Expert: Dan Liddy - 4/7/2008

Question
I was just wondering if you had any ideas that you could share with me about front wheel drive handling.  I have set the camber on all the wheels very similar as you have listed.  I was wondering if you had a guess at what my spring rates should be?  the car weighs around 2200lbs we race a 3/8 low banked paved oval.  If you have any thoughts it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan Foley
Ottawa, Canada

Answer
Hi Ryan:

The best advice I can give you is to get ahold of the book, "How To Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn.  It's about US$16.00 and any book store can order it for you. Most of the larger stores have a copy on hand.  

In that book the author addresses stock car set up ideas for short and long tracks, and shows you a few things about spring rates.

Since I don't have any experieince with the Neon, I can't offer much help. However, with any front wheel drive you will want to get the back pretty stiff so it will slide out for you and help steer the car through the corners.  To do this I suggest an accessory rear anti-roll bar.  Then you should probablly use assymetricasl spring rates both front to rear and left to right, stiffer on the outside than the inside.  

You will also need to find your cross weight percentage, and adjust that for best effect.  The above book can explain that better than the limits of this letter. He will also tell you how to take tire temperatures and then how to USE that information to make your car faster.

I wish I could offer more direct advice, but you've hit on an area where I simply have little experience.  However, once you start to find some answers, I'd be happy to hear from you again, I'm always willing to help !

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida