Camber on classic STI Scooby

[BentMetal]

This is a question for fellow Scooby owners.

I have an STI version 6 wagon fitted with AST Sportline coilovers, ALK and whiteline adjustable rear roll bar and solid drop links. I've got 1 degree of camber alround.

Whenever I go on track I literally end up driving around on the front tyre sidewalls!!!!

What I'd like to know is how I can cure this? I'm guessing I need to run more camber. Is this possible with my current set up or do I need to change anything?

I've seen top mounts adjustable for castor and camber. Would these sort me out? If so, what camber would you guys recommend?

Thanks for any help.

[mike-payne]

tyre pressures are important.... entry speed could be a problem...
but i run around 4 degrees front on track.
although i vary the camber from side to side dependent on tyre temperature..
like wise i adjust my tyre pressures for temperature too...
sadly i don't have adjustable top mounts on the rear, but i run around 2 degrees rear.
I run almost no caster.

[duncan]

Matt - my guess is the tyres - you are probably running Toyo T1-R or similarly soft sidewalled tyres.

Up the pressure on the front (and rear) until this goes away. You will probably find that 40 psi will be enough to stop them doing it so much.

If you are going to be doing a few track days it is really worth getting the geometry set up with a little more camber and/or some proper tyres.

[BentMetal]

Thanks for the replies guys.

4 degrees Must look like a touring car!!!

I'm running Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres. Are these known to have soft sidewalls? Also, these are 225/35 18 and so the sidewall is pretty short and therefore I would have thought stiff(ish). I've been running 38psi front and 32psi rear on track.

Powerstation set up my geometry recently and put 1 degree 20 minutes on the front and said this is pretty much all you can get on there. Is this true?

Hence why I'm thinking of top mounts.

Duncan, how much camber do you run or is this top secret?

[duncan]

I run around 2 degrees of negative camber at the front.

Might sound daft but have you any pictures of the car going around corners? Is it rolling a lot?

[BentMetal]

Duncan,

I don't have any pics with the current set up, but I do have a picture of when the car was on stock STI suspension and stock wheels.

To be honest, the current set up has the same fundamental handling characteristics and still rolls a lot. Powerstation advised me not to put a thicker anti-roll bar on the front because they say it ruins the handling but I have to say I am wondering whether I should. I have a Whiteline bar on the rear.

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[BentMetal]

My current spring rates are 4kg/mm front and rear.

[duncan]

Looks like its rolling a lot.

Do you have 22mm adjustable rear? if so what setting?

Can you adjust the suspension to make it stiffer?

[BentMetal]

The kit is height adjustable and has 12 way damping adjustment. I normally run it 8-10 towards stiffest at the front and 6 on the rear.

The roll bar is the 22mm one set on the middle setting.

Should I consider a front roll bar?

[duncan]

I would reverse your suspension settings.

Stiffer at the rear on the damping will stop it understeering so much. So maybe 10 at rear and 8 at front and the roll bar on stiffest setting.