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Hey guys (read: ZzyzX - help me out. hehehe)

Ok, i was riding on ghetto busted stock shocks for about 6 months. A couple months ago I finally got my KW's (which are sweet, btw), and it eliminated about 85% of my bumpsteer. (see below for my possibly crooked definition of what I think bumpsteer is).

The other 15% is kinda scary, because it only happens on big bumps, and it throws me sideways in a corner a LOT. Which sucks.

So, I've read that some people turn their tie rod's upside-down, and reconnect them like so? In theory, if you flip it around while maintaining correct alignment settings, this should give you a little extra length, and also not push UP on the tie rods, but pull them up.

because the distance is less, it shouldn't bump your steering as much.

this is the theory

will this work?

I can't find any info on eliminating bumpsteer


Oh yeah, my definition of bumpsteer could be completely wrong, btw: when you're in a corner and hit a bump, you are thrown towards the outside of a corner, and your steering wheel will get jerked a little bit. (please, by all means, correct me if I'm wrong ).


and if anyone has any resources on how to correct this with either technology or driving techniques, please post!

Thanks (yet again)!

 
Rep Power: 380

Honda claims to have eliminated Bumpsteer on our cars by placing the steering rack High rather then low (standard) in the car. In actuality, they just changed what it does.

With the Steering rack mounted low, when the suspension compresses it causes a bit of toe out, wich can make the car want to Wander. with the steering rack mounted high, that action causes toe in, making the car more stable. Of coures the oposit happens when the suspension extends, Normal low mounted rack = toe in. High mounted rack = Toe Out.
what this means to us is that when the suspension compresses (Like at the bottom of a hill) the car will want to go in a straight line (More stable) when the suspension extendes (like at the crest of a hill) the car will want to Wander a bit (Less stable). Of course you shouldnt be going that fast at the crest of a hill any way.

So, on your bump...... First, Does the steering wheel turn when you hit these bumps? If it does, then you are not dealing with bumpsteer. With bumpsteer the steering wheel will remain pretty much where you put it, as bumpsteer is caused by the suspension moving and not the steering rack moving. Some times bumps will make the car steer in to them, its called Tracking (cars will turn in to Puddles like that too). its caused by the increaced resistance to rolling on that wheel (By hitting a bump or a puddle), and if your racing, then you should adjust the suspension and your self to deal with it. Since youre on a street car, I'd suggest taking those corners a little slower.

Second: you may be sliding to the out side because of the momentary loss of traction on that tire caused by the bump. to fix that, go a little slower in the corner.

Third: If it is in fact Bumpsteer, then your Idea may lower its occurance, but then again it may make it worse. I dont know. So far with my car I cant say that Ive ever experianced the Bad side of bumpsteer (The wandering part) But then there arn't may hills in Las Vegas.

Good luck with that

 
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i may have the same problem....whem im going on a straight line but the roads have small bumps on them, the entire car moves around and the steering wheel jerks a little. my car is lowered. a friend followed me he said the the entire car body wolud move around but the wheels stayed on the road. anybody know what could be wrong? like i said...it happens to me when i am going in a straight line when the road is not perfectly smooth. i'd say around 65-80mph is how fast im going

 
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In announcing Mugen Sport Suspension Kit for 02-03 Civic Si and RSX,
Mugen reported that after over 2 years of extensive development it's design "has also addressed any bumpsteer issues with the relocation of the steering arm." It appears the KW's haven't. Heard the JIC's also relocate steerig arm. Not sure about Tein's. Perhaps someone who, unlike me, knows what he's talking about (i.e, Zzyzx) could comment on the Mugen vs. JIC vs. KW design with respect to bump steer. Sure would be appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 380

From what you guys are describing, it dosnt sound like Bumpsteer.

It looks to me that you are dealing with Tracking, where the tire will turn in to the bump, causing the steering wheel to turn too. this is caused by the increaced rolling resistance on that tire when it contacts a bump. The same happens when you drive through a puddle, the car will want to turn in to the puddle. Not a whole lot you can do about it except get narower tires (Lowers the rolling resistance) and getting a softer suspension(absorbs the impact better) but then both of those lower your cornering abilites........

Also, get your alignment checked..... If the problem is excessive, you may have a bad alignment (Maybe to much Toe out on the front).

 
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I don't have too much of a tracking problem. I also understand Neuspeed's X-Brace will resolve this problem. What I do have a problem with is a tugging on the steering wheel when accelerating while making a hard right or left turn. I have to grip the wheel hard and fight this tugging by pulling in the opposite direction. I understand the cause of this problem has to do with the design of strut suspension. Basically, the steering arm is quite long, and connected directly to the strut. The Mugens and possibly some other aftermarket coilovers relocate steering arm so that it is shorter, thus less tugging. Latest issue of Turbo Magazine reports that Progress will be coming out with competition coilovers for our cars, which will also address the steering pull issue. Hope this is helpful. Just wondering if KW's and Teins also resolve this particular problem, or not.

 
Rep Power: 315

ZzyzX: What I assume to be bumpsteer is when I'm in the middle of a corner and hit, say, an expansion joint, or something like that which runs all the way across the road (it's usually bumps in the pavement which run all the way across)...the car just jumps sideways, to the outside of the corner.

Is this bumpsteer, or tracking? Basically, the car just jumps sideways, and the steering wheel is NOT affected.


It's quite frightening!

 
Rep Power: 380

how big are the bumps? and how much does the suspension compress/extend? Remember with our suspension compresses we get Toe in, making the car more stable, while when it extends we get toe out, making it want to wander..... If the steering wheel is not affected then your not dealing with Tracking. Are you at the limits of traction when you hit the bumps? also, are you on the gass? nutural? or off? What could be happining is that your getting a form of Power induced understeer... when you slide to the outside is it the nose that slides or is it the whole car in like a "power slide" as in both the front and rear slide equally.

More info please.

 
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I apologize for any delays in responding to this post.

It may not be apparent, but the factory rods are very long and meet deep near the middle of the firewall. As the cars are lowered, the actual angle and length impact on the rack are reduced exponentially. With this in mind, the steering arm on the KW solution has been relocated in a lower position to optimize its geometry. This clears the bump steer concern, but more importantly, ensures that the arms won’t impact the chassis as it protrudes through the factory hole.

If you have any other questions on this point, please feel free to email me directly and I’ll do my best to help.

 
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Thanks Glen. Excellent response. KW's are at the top of my list of future mods.