High speed, stability in a type one.

[ydeardorff]

Now granted I have a kit car, which is weighing in at 1600 lbs without driver. My issue with this vehicle, is that after about 50MPH the nose gets a little dicey in cornering. Even with a full tank of gas which is still in the nose. Any ideas on how I can remedy this problem? If it's gusty forget it! But on clear, calm days, its a blast.

[boygenius]

First off make sure your suspension is in good woring order. With wheels as wide as yours there might be some bump steer issues. Make sure your steering damper is good and you might want to upgrade it. Mine was shot with stock tires and the front wheels wanted to move back and forth with every little bump.

[Ron Roberts]

I'm not sure what you mean by "dicey", But since you mentioned the gas I'll assume the front end breaks loose before the rear. Sway bars can help balance the tendency to start slipping. If I remember how it works, if the front looses grip on turns you need to DECREASE the diameter of the sway bar in the front, or, INCREASE the diameter of the rear sway bar. Increasing the rear causes more weight transfer to the front. If the front gets too stiff (no sway) one wheel can lift.

Don't even mess with sway bars though until you know your suspension is set up correctly. As front wheels lift it changes the camber to the positive, which can cause slippage. Make sure the camber is not too positive to begin with. Positive camber is good though for straight line steadiness. It is a complex subject, and sifferent cars have differing set ups as to what is best. In case some of my info is inaccurate, I suggest you go down to the book store and buy a copy of "How to Make Your Car Handle", by Fred Puhn, ISBN 0-912656-46-8. I got mine at Borders.

Ron

[miller]

I also believe toe has much to do with high speed stability. ALso with rear engined cars weight balance and front end lift seems to be a high speed killer. Move the battery and anything else in the car you can to the front and maybe looking into a front chin spoiler would be a good idea. also blocking off any air that can get into the front of your car will help. You want to create a low pressure area inside and under your car. Also making some way for air to escape out of your wheelwells would help too. I think a good start would be figuring out your cars weight balance. It says how to do that in How To Make Yor Car Handle. Oh and putting sheetmetal under your car to make it a perfectly flat surface would woek well too. It seems that this could easily be done by using 3M structural tape and tape the sheetmetal to the underside of your car.

[samcat]

Put battery in the front of the car.
Front Airdam: http://members.lycos.co.uk/vdubhub/a..._front_low.jpg
Lower the car a bit all round.



Should make a nice difference. I noticed a big difference when I moved my battery to the front, and I also noticed a big difference when I fitted the front airdam, that made a BIG difference at anything over 60mph.

Cya,
SaM C

[Chris Percival]

Check the front tire pressures, should be about 18psi (I think)..

[brent]

Hey guys,The best alternative for a steering rack is a early model Passat.
This has to be a pre power steering one..it's pretty much identical to a 1975 super beetle rack.
As we all know they are like rocking horse mmmmmmm.
The only real difference is the mounts on the rack and the steering shaft is
longer and a different spline.Iv'e just in the middle of fitting one to my 73
You will have to cut down the lenght of the shaft and really get it built up and re-machined to the original beetle spline.
From what iv'e been told the spines on a early passat rack are unique and a
one off.Antway there you go.Mind you there arn't many Passat ones around either.
From the books iv'e read about high speed instability and the problems me mate found..toe settings are very important.
His car was terrible and very scary at 140mph I can tell you.
Depending on how much you have lowered you car,and tyre size you really need to spend some time just experimenting.you may find allot is from the rear.Hope this helps.

[MattKab]

Does anyone know if the 'rack on the Dasher is the same as the 75up '03 or the early Passat?

Matt