Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

[Dave P.]

Will Decreasing front spring rate (the partially broken spring) Increase Over-steer?

Thanks in advance.

[Bill M.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

Will Decreasing front spring rate (the partially broken spring) Increase Over-steer?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. Softer front spring = less understeer, more oversteer.

[Bill H.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

That needs fixed Dave. If it totally breaks when you're in a corner, it could take you off the road. Especially if you came down Kingsberry Grade instead of 50.

[Bill M.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

Thank You, Bill and Bill.

This is a Crossed Flags Award car. I've been putting off molesting the never-touched front suspension to change the spring. Now that it's done in The System, I'm driving it more. But running into a K barrier at speed would do a lot more damage than some messed-up cotter pins. Thanks again for stating the obvious. That is obvious to everyone except me.

Bill:

Glad to help.

I would be interested in a picture of the failed front spring once you get it changed out. I'll know what to look for on my '92; rare problem I hope!

Bill

[Bill H.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

Thank You, Bill and Bill.

Bill H: Thank you for the warning. I was running the East side of 50 down to 395. I was feeling pretty proud that I noticed a change in the car's handling, and even got the source of the change correct. But I'm a dum$hit for not considering what would happen if the spring totally fractured while the suspension was loaded up at 75 MPH in a 50-ish corner. Would have not been pretty. I won't be driving it again until the spring gets changed.

This is a Crossed Flags Award car. I've been putting off molesting the never-touched front suspension to change the spring. Now that it's done in The System, I'm driving it more. But running into a K barrier at speed would do a lot more damage than some messed-up cotter pins. Thanks again for stating the obvious. That is obvious to everyone except me.

I'm really glad you made the decision not to drive it anymore. I've seen what can happen when a suspension part breaks in a corner (I do tech inspections on cars before they are allowed to go on the racetrack). I'll have my 92 on the Fernley track in 2 weeks and the entire suspension will be checked before I go.

[Larry B.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....

With that front spring broken the suspension could be on the stops which could easily cause your oversteer

[Richard M.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....pics added

Just make sure you don't replace it with one from an 84', or it'll ride like an outhouse in an earthquake!

[Bill M.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....pics added

Here's some pics of the broken front spring. It's not as bad as I thought. I'm surprised that this slight reduction in rate could affect handling so dramatically. the break is between the two anchors. there are no cracks outboard of the anchors. Sorry the pics are kind of sucky, but you can get the idea of the problem. This car has led a pampered life for 28 years and 44K miles. Nothing got up there and nicked it. I'm not sure of the cause, but it will be replaced before the car is driven again. Thanks for the interest.

Dave:

Thanks for the pics. I'll add a front spring inspection to the "annual" on my '92.

The front spring on the C4 is stiffer in roll than in one-wheel deflection. The center part of the spring is why it is stiffer in roll, so it does make sense that you lost front roll stiffness with that spring break.

Bill

[Jerry G.]

Re: Suspension / Handling Gurus, step inside please....pics added

On the race car, it's noticeable when one notch of adjustment is made on the rear sway bar, which is equivalent to 5# per degree of rotation. This stuff really does make a difference. Good job on your part of detecting it as a driver.