Straight Line Stability

[Sven]

DFP users, you know how when you get above about 330km/h, the wheel starts to really shake back & forth, making you feel like you're about to lose it at any moment (or do I just have goofy hardware?)? Well, as I was pondering that, I recalled that some suspension settings would purportedly increase "straight like stability"? I never really had a good understanding of what that really neat, but then it hit me, would it help with the shaking?

So I went in and checked it out with a Sauber C9 at La Sarthe II. It seemed like toe angle settings of -3 front/+3 rear (more or less extreme to your preference) actually did seem to reduce the intensity of the shaking a bit. Now is that just me, or can you guys verify this?

 

[G25RJ]

This high toe in/out settings makes the car more stable but the tires will wear faster.

 

[Div is back]

Toe In makes the car more stable on straights, try it and give us feedbacks.

 

[dreesemonkey]

If you're running in 200 degree mode then yes I've noticed it, but I haven't noticed it in 900 degree mode.

 

[SammyXp]

If you're running in 200 degree mode then yes I've noticed it, but I haven't noticed it in 900 degree mode.

Oh I've definitely noticed it in 900 degree mode! While testing the CLK GTR at the top speed track, if I let go of the steering wheel at 300mph, the car will totally lose control and spin out violently. You've got to keep a firm grip on that wheel at those speeds!

 

[fangorn_forest]

Just do the license test with the Nissan R92CP on the Mulsanne straight at Le Sarthe. You'll notice it, boy will you ever notice it. I couldn't even keep the steering wheel steady above 200mph. I actually had to brace the wheel against my knees. I must say though, it sure is fun and gives a new found respect for race car drivers.

 

[hacker-pschorr]

Oh I've definitely noticed it in 900 degree mode! While testing the CLK GTR at the top speed track, if I let go of the steering wheel at 300mph, the car will totally lose control and spin out violently. You've got to keep a firm grip on that wheel at those speeds!

On certain tracks that is possible, but if that same loss of control happens on the test track, I call BS.
I remember a video of Mr.Porsche (Hurley Haywood) taking various Porsche's around the VW test track showing off how he can drive with 1 finger any of the cars at top speed, even the GT1. I don't see the CLK being that much different.
Oh well, the more threads I read like this, the more I want to go buy that wheel.

 

[50/50=orgasm]

adjust the spring and shocks to a lower setting and the car wont shake as much on any track at any speed. when youre driving cars that are that fast though, you might as well use the ps2 controller ( allows the faster responses needed for the unsimulated experience).

 

[ppith]

As the other posts say above, toe angle will affect both straight line stability or cornering ability. You must balance the two and not have too much of one and not the other. Try some extreme toe angles to see for yourself.

 

[supergoop]

If you really want to be cheap, just unplug the power... no more stability problem! It is a cheatful way to win easily on the Test Track when you are going at 380 km/hr. You don't have to worry about it boucing out of control and spinning out.

 

[kensei]

If you really want to be cheap, just unplug the power... no more stability problem! It is a cheatful way to win easily on the Test Track when you are going at 380 km/hr. You don't have to worry about it boucing out of control and spinning out.

The wheel still works without power? Or is the power just for the Force feedback? I will try it tonight.

The noise through the steering is close to real life. Ever watch an inside shot of a LMP car going down the main straight at LeMans? The steering is all over the place due to the road surface and such. In fact i remember reading somewhere how teams tune down the steering rations or power steering to cancel out some of that noise....so uplugging the power on the DFP isn't really cheating...

 

[Swift]

The wheel still works without power? Or is the power just for the Force feedback? I will try it tonight.

The noise through the steering is close to real life. Ever watch an inside shot of a LMP car going down the main straight at LeMans? The steering is all over the place due to the road surface and such. In fact i remember reading somewhere how teams tune down the steering rations or power steering to cancel out some of that noise....so uplugging the power on the DFP isn't really cheating...

Cool Avatar!

It does work without power. But no resistance and no feedback. So it's like driving a wet noodle. You won't be able to control your car because you're used to the resistance. I wouldn't reccomend it. 👎

 

[SammyXp]

On certain tracks that is possible, but if that same loss of control happens on the test track, I call BS.
I remember a video of Mr.Porsche (Hurley Haywood) taking various Porsche's around the VW test track showing off how he can drive with 1 finger any of the cars at top speed, even the GT1. I don't see the CLK being that much different.
Oh well, the more threads I read like this, the more I want to go buy that wheel.

WTH would I BS about something like that? Get in the car and try it for yourself. Get it up to 300mph, let go of the steering wheel and let me know what happens.

 

[supergoop]

Get in the car and try it for yourself. Get it up to 300mph, let go of the steering wheel and let me know what happens.

Highly recommended... exhilarating as you watch the final seconds of your life pass away

 

[Jedi2016]

On certain tracks that is possible, but if that same loss of control happens on the test track, I call BS.
I remember a video of Mr.Porsche (Hurley Haywood) taking various Porsche's around the VW test track showing off how he can drive with 1 finger any of the cars at top speed, even the GT1. I don't see the CLK being that much different.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but those Porsche's typically don't go anywhere near 230mph+. Even the Carrera GT tops out at just over 200. And the shaking doesn't appear until around 220. So the only production car that would ever feel it would be a McLaren F1. Those Porsche's just don't go fast enough. And at 200, it's still quite possible to drive with one finger. I do it all the time actually... I'll be heading down the straight at Fuji (or any other long-straightaway course), let go of the wheel entirely to take a sip of coffee, and use my right hand to shift (with the stick) and make whatever steering corrections are required. Even in the Nissan 350Z Concept Race Car.. 210+ down the straight at Fuji, and it stays rock steady.

As for reducing the shaking... I think softening the suspension will do the trick, but may have other effects that I'm not aware of in regards to control and/or tire wear. I have only four cars that can break 200mph so far (that I've driven, anyway). The above-mentioned 350Z race car... Pagani Zonda, stock except for NA Tune.. Ford GT, fully stock... and Mercedes CLK-GTR (the fastest of the three, again, "stock"). Of those three, the only one that gets "the shakes" is the Mercedes. The Pagani does start twitching a little at around 220-230, but not nearly as violently as the Mercedes does. And the Mercedes doesn't shake half as badly as the Nissan in those Mission races, even though it's going the same speed down the same road. My guess is that the Pagani's suspension (meant for normal road driving) is "gliding" over the bumps moreso than a race car will (since race cars traditionally have very stiff suspension, so you feel every little bump, hence the violent shaking at high speeds).

 

[SammyXp]

Yeah I tried softening the suspension to see if I could get the car to squat under air loading and the shaking reduced somewhat, but definitely didn't go away. Let go of the wheel, and you're in for a ride!

 

[kensei]

Cool Avatar!

It does work without power. But no resistance and no feedback. So it's like driving a wet noodle. You won't be able to control your car because you're used to the resistance. I wouldn't reccomend it. 👎

Ya, I've tried the wheel with the force feedback turned off. It is horrible. I used to have a F1 game years ago before I got Gt3 that didn't recognize my DF wheel and it's FF...I gave up after a few days and went back to the DS2.


For the test course I B-spec it anyway...I loath the test course. At LeMans or other fast sections with LMP cars I jsut deal with it and try to hold on, that is fairly realistic.

My AV is Miyamoto Musashi, at least an actor who played him in a series about his. "Kensei" is Musashi's name in japanese, means 'sword saint" or "Sword master"....Musashi is a hero of mine, now you all know where my screenname comes from. I've had one or two people PM me knowing who Musashi is or what "kensei" meant....

 

[Rezonance]

While increasing rear toe (and decreasing front toe) will help with high speed stability, it's not gonna do much for the shaking in my experience. The shaking seems to solely be caused by the track surface (unless you're getting a different type of shaking than I am with my DFP). Having said that, the shaking caused by the rough track surface sure doesn't help much when it comes to keeping the car going in a straight line! Try toning down springs, damping, and stabilizers a bit. I'm having the best luck with just modifying my driving style from "GT3 spec" to "GT4 spec". GT4 seems to require a much more delicate touch than GT3 ever did. Frustrating at first, but getting fun now that I'm more used to it.

 

[SammyXp]

While increasing rear toe (and decreasing front toe) will help with high speed stability, it's not gonna do much for the shaking in my experience. The shaking seems to solely be caused by the track surface (unless you're getting a different type of shaking than I am with my DFP). Having said that, the shaking caused by the rough track surface sure doesn't help much when it comes to keeping the car going in a straight line! Try toning down springs, damping, and stabilizers a bit. I'm having the best luck with just modifying my driving style from "GT3 spec" to "GT4 spec". GT4 seems to require a much more delicate touch than GT3 ever did. Frustrating at first, but getting fun now that I'm more used to it.

I dunno, the Test Track is pretty smooth. I think this shaking is purely wind buffeting. The first run I made, I forgot to turn down the downforce and it was insane how much the car was buffeting over 200mph. Cutting the downforce as low as it will go helped me get up to 300mph, but the shaking was definitely still there.
I personally like it. It gives you an idea of just how "on the edge" you are. Definitely agree that GT4 requires much more of a delicate touch.

 

[Ubiquitous]

Cool Avatar!

It does work without power. But no resistance and no feedback. So it's like driving a wet noodle. You won't be able to control your car because you're used to the resistance. I wouldn't reccomend it. 👎

It'll give us some idea of what the current wheels on the Xbox feel like though