i took my nismo to the track for the first time today (nelson ledges). the car handled well, no oversteer and a little understeer. the rear end felt good and stayed planted to the track, the front end would not slide out from me but i noticed in some turns( more so the slower sharp turns) that i alway felt like i was fighting the steering, almost like a wobble / choppy feeling from the front end.has anyone else felt this or know what i should do to correct this.. any help is apreciated.
a little about my set up. kw v3, front rebound 6 with 1 being the hardest, bump at 3/4 turn............rear rebound 9 and bump at 1 turn. also michelin ps2 tires, 265/40/18 front and 285/35/19 in rear, hotchkis sway bays 2nd stiffest setting in front, softest setting in rear, alignment front camber -1.5, toe 0, rear camber -2.5 and total toe at +.010............
also when i got off the track for the day i noticed that my r/f sway bar link is making noise.(already).

 

If your not running r-compound tires your rear camber is excessive. I run -2.5 in the rear with 295 Toyo R888 r-compound. I'd try -2.0 degrees of camber all around maxiumum. I'd also start off with the recomended starting settings on the sways which is front 2nd hole and rear 2nd hole. First I would adjust tire pressures and shocks.

No one can really tell yo uwhat's goign to to work. You have to put the seat time in.

 

Are you an experienced track junkie? If not I'd wager that the choppiness is most likely gross understeer because you are:
1) entering the turn too hot
or
2) turning the wheel too much

I doubt it's a problem with the car and more likely driving level and style.

If you run in the advanced run group, well then I'll be quiet and let someone else answer.

 

damn, beaten. I was gonna say "probably overdriving the entry"

I was just at Nelson the other weekend:

http://www.vimeo.com/1146306

First time there, OMG fun place (if you have a brass pair... try no-lift-through-the-kink hehehehe)

 

What you're feeling is called tire chatter and its caused by the following:

1. Too much spring (not your problem).
2. Too much compression damping (probably not your problem).
3. Too much bar (probably not your problem).
4. Too much speed (probably your problem).
5. Too much steering (probably your problem).

Slow down and steer less. That's the cheapest and easiest thing to try first - as the two smart gentlemen above have said.

 

Are you running with VDC ON or OFF...or completely disabled maybe?

VDC can cause you to feel strange things

 

John - you're forgetting #6

Nelson is just plain BUMPY

 

This was also my question

Running with the VDC on at first though is not a bad thing. It allows you to concentrait more on the line and the track in general vs car control. As you get more conmfortable you can work on other items. A lot of times it can be quicker to isolate an item to work on vs everything at once.

Your first couple of track days can be overwhelming, but it all comes in time

 

Depending on the ambiant temp, I would say the same. It sounds like a tire pressure and/or driver issue. Those tires with that set up should be generally ok. Bar noise could be as simple as an improperly greased bushing. I would try to pull in to the hot pit lane near the end of your session and check tire temps and pressures immediatly after coming off track and work to get them within range.

I also agree with Jetpilot in an adjustment sounds as if it is in order with that tire type and size.

Lastly, soften your suspension settings and find a baseline to work from. Make one change at a time and remember to keep the changes minor. Remember to keep a log of the changes and the amb. temps you are running in. That and seat time will help you dial it in.

 

thanx guys.... i did go softer with the front sway bar, and that helped alot, along with getting my lines down a little better. should i be looking for an even temp across the whole section of the tire?...... and nelson is very bumpy.

 

Yes, you want even temp from outside to center to inside. Measure each tire in those three points. If you are running a clockwise track, expect your left side to be warmer than the right. If you are running CCW, expect precisely the opposite.

 

another good idea would be to let me take a few laps ^_^ lol

that thing should be a beast on the track.

 

NISMO doesn't have VDC guys. Only TCS.

 

I can tell you my alignment specs with "street" tires (azenis 615)
-2.2 deg camber in the front -1.8 in the rear. 0.05 deg toe in rear 0.05 toe out front.
diff lock 100%. 1 click from full stiff in the rear, 3 click from full stiff front. (hypermax III sport)

18" 245/40R18 front, 255/40R18 rear.
just that much of understeer that gives you some sort of confidence at high speed. (the diff at 100% pulls a lot!)

 

What "HOT" tire pressures are you running?

Hot meaning the pressure right after you get off the track to your paddock parking space.

 

How do you like those KW V3s? Are they a great street/track setup?

 

being almost full stiff in the rear and 100%lock up does your rear end slide aot alot?

 

It will if you are driving at 9/10th's. You gotta loosen the rear end up a bit. A rear end that is full stiff with a slightly loose front end is just not the fastest way to go. The car is binding up too much when you turn and the rear will have to slide if you are pushing hard at all. While it may be a bit more exciting, any way you look at it, sideways is slow.