Suspension set-up

[Adam43]

Are there any books or other sources of material providing basic information on set-up for saloons/sportscars?

I race a Jaguar XJS and the suspension changes are limited (adjustable shocks, tyre pressures...), but it would be nice to have general understanding of what can be done.

I have been racing for a year now and feel that there would be benefits to improving the feel of the car. For example the car handles pretty well, but it does have quite dramatic lift-off oversteer. This is as expected for a car of this type, but it would be nice to perhaps dial some of this out. Obviously on a clear track this is never a problem, but when something unusual happens then sometimes it is unavoidable.

Is there any advice out there?

Thanks.

[Tony_Simpson]

There are lots of books out there. I have found the books by Allan Staniforth to be very interesting and easy to understand. Competition Car Suspension (www.haynes.com) is one of his books. He also runs a consultancy business mainly for hillclimb cars.

Try and get a copy of Grand Prix Legends for the PC as this is one great way of understanding how a car handles. I say this as it teaches you how to set up a car and if you do get it wrong it is only a game and if you crash it will not cost anything.

Other than that get your car in CCC in the clinic and get your full car looked at. I think it is also free.

[mattray]

"Tune to win" by Carrol Smith is a very good book. and as far as I know the only way not to get lift off oversteer is not to lift.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by mattray
as far as I know the only way not to get lift off oversteer is not to lift.

! !
It certainly is the best way. I understand that the old Lotus Elise used to suffer from it quite a bit (the only handling deficiency of that car?), but the new one doesn't so they have obviously done something. Obviously it will always occur to a certain extent can this be reduced.

Cheers for the book suggestions - I'll check them out...