** POLL ** Is my B6 too low? If so, how much should I raised by?

[Eddie Man]

[Bronze]

make a copy and send it to you. It looks like it won't be a national sanctioned event, just a local Michigan event. We'd still have instructors for all students, do the braking and turning course, etc.

I don't have an electronic version of the form, so if you send me your mailing address to my e-mail, I'll drop you a copy.

[Eddie Man]

[Nammo]

Okay I'll bite. Loading more weight to the front will give you quicker turn in as less weight on the back will allow the rear tires to let go earlier and thus rotate the rear end earlier. A raked front would also generate more down-force which would give the feeling of stability from increased grip (counter agruement later).

Let me pose the sense of handling in these terms:

How easy is the car to respond to weight transfer initiated by braking or throttle control. The more 50/50 balanced a car, the easier it is. This allows you the driver to decide if you want to initiate more oversteer, or understeer.

How twitchy is the car in relation to steering input effort. Assuming you haven't gone past the tires capabilities, more forward weight would mean less steering input needed in order to break the rear end loose. Undesirable handling characteristic in a high speed situation. This counters the sense of stability I mentioned above - the above is more in straight line stability.

The more you go away from 50/50, the more steering correction is needed in order to re-direct a car. With a nicely balanced 50/50 car, you would use more throttle input then steering input.

You said you had felt less bounce in the front end with the forward rake. A result of riding lower, added forward weight and increased down-force. However, you've not neccessarily inherited better bounce all-around...you've just moved it to the rear. Your rear passengers and junk in the trunk might have to say something about it.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, most people tend to associate increased handling by a factor of how quickly a car is able to turn in. That sense of cranking the wheel left or right and seeing how the car turns and rolls. Perhaps that is what most people think they want. Thus the addition of huge sway bars usually impress most folks.

[Eddie Man]

my observations are based purely on feel on my part fitting my driving characteristics and preferences...

With my front rake experience and also my experience being on stock sport, both w/ the S4 H-Sports, the turn-in prowness was very good to excellent...Albeit, more steering effort for the forward rake but very much acceptable, if not very welcomed...
I like a tad more steering input that communicates well w/the turn.

That being said, when I lost the forward rake...
And yes, the turn-in steering effort was less but in my preference, that was a slight detriment. Furthermore, the straight line stability and straight line bounce was amplified to a much more of a negitive than the gain of a more balance feel in the turns.

All that into account, on what I learned is that balance of the corners, and probably more importantly, front vs. rear balance will affect the demeanor that in my mind is very noticable. Changes by as little as a 1/2", again in my mind, very noticable.

I'm gonna take the time to speak to the shop that will Corner Balance my car. My goal is that it's balanced to my driving preferences while trying to balance the overall appearance of the wheel gap...
By the looks of it, I've got a good chance for both.

As for the increased bounce in the rear on a 1/2" forward rake, it was not even noticable...But w/o the rake, the bounce was much more pronounced.

Nammo, Thanks for your knowledge and insight...
It definitely helped

[BuStAmOvE7]

that's my opinion. depends on who you ask.

i think your car looks good man. G'luck with whatever you choose to do eddie! =]

[Nammo]

with a lower ride height. Increased camber will give you better turn in as well - at the sacrifice of your tires wearing unevenly.

True, it depends on what your driving style and preferences are that determine what kind of tuning works for you. It's a fun process.

[Eddie Man]

As for tire wear sacrafice vs. camber/better handling...
For me, I don't mind tire wear, I just don't like uneven tire wear. So camber that premotes tire even tire wear will be my ticket...
Hopefully, all the other goodies shore up the "handling" part

Teh important thing in my book is understanding the importance of corner balancing and its affects and also 4-wheel alignment when going to CO route.

[Slow Sport Sedan]