Oversteer/understeer causes
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Oversteer/understeer causes The short dummies guide to causes of oversteer and understeer is as follows:
Understeer... you turn wheel, car still goes straight...
Oversteer.. turn wheel and cars *** turns in too much
AND/OR
More traction in rear then front = understeer
More traction in front then rear = oversteer
ALSO
Stiffer front end then rear end = understeer
Stiffer rear end and soft front end = oversteer
AND THAT ALSO MEANS...
more tire pressure in front = stiffer front than rear= more understeer
more tire pressure in rear = stiffer rear than front= more oversteer
Feel free to post up and I'll add to this if you want any more information in here. I by no means am an expert with this, so dont go PM'ing me with a question if you have one, post it for someone else to answer.
Understeer... you turn wheel, car still goes straight...
Oversteer.. turn wheel and cars *** turns in too much
AND/OR
More traction in rear then front = understeer
More traction in front then rear = oversteer
ALSO
Stiffer front end then rear end = understeer
Stiffer rear end and soft front end = oversteer
AND THAT ALSO MEANS...
more tire pressure in front = stiffer front than rear= more understeer
more tire pressure in rear = stiffer rear than front= more oversteer
Feel free to post up and I'll add to this if you want any more information in here. I by no means am an expert with this, so dont go PM'ing me with a question if you have one, post it for someone else to answer.
Last edited by TRIZ; Dec 3, 2008 at 02:11 AM.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
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something better in the autox FAQ nooblet. 
And understeer, the car doesn't always go straight. The car can actually "dive" sideways as the front end pushes forward.
And understeer, the car doesn't always go straight. The car can actually "dive" sideways as the front end pushes forward.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Portland, Oregon
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I looked through your suspension faq AND autox faq, didnt come across it... please point it out.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 411 Re: Oversteer/understeer causes
http://www.wtrscca.org/tech.htm#suspension
This one wasn't there because I didn't realize that Mike Kojima's page had changed...maybe you can update the thread with this link.
http://www.se-r.net/car_info/suspension_tuning.html
This one wasn't there because I didn't realize that Mike Kojima's page had changed...maybe you can update the thread with this link.
http://www.se-r.net/car_info/suspension_tuning.html
Autocross Junky
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Simply put, the #1 cause of all handling problems, be it Understeer or oversteer is Driver Error.
Trying to carry too much speed in to the turn, improper trail breaking, trying to add throttle too soon... ect ect ect...
Sadly there have been very few instances where I've helped someone tune a car where the problem couldn't be traced back, at least in part, to driver error.
on the flip side, there are very few handling problems that cant be fixed by adjusting your driving style...
Trying to carry too much speed in to the turn, improper trail breaking, trying to add throttle too soon... ect ect ect...
Sadly there have been very few instances where I've helped someone tune a car where the problem couldn't be traced back, at least in part, to driver error.
on the flip side, there are very few handling problems that cant be fixed by adjusting your driving style...
Last edited by Zzyzx; Dec 4, 2008 at 06:45 PM.
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Re: Oversteer/understeer causes
In drift cars... the more grip the better controll and thus longer drift one can pull off.... hence why drift car specialise in oversteer with hard/ solid slip diffs, hard suspension and strut brases, decent/brilliant tyres
to boot!
to boot! 
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