about the back but they are softer

[Ashleyp]

are spax dampers able to damp 250lbs, even at their most stiffest?!

[Mieran]

i should have mentioned that these are spax rsx coilovers, 250lb is the standard front spring rating

[Ashleyp]

i should have mentioned that these are spax rsx coilovers, 250lb is the standard front spring rating

I see.

it maybe worth setting them up to a personal preference if the dampers are easily adjustable?

start at the lowest setting and work your way up untill you find what best suits you.

could take a week or so of driving to find what most suits you, but it'd be better than going on pre-judged estimations right?

[Mieran]

I will deffo be doing some testing and also seeing what ride height suits the car

[AndySAXO]

well really that sort of suspension is best used on the track, as the whole point if it is to set the suspension up for the track or road that you are know,

but it iwll just take fine tuning to get the right balance,

[shooorn94]

Manufacturers manufacture the suspension (on most fwd vehicles) so that when pushed the car will understeer (this does not take into account longitudinal weight distribution via lift off etc.) I'm yet to find a car that handles well in fwd with a stiffer rear than front ;)

Hope you find a setup that suits you mieran!

[Ashleyp]

Manufacturers manufacture the suspension (on most fwd vehicles) so that when pushed the car will understeer (this does not take into account longitudinal weight distribution via lift off etc.) I'm yet to find a car that handles well in fwd with a stiffer rear than front ;)

Hope you find a setup that suits you mieran!

the citroen DS3 sporty model has a stiffer rear iirc

although, that doesnt mean it handles well

[shooorn94]

the citroen DS3 sporty model has a stiffer rear iirc

although, that doesnt mean it handles well

That is very interesting! I'll have to look into this. The DS3 still uses rear torsions (well the THP does anyway, doubt they'd change the rear setup for the racing though) I wonder what made them decide to make the rear stiffer? Made me want to test drive one even more now Ashley just to see how they handle over the "conventional" setup :)

[tom130691]

on the ds3 brochure it says "the best steering car since the SAXO"

[Ashleyp]

on the ds3 brochure it says "the best steering car since the SAXO"

well.. i wouldnt take that for gospel, its just citroen marketing talk

there have been a LOT of better cars and are a LOT of better cars out there...

That is very interesting! I'll have to look into this. The DS3 still uses rear torsions (well the THP does anyway, doubt they'd change the rear setup for the racing though) I wonder what made them decide to make the rear stiffer? Made me want to test drive one even more now Ashley just to see how they handle over the "conventional" setup :)

will try and dig the figures out, but the rear end does seem to be very stiff from what i remember, to aid with a much more fluent / thrilling drive