Gran Turismo 4 understeer fix

[GTprophet]

Searched everywhere for it, but there never was a really simple fix for this "problem" in GT4. Everyone's advice included pages and pages of custom car tunings just so you could have a bit more freedom in the tail area of your car. Well, here it is, SIMPLE fix that works on ALL cars:

It works in Gran Turismo mode, not arcade. Before starting a race go to "Settings" and than to "Driving aids" and set:

ASM System (Oversteer) to 0
ASM System(Understeer) to 20
TCM Controller to 0

Cars don't dance all over, but if you choose to push them they will start to let loose on the rear side, whereas before, they were like train on tracks.

Demonstration video:

4WD Nissan Skyline GT-R '94 untuned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98OrOY-KtM

BMW M3 fresh out of the shop (untuned)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1sV-mnDpU

EDIT #4: This "fix" might down your times a bit, but if you don't mind you might like it.

 

[Bopop4]

Welcome to GTPlanet.
But using the ASM to tune the car is not a good idea. It applies the brakes when turning and you would be better off using trail braking or suspension tuning to eliminate understeer.

 

[GTprophet]

While I do understand that, I also feel that this is the easiest way to erratically, very easily and most important - UNIFORMLY(same for every car, independent on their stock settings) change behavior of every car in game, and "braking" is VERY minimal and my times have improved because I don't have to brake so much to make the car steer inwards the corner.

Test it for yourself.

Tuning steering suspension is long and hard process and you are most likely gonna end up with something weird. By my tweak car will drive predictably and there is more space for maneuvering. Disabling ASM all together is a very bad idea because all cars MASSIVELY understeer.

 

[Bopop4]

I know, I have tried using the ASM to adjust the car before but it just didn't work for me.
It braked on flat out sections and upset the cars balance. You will be faster if you learn to drive without aids and use other methods of balance control. Just trying to help.

 

[GTprophet]

I can't even go back to enjoying the game without this tweak now. Try with my settings, ASM does not kick in on straights, only minimal usage in corners.

 

[Bopop4]

I meant in flat out turns. Like the at the "Ring. Even on the lowest settings it still is activating half way round the course.

 

[jagenigma]

What works for me is No ASM because it holds back the cars natural handling. TCS is better to have because most cars in real life come with that anyways. i only set it to 2 or 3 though because any higher and the car slows down too much to prevent going sideways.

 

[GTprophet]

Updated the original post with comparison test.

 

[Bopop4]

No offense but you have to drive the car much harder down into the turn.
And you're not using maximum braking, and there is a little two footing going on.
You only two foot it when the car is oversteering.Try a road course a do 50+laps on it.
Near the end your times should be within .5 seconds of each other lap after lap. Then try the ASM fix.

 

[GTprophet]

Updated original post with completely new test. Review please.

 

[GTprophet]

Re-edited video for better understanding.

 

[Bopop4]

Umm... That new video proves nothing.
You were on the limiter the entire time and when the brakes engaged the power just overcame it. I think that I'll end up having to do a test myself...

 

[peter_vod69]

They already released a GT4 understeer fix. It's called GT5.

 

[GTprophet]

They already released a GT4 understeer fix. It's called GT5.

And this is Gran Turismo 4 forum smart ass, so why are you here?

@Bopop4:

"...and when the brakes engaged the power just overcame it..."

What kind of brakes get overpowered by the engine? You tap manual brake for 0.01 sec in that same test and I guarantee you that there will be noticable difference in end of the corner.

ASM was kicking in for LONG time during the whole corner, yet there was absolutely NO speed loss.

My test eliminated braking and driving skill out of the equation so I believe it is pretty objective.

 

[peter_vod69]

And this is Gran Turismo 4 forum smart ass, so why are you here?

I'm from the future.



Seriously though, I'm here because GT4 has a broken physics engine and trying to overcome this major flaw (which everyone has known about for years) by messing with assists is just stupid.

 

[thc118]

In theory the ASM would only brake enough to keep the car "straight" through the turn, but you would have to steer as tight as the curve required... any more and the braking action would slow you down more than needed.

I used to hate driving FF cars, but it was only because I was driving them wrong. All throttle to all brake right back to full throttle. I would end up braking too much, right up to the apex, and then the understeer upon acceleration would carry me too far up the track. The better approach was to brake early, coast or feather the throttle thru the apex, then get back on it. I'm much faster now that I know how to drive them.

The "problem" you're describing is nothing more than trying to go faster than the tires allow, although most cars seem to lose grip in their front tires before the back ones. Run a few laps on N2's and you'll experience both quite easily. Bottom line, your quick fix will never be faster than a properly set-up car that sticks to the racing line.

 

[GTprophet]

messing with assists is just stupid.

This is not "messing with something", its a simple tweak that works universally with all cars.

In theory the ASM would only brake enough to keep the car "straight" through the turn, but you would have to steer as tight as the curve required... any more and the braking action would slow you down more than needed.

I have provided practical results, not theory. My "fix" has no claimed speed loss.

Bottom line, your quick fix will never be faster than a properly set-up car that sticks to the racing line.

Again, this is not about car setup, this is simple gameplay tweak.

 

[thc118]

Your results are inconclusive. The tiny amount that the car actually understeered that the ASM corrected was negated since you limited the car to fourth gear.

Try ASM on a FF car. You'll find out that it will wear out the tires quicker. Why...?
The brakes are constantly being applied to account for the understeer. While you're accelerating out of a corner, the brakes are being applied, slowing you down. I'm able to push harder and run through corners faster than ASM allows. Rerun your test with an FF car without limiting the top speed. I will guarantee that the unaided car is faster.

 

[GTprophet]

Ok, thanks for your input guys, I will do a more comprehensive video with both FF and FR cars, as well as some other settings.

 

[GTprophet]

I think that I'll end up having to do a test myself...

No need, you were right from the start. I took advice from thc118 and tried a low level FF car. As soon as ASM started working I started to slow down gradually behind ghost car without driving aids.

So basically, this fix might be good for people who like to sacrifice speed, which is not me. Next question is, what is the easiest way to get rid of huge understeer with setups?

 

[Bopop4]

No need, you were right from the start. I took advice from thc118 and tried a low level FF car. As soon as ASM started working I started to slow down gradually behind ghost car without driving aids.

So basically, this fix might be good for people who like to sacrifice speed, which is not me. Next question is, what is the easiest way to get rid of huge understeer with setups?

Wha...? Respect earned from me sir. It's not often that a new person admits to being wrong about something. Usually everyone tries to help them and then they keep on arguing and start to piss everyone off.

From a setup standpoint you would generally want more weight being transferred to the front of the car. Softer springs and dampers up front or more rear rebound. It all depends on where the understeer occurs though.

Edit: And please try to avoid double posting.

 

[GTprophet]

Well, I was just trying to find out what the truth was, and tests made me believe that I was on the right track to prove my point. I was well aware that ASM control breaking, but I thought that with weird settings like I proposed, I thought that effect was only visual(blinking icon).

Thanks for the tips, and as far as double posting goes, I was just bumping the thread because I was editing first post so often. I am sorry about that. I better go and move to the "car setups" part of the forum. Thanks everybody!