Expert: Dan Liddy - 10/5/2006

Question
Can you please tell me a typical set up for a [basically stock]front wheel drive 1,800 lb. oval track race car. I would like to know diagnal percentages, left side and rear weight and also suggested tire pressures...

Thanks, Don

Answer
Hi Don :

Here's what I don't know :  Diagonals and cross weights.  Tire pressures you should get from your supplier, he's a lot  closer to your track than I could be.

For a basic set-up, start with about 1/16 " toe OUT on the RF wheel, and about 1/8 " tor out on the LF , This should help it turn in better. Then increase your castor angle to as much as you can handle (until the steering gets too heavy)   Increased castor gives you increased camber gain in the corners. You'll want more on the RF .

 Once you've gotten that, you will want to run about 4 to 5 degrees negative camber on the RF, and about 2 drgrees positive camber on the LF.

In the meantime get a copy of the book "How to Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn , order at most bookstores. It's a bout $15.00 and worth it's weight in race gas.  Also buy yourself one of those trick tire pyrometers, the one with the postol grip that reads infra red and gives a digital readout.  The one with the memory is a few bucks extra and worth it.

With a FWD car you're going to want to loosen up the back.  Don't fall into the stiff spring trap, use heavy sway bars instead to control roll, and let the suspension work a little.  Once you have the rear so it will step out a little, you probably will have a pretty quick lap coming soon.

Being a RWD  road racer, that's the limit of my circle track knowledge as relates to FWD cars.

Good luck !!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida