RS2 handling/steering advice

[Error404]

ABY and RS2 have a different rack non servotronic

Same rack as the AAH and ABC V6 cars too incidentally 2.6 turns lock to lock.

[Rusty]

S2 steering is lovely and sharp, shame that there's no feel to it really, it only seems to weight up with track rubber and WOT

[Error404]

might be worth looking at the differences between the Type 85 and Type 89 cars in the steering departement, as the URs etc are supposed to have very nicely weighted steering with lots of feedback from what i've read?
Since they have very similar suspension set-ups, similar weight distribution, rack position etc why are the b£ / B4 cars so numb?
Do the URs run more castor, are the steering arms design / position / angle / height etc different? Is the rack dramatically different design etc?

[Golfboy666GTI]

The weight of the RS2 and the inert steering means that it'll never be that great. A faffing graet big rear roll bar will help, as will sticking a 26mm S2 ARB on the front, should liven things up. Offset from subframe bushes will help as it gives more castor and an adjustment to the camber and toe settings by someone who sets up race cars will work nicely. Poly will stiffen things up, a proper race seat also puts you much more in touch with the chassis than the armchairs but don't expect a revalation, more of an understanding of how squidgey the stock chassis is.

Basically an S2/RS2 is a slow-in-fast-out car, use the weight at the front to induce some lift-off oversteer into the corner to help get the car setup and then libearlly apply the throttle to get it back on line and expect a touch of power understeer on the exit. Think of it as a 2 ton hot hatch and you'll do a lot better, smooth BMW driving doesn't work with these IMO get it dancing about and enjoy. The other thing to try is left foot braking to temper turbo lag, it's a good way of killing clutch and brakes but you can always kid yourself that you're Stig Blomquist

Thanks for your reply.
I done enjoy the challenge of learning how to drive this car fast.
Most cars (I get to drive a lot as Dad is a Manager of a car yard) I get in I can drive quick after about 1 mile on sitting behind the wheel.
To be honest I dont feel I can drive the RS2 quicker around corners in the rain than I could in my old Mk3 VR6 which is 2wd.
I might look at replacing the bushes, and Im still keen to find out more about these steering rack mount bolts that a forum member had issues (stretch) with.

[4WheelDrifter]

Changing the wheel alignment is said to be a cheap and quick change.
Giving it 1° more (compared to the standard settings) camber in front should reduce understeer and give sharper turn in.

Depends what you are seeking feedback or handling. You will never get the feedback of a well set up RWD car but you can get better handling.
The alignment setting above worked for me but again it was done by a experienced 'one man' outfit here in Edinburgh. But that was after a series of suspension changes. You need fresh dampers OEM or Koni (remember that they may feel OK but you feel the handling has deterioated how old are they). Fresh front bushes throughout. Correct tyre pressure (after 5 years I always seem to go back to 38psi on 17"/225/45 tyres).
The car now handles so well that my thoughts of replacement fade by the day.

Good advice here.
My S2 didn't feel planted at all when I first had it, especially in the wet. A few new bushes and a wheel alignment session sorted it. Suddenly I was just as confident in the wet as in the dry.

Slow in, fast out is the key as already said.

[Dirtylouie]

Same rack as the AAH and ABC V6 cars too incidentally 2.6 turns lock to lock.

sorry for the offtop once again.
Did i get it right, that 3B rack is 3 turns, ABY,ABC & AAH rack is 2.6 turns, and ADU&034 racks are exactly 2 turns?

[Rusty]

Thanks for your reply.
I done enjoy the challenge of learning how to drive this car fast.
Most cars (I get to drive a lot as Dad is a Manager of a car yard) I get in I can drive quick after about 1 mile on sitting behind the wheel.
To be honest I dont feel I can drive the RS2 quicker around corners in the rain than I could in my old Mk3 VR6 which is 2wd.
I might look at replacing the bushes, and Im still keen to find out more about these steering rack mount bolts that a forum member had issues (stretch) with.

It took me a few years to get the hang of my S2, the controls are al a bit funny and the driving position too, once it clicked tho it's faster than most things. The important thing to remember is that you need to enter a corner slower to get the best turn in but your exit speed will be a lot higher than a 2wd car due to mid corner traction. Hope you get your head round it, that's the biggest hurdle, think of it as a 2 ton hot hatch and drive accordingly, lift-off oversteer is your friend

An upgraded rear roll bar is the best mod you can make IMO, do that before everything else

[Error404]

sorry for the offtop once again.
Did i get it right, that 3B rack is 3 turns, ABY,ABC & AAH rack is 2.6 turns, and ADU&034 racks are exactly 2 turns?

No. AAH, ABC, 3B, ABY and ADU are all 2.6 turns and AFAIK the the 034 item is just an OEM "2.6 turns rack" which they never got in the US. Dunno where this 2 turns comes from

[Jamo]

No. AAH, ABC, 3B, ABY and ADU are all 2.6 turns and AFAIK the the 034 item is just an OEM "2.6 turns rack" which they never got in the US. Dunno where this 2 turns comes from

Careful as that is not what 034 advertise, their rack is 2 turns hence the members request for clarification.

http://www.034motorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_66_67&products_id=817

It seems 034 have the US rack rebuilt to a shorter ratio

[Lloyd]

Careful as that is not what 034 advertise, their rack is 2 turns hence the members request for clarification.

http://www.034motorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_66_67&products_id=817

It seems 034 have the US rack rebuilt to a shorter ratio

I would like one on my car! Has anyone got one here in the UK?

[Error404]

Fair enough my mistake....... i'd seen some posts elsewhere suggesting it was just a euro rack so I assume its the rack and pinion that they changed.
I asked 034 ages ago if they could do a mod for a RHD rack, but they said no.

EDIT: IIRC Quaife do kits for escorts etc for under £100, so shouldn't be that hard / expensive to get some made for RHD cars... just need a donor rack i guess

[Jamo]

Fair enough my mistake....... i'd seen some posts elsewhere suggesting it was just a euro rack so I assume its the rack and pinion that they changed.
I asked 034 ages ago if they could do a mod for a RHD rack, but they said no.

Ah yes just seen that, that's a bit naughty as well

[Error404]

Pic stolen from Stu's rebuild guide




Would be worth investigating costs and numbers for a quick rack kit maybe?

It might even be that the RHD and LHD rack and pinion are the same in which case maybe we could convince 034 to sell us a batch

[lind4hl]

im looking for a shorter rack! lhd..

[MidnightBlueS2]

It took me a few years to get the hang of my S2, the controls are al a bit funny and the driving position too, once it clicked tho it's faster than most things. The important thing to remember is that you need to enter a corner slower to get the best turn in but your exit speed will be a lot higher than a 2wd car due to mid corner traction. Hope you get your head round it, that's the biggest hurdle, think of it as a 2 ton hot hatch and drive accordingly, lift-off oversteer is your friend

An upgraded rear roll bar is the best mod you can make IMO, do that before everything else

Can't say I entirely agree with everyone here about slow in, fast out... Stu and Lloyd who've been passengers with me on the Ring can vouch on how fast a proper S2 can be.

I personally, to say it like the thread creator said it, take it by the scruff and throw it fast in corners ( which I didn't do with your S2 David btw ) , let the initail understeer settle in while aiming for the apex, then basically, "cure" the understeer by nailing at WOT and full boost slightly before apex to get the front wheels and the marvelous quattro w/Torsen system to help turn the car and get me past the apex, the rest of the curve is just WOT and on your way . So I would say medium fast in, WOT and full boost in apex then VERY fast on the way out as the curve widens.

Works for me !