S2 Avant Hillclimb/Track suspension settings

[raymor]

maRs2, cheers for that. The rear setting is interesting and your set-up at the rear is very similar to mine. I was going to start with -0.5 at the rear, but if your not seeing any problems with that, I can go straight to -1 camber.

I've got 15mm spacers at the front: It does two things for me. It lets the orignal 16" Avus fit over the 323mm discs with ease and increases the front track by 30mm

I'm really eager to see exactly how the car weighs on the corner weight scales too...

I might try and get that done before the weekend.

[Rusty]

I'm really eager to see exactly how the car weighs on the corner weight scales too...

A lot (Lloyd posted something like 950kg front, 600kg rear with an RS2).

[raymor]

The weights come out like this...

Wet weight with spare - no driver

[raymor]

Percentages - Left -Right, Front - Rear and Cross (Left Front to Right Rear etc)

[raymor]

So,

56% of the total weight is over the front axle and 44% rear, so not completely hideous weight distribution.

The overall weight does make it a bit of a porker though, removing the easy to move interior bits, rear seats/front passenger seat, that might liberate around 40Kgs and if I replace the drivers seat with one of the OMP fibreglass ones I have in the loft for the Imp, it might save another 10Kgs.

So best case power to weight ratio as of the last RR session is 223/tonne (the Imp will be around 400/tonne). But it's plenty enough to frighten me I'm sure

[Rusty]

That compares favouribly with the 1560kg quoted on S2Central.net. Weight distribution isn't too awful either.

[maRS2]

his your care original on weight?
aircon,spare wheel, aux rad, exhaust,wheel......

[Bram]

You should involve your own weight to set it up properly I guess? Otherwise it makes no sense in balancing the car.

[raymor]

I did do settings with me in the car -

They came out at

LF 426 RF 484

LR 352 RR 366

Total 1628 - with spare wheel on board - need to stop scoffing the buns and put some more miles in

The car never had aircon, does not have Aux rad, CATS and the readings are without a spare on board.

The only way to get the true benefit is to fit adjustable suspension. The rear avant dampers could be modified to provide adjustability - I don't think it'd be overly difficult and the front could be converted using the Quattronics kit.

Food for thought, but the car is still required for towing and holiday duties - so I can't go too far

[S2central.net]

Raymond - intersting idea... Horsing an Avant up and down a hillclimb track. Heheh

I'd go straight for -1 on the camber. I keep meaning to try these things more on my Coupe but you know how big a PITA it is without the right gear.

The funky sized tyre profile is also worth a try even though the weight distribution isn't so horrific. Our generation of quattro has inherent tendency for understeer so you can counteract that with one or more things -

- Torsen rear diff (I know you have)
- Thinner tyres at rear
- Stiffer rear end (springs and/or ARBs)

Only way to find best mix is to experiment. Gotta say that adjustable suspenders are going to be a great way to give you options and swap between road and track settings if required.

Another to think about - in track/hillclimb mode - is a balance bar / control for the brakes. Assume you have something beefy up front, but if you have the rears upgraded as per 8E0 300m vented stylee, then having control of the brake balance as you play with tyre and suspension options could be very useful.

Paul

[Rusty]

I'm really interested in a V8 torsen again now... Suppose it's between H&R springs or a torsen Car handles OK on standard springs but it's a bit soft for really going hard, makes things a bit more predictable though and works well in the wet and for daily driving. Shame that the RS2 FARB is £250 Wonder what happened to the Whiteline front bar project...

Will have to try the diff lock on the next time I get some space and a damp day... :mischeif: Hope it doesn't work otherwise I might end up getting carried away

[raymor]

Raymond - intersting idea... Horsing an Avant up and down a hillclimb track. Heheh

The more I check out the videos of the climbs I'm gonna do - the more I'm thinking I've lost the plot - but there's only one way to find out!

You're right, the only way to get some decent data and an understanding of what's truly happening is to do some testing.

I've widened the track at the front by keeping the 15mm spacers I've got for the S8Avus, but I could probably go another 5mm each side, the wider front track should offset some understeer.

I've got a digital inclinomenter that I can measure the camber at the hub face, but I'll need to make something up (or buy )to measure castor. Then record all the data. Need to get the remaining niggles sorted out and get moving!

I'm looking forward to learning a lot

[stiglet]

This will be very interesting to see what spring/ARB combo's work best. Is all the suspension standard atm? If so i'm impressed with the cross weight ratio

Andy - i emailed whitline a while back about the front ARB and their response was;

"At this stage there is no indication if we may have a front bar in the future"

so.....

They do an adjustable for the rear, what do you reckon would be best matched for the front? RS2??

[Rusty]

Nah, Whiteline is for girls I'm running 25mm rear and 26 front and it's nice and aggressive, if I go for H&R springs I might even go 26/26.

RS2 28mm front, S2 26mm rear is the way forward with standard springs, ask Mark H Mild oversteer off the power, nice and neutral on the power.

[Corey]

Wonder what happened to the Whiteline front bar project...

Still on going. Whiteline have been very slow (even by our standards) due to them relocting the mani factory but the project is still live and will bare fruit soon.