"Chassis Reinforcement" - Effects (If any)?

[energyracing]

Does anyone know offhand what the chassis reinforcement does handling wise (more understeer/oversteer)? I seem to remember it making the car push like a truck in GT4 but I'm kinda on the fence about it in GT5.

Any thoughts?

 

[nttdemented]

I noticed a difference when driving on the bumpy streets of the Nordschleife. It definitely did what it's supposed to do. I noticed the dampers where working a lot better over the heavy bumps, and this did add a bit of understeer. I think it was way to exagerated on GT4, it's just right in GT5 if you ask me.

 

[energyracing]

Alright thanks, that helps a lot. I just didn't want to think I was spending 20k on all of my new cars to make them handle in a way I don't like (I prefer a tail happy car).

 

[lailoken]

IMO it really depends on the car and the track.

You'll need it for the nurburgring but not for say Daytona lol..

 

[energyracing]

So could the fact that I put chassis reinforcement on my ZR1 be the reason it pushes like crazy at Indy, regarless of my suspension settings? Lol It is impossible to make that car go sideways in the turns under acceleration at Indy

 

[BoneSawTX]

would think you might want it just for the fact it strengthens the frame, might be useful since we have to repair the frame over time.

 

[energyracing]

^^^That was another concern of mine. But if it makes too much of a tight car, i'd pay the 15-50k to get the frame reworked every 10 races or so

 

[psychot|K]

I've been wondering about this too.

So basically, if the car under-steers already, this mod is something to avoid?

 

[Rotary Junkie]

It depends on the car.

I've noticed that it makes the car MUCH easier to correct and more responsive to setup changes. Flex is bad and makes the chassis itself act as an undamped spring; if you make one end stiffer than the other the chassis will effectively reduce the spring rate on the stiffened end of the vehicle... And then when you straighten the car out, the chassis will spring back PAST where it normally locates the suspension slightly before evening out.

 

[psychot|K]

It depends on the car.

I've noticed that it makes the car MUCH easier to correct and more responsive to setup changes. Flex is bad and makes the chassis itself act as an undamped spring; if you make one end stiffer than the other the chassis will effectively reduce the spring rate on the stiffened end of the vehicle... And then when you straighten the car out, the chassis will spring back PAST where it normally locates the suspension slightly before evening out.

So what you're saying is; If one has reached the limit of understeer/oversteer reduction efforts on a given chassis, chassis reinforcement will enhance the effectiveness of these efforts?

 

[Supermelon]

I did the chassis reinforcement on my 370z which I was having trouble keeping it steady entering and exiting corners.
Once I did it the improvements were noticeable, the front and rear end stays fairly stable now and it also showed me a glaring fault in my setup. The dampers weren't stiff enough which lead the car to be underdamped which caused it to flop around in corners. This wasn't noticeable before the chassis was stiffened, maybe cause it was flexing and twisting so I couldn't tell the whole car was underdamped.

 

[rfcnkt]

I noticed an improvement in high speed stability in my GTR, but it did point out the flaws in my suspension tuning. I recommend this upgrade if you know what you're doing when it comes to suspension tuning or it may exaggerate errors. Haven't tried it on any other vehicles though...kinda steep @ 20,000 when you don't know if it will improve anything.

 

[Mr. CoolFiat]

I have a Mini 1.3i, I put chassis reinforcements and it's as neutral as Switzerland in WWII! I actually get little over-steer on the exit but it quickly corrects itself.... beautifully balanced car!