RA23 Loves to oversteer!

**jabbatron** · 10-03-2011, 03:29 PM

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**sheepers** · 10-03-2011, 04:13 PM

check my RA23 build thread for the details on how to mod the rear so you can adjust it. its not difficult.
i would say from looking at the photo in the first post that yours is pretty much the same as mine was height wise, the standard off the shelf "low" springs all set the car up with the arse in the air.
why does it work? weight transfer? i could go on all night about why i think it works and be completely wrong but the way the car loaded the front going into a turn before, as opposed to how it is now would go a long way towards explaining it. before the rear inside wheel was almost off the ground mid corner and the outside front wheel was doing all the work. now there is way more weight in the back and it corners way flatter.

this is before,

this is after, the car looks like its going slower but it about three times the speed.

sheepers.

**damian** · 10-03-2011, 06:13 PM

you could also try washers / spacers where the diff mounts to the car, thus changing the pinion angle that way. My cuz just did that to his S14, and said it made a major difference to his rear traction (225kwatw, tyres are decent rubber, 215 or 245, depending on whether it's on the street (215) or track(245))

just another idea...

**sheepers** · 11-03-2011, 05:27 AM

ummm, i think the S14 fix might not work with a live axle car. the Nissan subframe is pretty sensitive to pitch change (when you stick washers under the mounting points it changes the angle of the entire sub frame relative to the car, not just the pinion angle) i have one in the back of my 28 and the difference it makes when you change it by 5mm is quite astounding.
anywho, this wont help you with a stock celica.
i dont want to come across as an internet hard man but i thought i should clear that up so you dont go off trying to stick washers all over the place.

sheepers.

**damian** · 11-03-2011, 09:40 AM

^^^ Didn't realize that thanks Sheepers - just throwing ideas out there

**jabbatron** · 16-03-2011, 10:18 PM

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**jabbatron** · 17-03-2011, 12:57 AM

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**damian** · 17-03-2011, 10:01 AM

great to hear mate. got any pics of what your rear swaybar looks like on and/or off the car?
(as you think it may have been incorrectly installed?)

**jabbatron** · 17-03-2011, 10:56 AM

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**mullett** · 17-03-2011, 09:41 PM

Not strictly true, lifting a tyre reduces your grip slightly, but grip is a function of weight on that tyre: outside tyres do most of the sticking anyway! Usually the weight transfer is a progressive thing, leading to a wheel lifting. It's not a major issue, but can be irritating without an LSD. It's very common to see TOCCA or v8 supercars lift a tyre! Lifting like this is usually more to do with roll in the front than the stiffness in the rear.

First thing, as everyone has mentioned, is your tyres, along with everything Timbo said about rollsteer. Tyres have to match performance! If you're going to drive a car hard and expect it to handle, don't expect change out of 800+ for a set of tyres, more if they're an uncommon size. It could also be an alignment problem, although having a live rear axle reduces that a lot. Too much toe out will make the car very steppy! Unlikely you've got rear toe issues (unless the diff is bent), but front toe will make it turn in sharply and then feel unstable.

Next issue is the diff: does it have a locker? That will make it very steppy, although shouldn't be that hard to bring back.

-RM