DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Cool, really looking seeing your car in the flesh (metal)

That's a great look

Looking good Andy - they've certainly added that 'finishing touch' (but I doubt you'll ever consider it finished...). Looking forward to some events in the southern sun!

Nice move

Been tinkering with suspension settings for a while now . I'originally used the toe and camber info that the DDK knowledge bank gave me front and rear but had been lacking in confidence with the car as it felt really ( overly) responsive to steering input. I know this is one of the delights of the chassis but mine was too twitchy for my taste. I sorted corner weights using a mates kit. In an effort to slow down the turn in I've raised the front of the car in effect increasing the front castor and getting a level sill line rather than the usually quoted 1.5 degrees nose down.

My car is quite literally transformed I feel confident in it to commit to turning in and driving out of a corner with a slight understeer push that gradually transforms to neutral, no way can I get to the oversteer point ( yet ) but its so much better. Looks better on the raod too.

Andy

Toe in has a huge effect on feel at the front - by raising it you will have affected that

Totally Agree, but if the car feels right for you, splendid!

Yes - I meant that by raising it you have probably affected it in a positive way. If you wanted to keep the old ride height then you might find adjusting the toe-in will allow you to get the good feel with the lower ride height

So I've inadvertently reduced toe as I raised it ? Anyway whatever it feels great.

I think so - can't be sure - I remember when mine was out It used to sort of dig in or grab the front wheel part way through the turn

Yes thats the "feel", be nice to speak in person at CLM, your car is coming on brilliantly a real inspiration.

Andy

Thanks Andy

I *think* raising it makes it toe in and dropping it makes it toe out. I think toe-out gave the grabbing sensation - going forward the tyres are scrubbing, then when you start to turn the outer tyre suddenly aligns perfectly with where the car is going hence the sudden change in feel.

All based on o level physics and gut feeling

Mark, it will depend on what angle the track rods are at before lowering or raising. There is no set fast rule.

Andy,

If you lowered the car significantly without raising the steering rack you were almost certainly getting toe-out on bump. Raising the ride height would reduce/eliminate this and also give you more static toe-in so you need to check it (if you haven't done already) to make sure it is not excessive. There are a couple of books by Carroll Smith "Prepare to Win" and "Engineer to Win" which are the best I have found at explaining the complexities of suspension geometry and how to adjust it, they were written back in the 1970s and are pretty easy to understand, they also cover a lot more competition car stuff. A quick Google will give more information, maybe even a pdf .

Having said all the above, at the end of the day as has been said already it's what feels right for you that matters.

Barrie

Hi Barrie , yes thanks for the hint. I have raised spindles to compensate for the lowered ride. You are right I have Engineer to Win an excellent source of refrence and open in my garage now. As you say its all about feel and I really like it now.