Re: good handling on Fulvias.
Indeed and they are justly famous for this. A S1 coupé on its original 145/14 tyres is beautifully balanced, and indeed the tail will step out very nicely if required.
With attempts to go faster and he fitting of sticky modern tyres everything changes. I consider that my car handles very well, but lots of time and effort has been spent changing things. No, it does not handle like a standard S1 but it is very pleasant and communicative to drive.
Paul
Anti roll bars
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william vd Sman
Re: Anti roll bars
Last trackday outing I was caught out by the rear stepping out when I lifted the trottle mid corner. Not unlike old school hot hatches like the 205 GTI or Renault5 Turbo. I have a standard rear bar but lowered rear springs by having an inverted leaf on top. I found the rear to soft at first but with the adjustable Spax dempers set more firm than the Konis the bump is ok. Still I cannot use more than 165-13 size tires if I want them to clear the wheel arch. This comprimises roadholding and rearend grip as the 165x13 tires cannot be found with a sticky compound. On the front I have a retempered berlina 7 leaf spring. Roller type buffers on the upper wishbones. Negative camber wishbones, Flavia steeringarms and the 2000 stabilizerbar. Plus 185-70x13 competition tires which give tremendous grip. The rear is on the verge of oversteer more because of the tire quality difference than for the amount of rearend roll. For my set-up at least. In my case I would leave the rear bar alone till I can find some 13"rims with more offset compaired to the campagnolos. Suggestions? I just need the wheel to move inwards one more cm.
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P. de R. Leclercq
Re: Anti roll bars
Yes, well with your tyre selection you are rather tempting fate, although lifting-off mid-corner is also tempting it! I recall doing the same on my first track day and doing a full 180 degrees in front of a rather cynical chap in a B20.
The problem with most Fulvia coupés is the stupid inner lip insoed the wheel areches. On one of my scruffy cars, I simply cut the lip and folded it inside and had no more trouble.
On my present car I had the wheels made by Minilite and I specified more inset at the rear to clear the arches.
A simple idea might be to review the rear tyre pressures you are running. A little less might mean that you would get more heat into them and thus gain a little grip on the track
Paul
The problem with most Fulvia coupés is the stupid inner lip insoed the wheel areches. On one of my scruffy cars, I simply cut the lip and folded it inside and had no more trouble.
On my present car I had the wheels made by Minilite and I specified more inset at the rear to clear the arches.
A simple idea might be to review the rear tyre pressures you are running. A little less might mean that you would get more heat into them and thus gain a little grip on the track
Paul
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Michael Beattie
Re: Anti roll bars
One word of caution - Don't lower the rear tyre pressures too much. or you will start to compromise sidewall stability.
The tyre pressures you run can vary greatly with the make, construction and specification of tyre that you are using. I was using a Yokohama A032R on the Alfa last year, and found other competitors were using different pressures for their different cars. I started using 28 psi and actucally found that 32psi gave better performance. While a guy with a Fiat X19 was using 25psi and some others were using 35 !!.
Yes, lifting off mid corner is usually the best way of finding out what the inside bank looks like
Once done never forgotten !!
The other solution to the rear tyre width is get out the jack and "ease" out the arches a tad
Cheers
Michael
The tyre pressures you run can vary greatly with the make, construction and specification of tyre that you are using. I was using a Yokohama A032R on the Alfa last year, and found other competitors were using different pressures for their different cars. I started using 28 psi and actucally found that 32psi gave better performance. While a guy with a Fiat X19 was using 25psi and some others were using 35 !!.
Yes, lifting off mid corner is usually the best way of finding out what the inside bank looks like
Once done never forgotten !!The other solution to the rear tyre width is get out the jack and "ease" out the arches a tad
Cheers
Michael
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P. de R. Leclercq
Re: Anti roll bars
Obviously I did not imagine that anyone would lower tyre pressures to that extent; I didn't think it necessary to point out that one normally operates in 2 psi steps!
Paul
Paul