The Automotive Thread

[Dexman PE PMP]

Got the new rear dampers, lower control arms, and sway bar installed in the Camaro on Friday. It's amazing how much tightening the rear sway bar can affect the steering of a car. I may have set it a little too stiff and put too much oversteer in it, so I will have to reset it when I get the chance. It's still drive-able, but I need to be careful on high speed corners

 

[Supe]

Got the new rear dampers, lower control arms, and sway bar installed in the Camaro on Friday. It's amazing how much tightening the rear sway bar can affect the steering of a car. I may have set it a little too stiff and put too much oversteer in it, so I will have to reset it when I get the chance. It's still drive-able, but I need to be careful on high speed corners

Oh yeah, BIG difference.  On a RWD car with any kind of power, you typically want a small bar, or one set close to full loose, or you're going to have oversteer everywhere.  I don't even run a rear bar on the Mazda, whereas on the Porsche with 130ish HP, I have the front bar set loose and a beefy sway bar out back with the links set close to full stiff so I can force the car to rotate mid-turn without too much throttle input.  You can try softening the rear shocks a bit too if they're adjustable.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Shocks aren't adjustable.  I haven't logged a lot of miles with the new setup, nor have I had it properly aligned.  Once I get it aligned (after replacing the front shocks), I will re-asses how it feels. It's definitely looser than it was before, but I need to determine if it feels too loose because I've grown accustomed to the understeer, or if it actually is too loose.

 

[Supe]

If the back end is starting to come around at speed on a constant radius turn without you getting on the throttle, then its too loose.  Mid corner oversteer is often attributed to either too much rear roll stiffness, or too high a tire pressure (which is moot on a street car).  Corner exit oversteer is about the same, though too little roll stiffness can also cause it if the inside tire is completely unloading.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

With what you have described, it appears I have the bar too tight.  Both the old bar and the new bar are 3-way adjustable, but due to the change in endlink connection points (old bar connects between the springs, new one connects outside), the geometry of the new bar makes it inherently stiffer.  I had the old bar at the stiffest setting, so I was debating setting the new bar between the mid and loose (went with the mid).  Knowing what I know now, I'll try it on the looser setting. 

 

[Supe]

Yeah, if its the three hole type, put it towards the outermost hole and you'll probably be in good shape.  

 

[mudpuppy]

Yeah, if its the three hole type, put it towards the outermost hole and you'll probably be in good shape.  

I tried, but she didn't like me using that third hole.

 

[Road Guy]

required more tequila

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

You obviously didn't pay enough.

 

[Supe]

I tried, but she didn't like me using that third hole.

Sometimes it can be a bit stubborn, but nothing a BFH won't take care of. 

 

[envirotex]

Anybody have any experience with BMW's turbodiesel?

Looking to replace the lacrosse mom SUV with an X5 I found...

 

[MetsFan]

Anybody have any experience with BMW's turbodiesel?

Looking to replace the lacrosse mom SUV with an X5 I found...

Take a look here:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=154

I can only tell you about my 3 series experience, which is not to own a Bimmer after the warranty expires 

 

[envirotex]

Unfortunately, that is what I have heard, too.  I like the idea of a diesel though...

 

[knight1fox3]

I like the idea of a diesel though...

Why?  The ROI is not making leaps and bounds past the conventional variety.

 

[Road Guy]

you get that cool clicking sound when the car idles?

 

[csb]

It's 40 miles to the gallon and it hauls! 

At least that was what was neat when I test drove a diesel VW. 

 

[envirotex]

10 minutes ago, envirotex said:

I like the idea of a diesel though...

Why?  The ROI is not making leaps and bounds past the conventional variety.

Longevity of a diesel engine...apparently, though on a BMW everything else wears out after 3 years or 36,000 miles.

 

[knight1fox3]

It's 40 miles to the gallon and it hauls! 

At least that was what was neat when I test drove a diesel VW. 

Ya but they lied about their numbers.  LOL

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

^ to be fair, they lied about their emissions programming, not their fuel mileage.

 

[Supe]

Except that the EPA retrofits are going to reduce the fuel mileage below advertised.