I need help tuning

[smokinz06]

hello new member

I need help tuning a mercedes either a cl600 or the clk55. I can only beat one level with it on the ameture silver arrow. the cars just are slow and handle bad, can anyone help?

 

[Duke]

Welcome to GTP, smokinZ06!

The CL600 is just too heavy to compete. You can watch the AI cars slam the wall at every turn.

What problems are you having with the CLK55? It's not a bad car, but again, it's heavy. Have you done any modifications at all, including tires?

 

[smokinz06]

I have put every part on to it and medium tires. It is just slow and does not handle good

 

[Duke]

Have you tried weight reduction? That would be a major plus.

Also, make the Final Drive on the transmission a larger number until the car starts to hit redline on the longest straight. That will give you more acceleration. If it is already hitting redline in 6th gear, widen the Auto Setting until it is just at redline at the end of the longest straight.

Can you be more specific than 'does not handle good'? Is it oversteering (back end swings out), or understeering (front end doesn't turn enough)? Under braking, or acceleration? Have you adjusted the suspension settings at all?

From the information you've given, my first instinct is to say you're probably just not braking early enough. Big cars with powerful engines need a lot of slowing down to corner well. Try watching the gear indicator. When it puts up a little red number next to the gear you're in, get ready. When that number flashes, start braking, and brake in a straight line until you are near the turn in point. Then ease off the brakes and steer into the turn from the far outside.

Hope this helps,

-Duke

 

[gumpy]

Are you saying that you have won the Trial Mountain race but struggled after that.

The CLK55 maxed out ie all parts purchased and with default settings is capable of winning the Silver Arrow series.

This may be a case of practice to get used to the car. Try braking early as has been suggested.

You could also try reducing the TCS / ASM settings. I tend to have mine high but many others have them low and it makes them quicker.

I would definitely get softer tires if you can afford them.

 

[smokinz06]

I think it was the superspeed way I won.
the car is understeering, I will reduce the tcs and asm then try it. I might not be able to try it to the weekend though

thanks for the tips.

 

[Duke]

On all my cars, I turn the ASM totally off before I even drive it. That is most likely the major cause of your understeer, especially if it is still at 10.

TCS, I usually turn off unless I have a big wheelspin problem, in which case I crank it down to 1.

Here are some other tips:

1) Lower the car about 10%-20% down from where it sits with the default racing suspension, but not all the way down. Increase the spring rates by the same percentage - 10%-20% - as you lowered the car.

2) Stiffer dampers will usually help, in both rebound and a little softer in bound.

3) Set the front camber to about 3.0 to make sure the whole width of the outside front tire is being used during cornering.

4) Set the front toe to -0.5 (toe in) and the rear to +0.5 (toe out). This steers the outside tires slightly in the direction of the turn, helping the car rotate.

Good luck!

 

[miata13B]

breaking points are also imperative to making a car steer properly. If you don't nail those down, you could have an excellent steering car, but you won't turn properly. You need to shift the weight of the car to the foward part of the car giving more pressure to the front wheels, which in turn makes them control more of the traction of the car. I normally lower the front of the car more then the rear. in turn with the spring rate, make sure the front spring rate is less then the rear. With the stiffer rear and RWD, the back on the car won't push down to the ground as much and going around turns it will slighty lose traction. You know you are taking the turns at the fastest manner as possible if you barely hear it skidding on you. Driving line is the other factor of this equation. Make sure you are using the outside-inside-outside on fast turns and slow turns. When you start going into double turns, you have to test out which line is the best for the current car. hope that helps