As a sort of continuation of the corner weights thread in the 'events' section a little while back, I have been playing around with the ride heights lately. Rob referred to 'wedge' stance, I suppose the angle of attack if you like, I've discovered that lowering the front by 2cm has tranformed the balance and steering feedback dramatically. I always had the sensation of turn in oversteer, this has not only disappeared but the turn in feels even sharper than before. You would have thought that with even better turn in that the rear would feel looser. Not at all, it's really stable.
Mike
ride heights
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stylussprinter
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wedge
Well done Mike , it's great when some small tweek results in a real assessable change in handling 
Not sure what your previous front /rear differential was but 20mm is probably as far as you need to go if it was level before OR possibly your front was higher than the rear ? Did you measure the rear at the join of steel to alloy i.e. seat pan front ?
That's where I use as the standard for my rear check - with car empty(no driver) Are you actually now 20mm lower than the rear OR did you simply drop the front 20mm. When I began my experiments with set up in 2000 , I eventually found that 25mm wedge was dodgey if you had plenty of power or it was wet. I'm talking track driving as opposed to road conditions although even on the road with 200bhp , it was far too much wedge. Before the many changes to mine over 6 yrs , I ended up using 18mm as the perfect wedge for 14 inch wheels / 185/60 tyres and 200lbs front springs / 180lbs rears.
Don't know about you but I just love playing around with set up but it's worthless without access to a track.
Rob.
Just had a thought
If you dropped it unless you've adjusted camber/toe this will have changed a degree 
and toe too 
This might account for some better feel 
Not sure what your previous front /rear differential was but 20mm is probably as far as you need to go if it was level before OR possibly your front was higher than the rear ? Did you measure the rear at the join of steel to alloy i.e. seat pan front ?That's where I use as the standard for my rear check - with car empty(no driver) Are you actually now 20mm lower than the rear OR did you simply drop the front 20mm. When I began my experiments with set up in 2000 , I eventually found that 25mm wedge was dodgey if you had plenty of power or it was wet. I'm talking track driving as opposed to road conditions although even on the road with 200bhp , it was far too much wedge. Before the many changes to mine over 6 yrs , I ended up using 18mm as the perfect wedge for 14 inch wheels / 185/60 tyres and 200lbs front springs / 180lbs rears.
Don't know about you but I just love playing around with set up but it's worthless without access to a track.
Rob.
Just had a thought
If you dropped it unless you've adjusted camber/toe this will have changed a degree and toe too This might account for some better feel I just love the Stylus but she keeps swallowing £££ !
Alfa Red 159 2.4 jtdm ti 260bhp 365lbft / BilsteinB12 + Adjustable Powerflex camber/castor bushes. Red STYLUS 2lt zetec 231bhp 185lbft Dunnell . RED 1972 Alfa 2lt GTAm replica 170bhp.
Alfa Red 159 2.4 jtdm ti 260bhp 365lbft / BilsteinB12 + Adjustable Powerflex camber/castor bushes. Red STYLUS 2lt zetec 231bhp 185lbft Dunnell . RED 1972 Alfa 2lt GTAm replica 170bhp.
Hi Rob,
I got to approx 20mm in 3 steps. It was better after 1 drop so I kept on going.
I reckon there a little toe out now judge by the way it wants to turn so eagerly. I'll try bringing this back to straight and see if it still has the balanced feel. Your right it's virtually impossible to set a car up on the road and expect it to do the same on the track, but I've now got to face reality, I'm just not going to get track time the way I used to! The public road is now my reality, and for that reason I thinking of junking the sticky rubber and going for less grip. The cornering speed is such that it 's very easy to surprise other road users at round-abouts etc.
Mike
I got to approx 20mm in 3 steps. It was better after 1 drop so I kept on going.
I reckon there a little toe out now judge by the way it wants to turn so eagerly. I'll try bringing this back to straight and see if it still has the balanced feel. Your right it's virtually impossible to set a car up on the road and expect it to do the same on the track, but I've now got to face reality, I'm just not going to get track time the way I used to! The public road is now my reality, and for that reason I thinking of junking the sticky rubber and going for less grip. The cornering speed is such that it 's very easy to surprise other road users at round-abouts etc.
Mike
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stylussprinter
- Stylus owner
- Posts: 3772
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:49 pm
- Are you a Stylus owner?: yes
- Location: ASTON CLINTON BUCKS
sticky rubber
Not sure what stickies you're using but YOKO A021R are a damn good track tyre being a soft compound and still dead safe for road as they're a great wet tyre. If used really hard and long they will rub off on track though.Bloody good compromise 
Rob.
Rob.
I just love the Stylus but she keeps swallowing £££ !
Alfa Red 159 2.4 jtdm ti 260bhp 365lbft / BilsteinB12 + Adjustable Powerflex camber/castor bushes. Red STYLUS 2lt zetec 231bhp 185lbft Dunnell . RED 1972 Alfa 2lt GTAm replica 170bhp.
Alfa Red 159 2.4 jtdm ti 260bhp 365lbft / BilsteinB12 + Adjustable Powerflex camber/castor bushes. Red STYLUS 2lt zetec 231bhp 185lbft Dunnell . RED 1972 Alfa 2lt GTAm replica 170bhp.