SVX's first autoX

Evil One · #1 10-13-2007, 05:03 PM

Took her to the autoX in plainfield Ct today.
My first time turning a tire in anger in it... and only my 4th autoX event.
1st thing... sumitumo all seasons are terrible for autoX.
2nd thing... This is the first AWD car I have pushed on the track... my technique needs work.

Over all... I was very pleased with how the car and I did.
Had people stopping by all day to take a peek at it and ask how it was doing.

I need to see if there is any way to manually put the transaxle into a mode with more rear bias... towards the end of the runs the front tires were getting slippery and it was pushing BAD.

Jim

wawazat?? · #2 10-13-2007, 05:17 PM

On the stock automatic trans, the trans picks the split not you

That said, many here do autoX the automatic (myself, Bill, Harry, etc). With the sheer mass of the EG33 cantilevered over the front axles, understeer will be your constant companion. That said, you can do things to alleviate it to an extent. Tire pressure, alignment, not overdriving the car (this is HUUUGGGEE-many of my fastest runs are when I attack the course as if I have no brakes-makes you slow down for elements and rely on carrying speed). Overdriving causes stupid amounts of understeer, which quickly overheats front tires. Fromt there, suspension mods (spring and struts, anti-sway bars, better tires, etc) will all help reduce understeer but I doubt on this car it will ever be eliminated.

Todd

Evil One · #3 10-13-2007, 05:28 PM

The trans is a 97 Legacy OB unit... but I assume it still has the same issue of selecting the split.
I learned rapidly today about overheating the fronts.
AutoX will be an occasional bit of weekend fun... not a dedicated past time, but I still will be making changes to improve its performance there.
todays course put a lot of strain on the right front.

One thing I did notice tho... she turned in a lot better on the brakes usually. I could occasionally get it to rotate pretty well. Made me smile

At least lack of pewer didnt seem to be a problem

Jim

SVXRide · #4 10-13-2007, 06:01 PM

what air pressure did you run, front - back?
what camber are you running, front - back?
-Bill

Evil One · #5 10-13-2007, 06:09 PM

Camber settings were as I bought it. I am assuming stock settings.
I ran 32 psi front 28 psi rear.

Jim

SVXRide · #6 10-13-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOMOGO

Camber settings were as I bought it. I am assuming stock settings.
I ran 32 psi front 28 psi rear.

Jim

You'll want to bump the fronts up to at least 40psi and look into getting the car aligned so you have -1.0 degrees of camber for each front tire. You can get as much as -1.5 in the front if you're willing to give up some tire wear in daily driving. The back will need aftermarket camber bolts in order to get any camber adjustment (stock bolts don't allow for any adjustment). You'll also want to replace the stock front and rear swaybar bushings with urethane pieces. The front stock bushings are next to worthless - basically marshmellow consistency.
-Bill