Caterham Seven (7) Fireblade Suspension

[asdfg11]

Hey guys bought a little caterham today, engine wise it is now 241bhp at 368kg. Needless to say I am loving it, my new fav car My playground is the Ring.

My suspension is 100% stock and I wonder is there much to gain here for the caterham?

Sometimes it spins out if I clip a edge of the track and I cannot catch it to save my life..

Any advice welcome 👍

 

[psychot|K]

Well what are you experiencing?

Corner entrance understeer/oversteer?
Corner exit understeer/oversteer?

 

[asdfg11]

Added "Sometimes it spins out if I clip a edge of the track and I cannot catch it to save my life.. " driver error I know but have hopes maybe I can tweak the wheel camber or something to improve it, but this being new to me not looking to make things worse

 

[vett'e]

Perhaps your damper's compression is too stiff, inhibiting your suspension from actually dampening the 'bump' on the edge. If that's true, it will mean your tire will temporarily lose traction with the ground and hence your spin-out. Changing wheel camber in this scenario wouldn't concern the problem your car is experiencing because suspension/wheel alignment bares no relation to weight transfer.

 

[asdfg11]

vett'e Thank you very much for the information this makes logical sense I shall look into it and report back!

 

[psychot|K]

At such low weight, the spring rate should be super SUPER low. If it isn't, that could be your problem too.

IMO, camber and toe adjustments are a last resort.

 

[asdfg11]

Thanks guys I tweaked what you both suggested, with different degrees of sucess. Seems slightly more predctable now for the most part yet wild oversteer can come out of no where if I hit the edge slightly wrong, before it used to throw me in the other direction almost every time so that is an improvement. Hard to try and get a good compromise it seems.

 

[HurlingDervish]

I've been having lots of fun with this car, and like you, having some frustration with it flying into the air off rumble strips.

I tried numerous settings and experimentation but the only thing that even remotely seems to have helped is the lowest spring rate possible, low settings on both dampers, and high anti-roll bar settings.

I feel like there is a balance to be found with this "car" eventually but its quite tricky at the moment.

here's my green buggy in action:

 

[andrea]

I've applied suspension tuning and adjustment to the spring rate. The car has improved in stability which is a no brainer but those speed curbs will be the death of you no matter what. Definitely one of the more enjoyable cars to drive in my lot.

 

[jamezracer]

I'm sorry but a featherweight front engined rear wheel drive car will behave that way.

more toe-in will help to make the back end more predictable in the corners, but to make it more predictable when hitting bumps I suggest softer springs and softer compression dampening. If you keep the rebound dampening as it is then you will still get the responsiveness going into corners.

 

[HighPlainsDrftr]

I haven't taken mine out on the 'Ring yet but now I think its time. I do believe a good time is awaiting!