fiestaturbo.com

[MarkRS2K]

Recently ive noticed that i cant 'throw' my frst into corners anymore, it spins out, does this have something to do with my avo adjustables or could something actually be wrong with other suspension components?

Its really annoying as even in low gears at low speeds i dont feel in control at all

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

[Pez]

First place id look is tyre pressures. Make sure they are common across the axles. Also check the tyre wear, if you got more meat on the back, swap them round and stick the worst ones on the back. Then you want to look into suspension (assumin you have checked that the wheel nuts are tight ), check the shockers, make sure they are firm and secure and there are no leaks or visible signs of damage on either the shock body or the spring.

From there id look at the bottom arms, the bushes in these are horrednous for wear, and do cause handling problems. Also the ball joint could be dodgy. Check your anti-roll bar mountings and bushes, make sure they are all secure and in good order.

You should really find some sort of clue from all this, so let us know how you get on

[MarkRS2K]

great advice mate, just gotta find the time to look through it all, ill let you know how i get on.

cheers dude

[leon si]

If your car is oversteering into corners, then the last thing you want to do is swap your tyres over so the back ones have less grip!

Don't know what adjustments the avo's have, it could be the front/ rear height or damping balance.

[285Andy]

dont want to sound like im taking the piss but the roads dont have a lot of grip in them this time of year. are you sure its your car?

[heeman10]

When you say it "spins out" do you mean it wants to spin the wheels, the front pushes wide or the back wants to step out? Remember me saying a while ago I thought the back end was too low in relation to the front? This could be the result...

[BUTRE]

Alot was already said about fiesta mk3 handling...

Since you have coilovers, book your car at some workshop that knows how to corner weighting the right way. I know that zoo motorsport can do this... search for other companys.

With only the corner weights been sorted, the handling will be ALOT better. Btw, after it please dont go: "I think the back should be lower".

Track geometry:
Front camber: -1º
Back camber: -0.5º

Toe front: 0.3 out
Toe back: Try diferent setups to see what suits best your driving.

Castor only at front: 2.5º

Toe is easy to adjust.
Camber you'll need Area6 or Zoo Motorsport lower arms.
Castor you'll need Zoo Motorsport lower arms (they also allows you to adjust camber).

Tyre pressures: 30PSI all around or you can go 33PSI at front if you know how to launch.

[MarkRS2K]

i thought about the conditions of the roads, but i dont think thats the issue really.

I have damper adjustables but they have stayed on the softest setting since i put them on

Heeman it feels like the wheels are going under the car at the front if that makes any sense to. Maybe now the rear springs have had time to settle down a bit im feeling the fact that it is lower at the back maybe? I might attempt to put the 60mm springs on the front, pump up the tyres and inspect all the suspension components for peace of mind

cheers for all the advice

[heeman10]

Heeman it feels like the wheels are going under the car at the front

Fraid that makes no sense at all matey! Do you mean you have no grip at the front? What about launching, does it spin more than it used to now?

[MarkRS2K]

it feels like no grip at the front, but their nearly new tyres up there. Launching her is fine.

I pumped up the tyres, they were all a bit low and the nuts turned about a quater each, so ill see how it goes over the next couple of days

[Stoned]

Tyre wear, tracking, low tyres pressures and it's winter - the roads are slippery and cold

All in all things always feel a bit more hairy this time of year

[mike_wall15]

Best of luck getting it sorted Mark, but I can't emphasise enough how bad the roads are at the moment, can't wait for Spring!

Mike

[heeman10]

Damn right Mikey, then we will be unleashed once more

[Fezzy Turbo]

it feels like no grip at the front, but their nearly new tyres up there. Launching her is fine.

I pumped up the tyres, they were all a bit low and the nuts turned about a quater each, so ill see how it goes over the next couple of days

Welcome to FRST understeer

Front wheel drive cars are well known for this, especailly when lowered. When i fitted my SPAX adjustable kit i was terrified lol but you just have to learn the new limits of your car, especially on roundabouts and corners when its raining or greasy roads. It can catch you out, but a GOOD set of tyres and slowing down will help.

[MarkRS2K]

after 2 and a half years of ownership, ive only just noticed it

Its a bit better now, a;though i dont want to test it as i may steer off into the curb

[escortbreakers.co.uk]

have you changed the wheels recently?
probably wrong scrub circle: http://www.16vzetec.com/geomatory/geomatory.htm

[MarkRS2K]

the bottom of my front wheels stick put a bit at the bottom, not alot, but still noticable if thats what you mean?

[MarkRS2K]

so i have negative camber then, that good or bad

[Max M4X WW]

Good for handling, Bad for tyre wear!

Mine seems to handle great at the moment, But im not sure how good it is compared to anything else.

[heeman10]

Mark - Negative camber is a good thing for cornering, provided you don't go over the top. I've got 2 degrees on the front, which I'd even say might be a bit much. I'll be reducing that this year (just one more thing that could nip a tenth of the 0-60 time too!) as a bit of a trade-off between cornering ability and straight line traction. Much more than 2 degrees and you'll be doing nothing but reducing the straight line grip you have and wearing the tyres away needlessly.

[Max M4X WW]

Do you have adjustable lower arms?

I personally think you need to be doing 60 in 2nd gear lol. Not sure if its me or not but i thought most 'quick' cars did?

[heeman10]

Yeah I have Fiesta Frenzy lower arms. I haven't hit the limiter in second yet, trying to get a verified 60mph, I've only ever completed 0-60 runs in third gear (which is the slowest gear to select at the moment ), be it with my GTech meter or with the timing equipment at Silverstone. It does give me hope when I can hit 60 in 7.05 using third gear, a slow gearbox, no limiter use and over-inflated tyres. I'm guessing using second gear and the modified clutch pedal (so I can shift quickly at long last) I should be able to knock close on a second off that time. I know the car's certainly capable of far better times than that!!! I've been moaning about this stuff for ages though, the proof will have to be in the 6 second (or less) pudding!

[Max M4X WW]

Cool, Lower arms make any difference with handling? They poly bushesd? Who set them up?

[DanLovesClubbing]

I was going to post about the handling on my Si. I was going quite quickly round a medium bend yesterday and the back-end came right out . I steered into it and managed to catch it albeit with a bit of snaking, but it made me wonder if there's something seriously wrong with my suspension. I know my back tyres could do with replacing (Monday) and hope this will cure it.

Never had the back-end that much in a FWD car ever! It was like driving a RWD again

[heeman10]

Cool, Lower arms make any difference with handling? They poly bushesd? Who set them up?

No they're rose jointed. Poly bushes go some way to tightening up the bushes, but the ultimate is to have rose joints, as there is no free play whatsoever, no give at all. I "set them up" myself before I fitted them. I measured the distance on the standard wishbones from the bush centre to the ball joint. I then made an educated guess as to how much shorter that distance would need to be on the adjustable lower arms to give me the 2 degrees of camber I wanted. So I set both the adjustable lower arms up the same (i.e. having the distance from the ball joint to the rose joint equal on each arm, and that certain amount shorter than the original lower arms) and fitted them to the car. Went and measured them at the garage and both were on 2 degrees negative camber. Result

[Max M4X WW]

Ok cool, Saw the zoo ones in parts for sale are £260 and £370 new i think! Not spending that much atm.

S1 said about rose joints in his rear beam Seems a bit pointless IMO as its only one way movement unlike the lower arms!

[MarkRS2K]

think mine i probably out a bit more than that, as its quite noticable atm.

It improved alot, since tightened up the wheel bolts, puttig some air in the tyres and the fact that its not so icey anymore.

But Wed im hoping to get the car in my mates garage and check all the bushes etc for general wear