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Improving MKIV R32 understeer


andyf
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Hi, Was wondering what the best route is for improving the handling of my R. Im not really wanting to change spring & dampers etc but and was wondering if the neuspeed/HR uprated anti roll bar kits are a good starting point for improving the handling. Would like a Haldex kit but the price is a bit steep for me. Its just for road use and not trackdays or anything.

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That's the best route to go. Run with 25mm front and 22mm rear ARBs and you'll get rid of quite a bit of the understeer. You can go for a larger diameter ARB at the back, but you'll make the car prone to snap oversteer if you're not too careful, especially with the standard suspension.

You might want to consider top and bottom strut braces on the front, which will stiffen the car up more and remove a bit more of the understeer. It all depends how much you want to spend.

The only way to get rid of it (almost) completely is to install the Haldex upgrade and a new suspension setup, like the KW Variant 3 kit, which both Helfinger and I run and both rate very highly. It's about £1000 for the kit though, just so you're aware.

HTH

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The car will always under steer though due to the weight distribution and the fact most the power goes through the front...

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Perhaps it is better to say that the R32 ‘tends’ towards understeer, but that doesn’t mean that the car can’t be set up to be neutral or to oversteer when steady-state cornering.

I currently use a H&R 25mm front ASB combined with a 21mm H&R rear ASB (both full stiff). This combo produces the most neutral handling for my setup. I’ve also used a 25mm NS rear ASB which made the rear end of the car very easy to rotate.

While the 25mm front ASB is not a ‘necessity’ it does prevent some of the ‘dip and lean’ and also helps the front tires maintain a larger, more consistent contact patch with the road.

The size and stiffness setting of the rear bar is directly related to how your car is setup (type of springs, shocks, rear stress brace, tire pressures, etc) and one’s personal tolerance of oversteer (especially if lifting throttle in a turn shocked.gif). Generally, the 21mm or 22mm rear ASBs seem to be the most popular for most setups while the 25mm provides more ‘exciting’ action.

Good luck 169144-ok.gif

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I had the completely stock US Monroe dung.gif suspension and just put on the blue Haldex and it totally transformed the handling. Did not change anything else and car became totally neutral in normal driving.

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Me too! Just added the HPP, will do the shocks when the current ones have had a bit more abuse... 169144-ok.gif

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They are both Haldex units i doubt there would be anything in it, and even if there was on a £25k whatever difference it is it wont put people off.

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But whatever they stuck on it, someone would make an aftermarket product that improves on it.

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although peugeot just about got away with it with the 205 I don't think a mass manufacture is going to make anything with a neutral to oversteer bias....

I know it was a bit different but look what a great press the original audi tt got when they started flying off the road backwards ...

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I cant see the R32 ever having a natural over steer tendency... It may help it to stop it from pushing wide while accelerating round a tight bend, but no mater what happens the haldex unit cant do anything about that big heavy engine sitting in front of the front axle.

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I cant see the R32 ever having a natural over steer tendency... It may help it to stop it from pushing wide while accelerating round a tight bend, but no mater what happens the haldex unit cant do anything about that big heavy engine sitting in front of the front axle.

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Well, here's my proven oversteer recipe for the R32. Take a set of KW3 rear dampers and set the compression real stiff and the rebound real soft. Add a dash of 25mm rear ASB. Inflate the rear tires generously. Enter a corner fast and lift the throttle (just a tad will do). Wala! You're off tail first into whatever UHOH7.GIF

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Thanks for all teh advice, may have to look at getting the H&R set up me thinks.

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You are welcome 169144-ok.gif

Having tried both the Neuspeed and H&R bars I've found some interesting differences. I decided on the H&R route mainly because of their 'squeek-free' bushings. Personally, I've found the car's handling to be a bit less forgiving with the rear H&R bar, but also more precise most likely due to stiffer bushings and the 'stops' welded onto the bar (to prevent excessive travel through the bushings). The NS bar allows more lean (no 'stops')and quick left-right transitions felt smooth and comfortable, but not as precise as the H&R. Either bar will do the job and I think it just depends on what a driver finds more comfortable.

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I foolishly had the 22mm Neuspeed rear insalled without the front and all it gave me was large amounts of understeer. Although with the KW's were alowing the car to turn better and the Haldex PP was pushing the power in sooner, your traveling slightly faster and it pushes the car wide! However the back feels steady as a rock, still waiting to have the front installed.... sportifs2.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

I foolishly had the 22mm Neuspeed rear insalled without the front and all it gave me was large amounts of understeer. Although with the KW's were alowing the car to turn better and the Haldex PP was pushing the power in sooner, your traveling slightly faster and it pushes the car wide! However the back feels steady as a rock, still waiting to have the front installed.... sportifs2.gif

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Installing a larger diameter front bar usually won't improve an understeer problem. The front bar improves stability. You should have experienced a tendency to a more neutral handling car after installing the 22 mm rear bar. The best place to test this is on a skid pad under steady-state cornering to determine if the front/rear slip angles are equivalent.

The car will still 'push' if you apply a large amount of throttle in a curve.

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