Just returned from my first auto-x on the new tires and suspension, and I had a hard time getting the car to turn! Here's the setup i have on the 200sx- Azenis tires, GC 325/275, AGX shocks and struts, n-tech tie bar brace, stillen strut brace, and ST sway bars front and rear. I had the AGX set at 2 front and 7-8 rear. Tire pressures: i started at 38F/34R and went up from there, (judging by the wear marks on the sidewalls) eventually edingup at roughly 46F 41 R. The car just would not turn all day...it was behaving just like it was when stock! Someone wanna give me some pointers?

try keeping your front to rear tire pressures closer. I run 36psi front and 34psi rear cold for street use. I forgot how high I went for auto-x but it was something like 38-40 front and 37-39 rear cold. If this does not help, change the front Anti-sway bar back to the factory one. BTW, anyone interested in a front ST anti-sway bar for a NX/SE-R. :D

Cossie

c'mon, there has got to be SOMEONE out there who also has or had a similar prob...

Well, since it's your first AUTO-X and you've got a nice setup, here is what I would say: You are trying to go too fast. No matter what setup you are running, you still only have a certain amount of available traction. You can't really brake and turn at the same time, because you are usin 50% of your traction for braking and 50% for turning. You want to brake early, so that you have 100% traction available for cornering and then accelerating.

Don't worry too much about it. EVERY SINGLE PERSON DOES THE EXACT SAME THING AT THEIR FIRST AUTO-X. Things just seemed to be going too fast didn't it? Things wil get better, and you will learn to be smoother. Hope this helps.

Ummm...i have been autocrossing for four years...this is the first time I ran on the new suspension and the azenis tires. I was using kumho victoracers before on stock shox and springs.

Originally posted by cossieturbo
[snip] change the front Anti-sway bar back to the factory one. [snip]

I agree. I've only been autocrossing for a year or so, but having a beefy REAR swaybar and stock FRONT swaybar makes the car SO much more tail-happy. I can get the rear to come around very easily with my Addco rear swaybar/stock front swaybar combo.

Originally posted by ian
Ummm...i have been autocrossing for four years...this is the first time I ran on the new suspension and the azenis tires. I was using kumho victoracers before on stock shox and springs.

:o My fault... You said it was your first event.. I thought you meant ever. I feel like a real idiot now. Maybe I just don't need to post at all... geez.:

What's your alignment settings? B14s don't like to rotate very well. Try a bitof toe out on the front wheels. 1/16" to 1/8" toe out will help corner entry understeer and improve turn-in.

Also, check front ST bar for binding. Make sure it moves about freely when the endlinks are disconnected. I was dealing with some extreme understeer before finding out that the swaybar was binding up and needed spacers under the mounting brackets.

I agree about the front sway bar. I'm running a similar set up to yours. AGX GC 325/325 N-tech bar, ES front bushings, front and rear STB, rear ST bar. With the 325s in the rear, I had to turn the rear shcoks to 6, or the rear would come out too much. This is on my '96 BTW. Try the OE front bar, I'm sure that will help big time. I had a front bar on my car for awhile, and it caused way too much understeer. Also try removing the front STB.

sounds like the front is way too stiff. to make it more neutral, espcialy in b14's, the rear needs the work. by stiffinging up the front all you are doing is adding understeer.

unless you are just saying it wont turn, then something is in a bind. if you are saying it wont rotate, loosen the front, stiffen the rear. play with pressures. dont always go up ***, go down in pressures some, its all about progressive grip and how to get it or loose it. i know by accident i had my rears on my b13 way too high, bout killed my self once....same when they were low. breaking traction in the rear helps that rotation

Thanks guys. Do i hve to get a whole new set of ES bushings for the stock front bar? I know they are similar in diameter. Ill have to chek my alignment specs and post them a bit later. As for the tire pressures-I was going by the amount of rollover I was experiencing at my intial pressure (38/34)

I suspect you are running out of suspension travel.

Other ideas: Remove front suspension techniques sway bar, reinstall smaller stock one. Remove front strut tower brace and place it in the trash can. If that N-tech bar is up front, remove it too and toss it. Or sell these items to someone who hasn't read this thread, because those thing are making you understeer like MAD.

But I suspect first that you are running out of suspension travel. You need GC camber plates, BTW. My car absolutely sucked compared to how it's set up right now. All I did was replace Cusco plates for GC plates and gained ~1 inch of suspension travel. The car is now brilliant.

"jheer"

You mentioned the Addco rear bar... Where do the end links mount? I think my ST rear bar mounts like arse. I wonder if the GAB shocks can take the force of an 18mm (or so) custom Addco bar being mounted in the factory way? Any input welcome?

Cossie

Originally posted by cossieturbo
"jheer"

You mentioned the Addco rear bar... Where do the end links mount? I think my ST rear bar mounts like arse. I wonder if the GAB shocks can take the force of an 18mm (or so) custom Addco bar being mounted in the factory way? Any input welcome?

Cossie

With the Addco rear swaybar, the end links mount just the same as stock. The only difference is the diameter of the bar (it came with new bar-to-frame brackets and bushings).
I am sure the GAB shocks can handle more force than the stock set up. I have the crappy Tokicos at all fours, and the GABs are reputed to be much better than Tokicos.
BTW - the Addco bar I have is not custom. It was off their shelves as a part they usually carry (but I bought used through SE-R.net Classifieds). I forget the part number, but it used to be listed at Addco's website.

Addco does not make a rear bar for b14s, though.