All of Carroll Smith's books. Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Millikin
How to Make your Car Handle by Fred Puhn Chassis Engineering by Staniforth Here's a more complete list: http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html There is a lot of information available from Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. They have articles posted online (the brake articles are very good reads for example) as well a number of very smart people on their message board (and a number of nut jobs who just love making cars go fast cheaply, heh) For example: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?id=33725 I know I need to read up on the subject as well since autocrossing season has come. Here's my car the "IceBreaker" autocross in Eugene. I ran in the morning and it was cold and damp with very little traction to be found. Lots of cars had trouble with spins and the like. I merely adjusted the Koni's up two rounds in the front, raised the front tire pressures a few pounds and focused on being smooth with the steering inputs: http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s10/fiat22turbo/IceBreaker42/ I didn't win in my class, but I finished reasonably well for the first time out in this car, and the first time out in nearly 4 years! Okay, 8th place out of 10 isn't the best, but I didn't hit any cones or miss any gates and my times improved on each run. http://www.eescc.org/Results.cfm?getResults=Get+Results&selEvent=EESCC+2008+ *&selClass=STS&selSort=BW&selName=* Next event will be warmer and the car should have more power (non-intercooled T2 spinning an automatic) since I've installed a Cummins intercooler in the nose and will raise the boost level as well as increase the timing slightly. Eventually I'll have to look at the transaxle as there is a lot of power lost there. Plus it sucks driving on the freeway with the 3-speed. Good luck! Stefan -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike D. Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:22 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: SD> l-body suspension Questions Stefan: Any books that you recommend specifically? I finally started autocrossing last year with a 2005 neon (I know, 1st gens are lighter). So this is now, more than ever, a subject of interest for me. Thanks for any suggestions. Mike '87 CSX #481 (stagnant mechanical restoration project) '05 neon sxt > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] > Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:14:41 -0700 > Subject: Re: SD> l-body suspension Questions > > Buy Koni's. There isn't anything else available that will give you what > you're looking for at that price point. They will make the biggest > improvement in the car outside of tires and proper maintenance. KYB GR-2's > are simply OEM replacements about on par with a lot of parts store pieces. > > You can't run much higher spring rates without struts valved to control them > (or you'll end up pogo-sticking your way around town) > > Strut bars are nice once you get stiffer struts and springs, until then you > really aren't in need of them unless you're racing the car every weekend or > you notice the firewall is cracking or the inner fenderwell is separating > from the frame rail. Even then the strut tower bar won't solve the problem, > you'd need to repair the cracks or failed spot welds. > > Swaybars aren't a bad idea, but they are a double edged sword. They tend to > bind the suspension movement, artificially increasing the spring rate to > near infinity, making the car inconsistent in handling as the tires will > break traction shortly after the spring rate goes to infinity. However for > autocross they work well since sway bars improve the transitional effect of > the car at the expense of steady state cornering. > > I would highly suggest reading all the books you can on suspension tuning > and design as well as performance driving before choosing spring rates, > struts and sway bar sizes. Suspension tuning is almost as much about the > driver and their driving style than it is about specific parts. > > Otherwise, rebuild the suspension using good replacement parts, a better > alignment and put on a good set of tires. > > Good luck, > Stefan > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > james peachey > Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 3:47 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: SD> l-body suspension Questions > > Im looking at upgrading the suspension on my shelby > charger. I want it to handle like its on rails but > dont have the money for konis. I have around 800 to > spend on the suspension and need some advice. > > Whats a good replacement strut/shock? > > Whats a good aggressive spring rate? > > What about swaybars and strut tower bars? > > This will be a Daily driver but I dont care about > comfort. Any advice is greatly appreciated. > > Thanks ___________REMOVE-FOOTER-WHEN-REPLYING_________ ShelbyDodge mailing list [email protected] http://www.imagilist.com/mailman/listinfo/shelbydodge
