The problem with car settings...

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrianCNorton
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BrianCNorton

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I hear a lot of people asking for settings to tune their cars and I had to chime in

Tuning a car is not like opening a lock. You dont just hit a magical combination and it drives the best that it possibly can. The object is to TUNE the car to YOU. You take into account how you drive and make the car responsive to your style (or lack thereof)

Some will cry to me and say "I dont have time to learn the settings." I cant change the laws of physics, but I can tell you, thats fine, use the standard ones and learn the three or four most important adjustments you can make (ASM, TCS, Gearing and brakes) The suspension comes pre-set fairly well. Just leave it alone.

The paralell I am trying to draw is that you wouldnt send me to be examined by a doctor when you need medicine for your stomach, and you cant expect other people to know how you drive. The fact is that your car will probabally end up harder to drive than you started with, and you wont know how to get the old settings back.
 
wise words mate - makes sense when you lay it out like that, but there are those of us who "don't have time to learn the..." etc. Well, you know what I'm trying to say.

On top of that, I don't really know what making certain changes actually does. For example; I was a massive fan of the RUF CTR2 in GT2 - it was so much fun to drive and I am appalled by the massive understeer on GT3. It makes it almost impossible to drive!! I assume there are some set up changes one can make to combat this understeer, but I'm buggered if I know what they are.

One assumes that most people want a smoothe, rapid car that handles well. I hope that that is what they have tuned thier set ups for, cos I plan to use some of them.

Maybe people could articulate what they have set cars up for - is it early braking, smoothe running round corners and rapid acceleration out or is it hammering in, late braking and power sliding all over the place.

Either way, its difficult if you don't have the time or the patience to fiddle around with the cars for hours.
 
Settings are difficult if you're not mechanical - and I'll admit the whole reason I went to Uni was to avoid mechanical labour.

As I mentioned, suspension-wise I only fool about with springs, ride-height and stabilisers (basically because I've never got a solid handle on how dampers work).

That's enough to get you started in changing vehicle characteristics, but if you're going to start mucking about with the settings, remember the golden rule

ONLY CHANGE ONE THING AT A TIME!!!!!
 
i can not tune a car worth a chip! all i do is turbo it, upgrade engine, drivetrain, then do wieght reduction. i know i know it sorry.
 
Just keep it simple.

Stick to the springs and ride height.

Generally, stiffer = better grip, quicker reactions - until it bounces on bumps and kerbs

If the car won't turn - stiffen the front, or soften the rear
If it slides at the rear - stiffen the rear or soften the front

Start from there
 
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