I was curious as to how much my car would take before the rearend broke loose going around a corner so I dicided to find out.

I was taking an offramp exit which was up hill and to the right...you know big sweeping turn....

The rear never broke loose but the front tires lost traction and the car kept going straight....scrared the crap out of me....luckly there was no car coming as I went straight in the merging lane....and once I let off the gas the I was able to gain control of it....

Why did the front break loose like that and not the rear?

 

It is called understeer. It is designed into the vehicle by auto manufacturers because it is safer for the general public than oversteer.

Chris S

 

In NASCAR terms, "too tight"...how big is your rear swaybar? Going down a size or two (From say 24mm to 22 or 21mm) should help this.


Ed

 

ya know they always say that, but i really dont buy it

 

It is true and I'll explain way (I't's simple enough that you know the answer yourself if you just think about what happens when this occurs)

Basically if you are on the gas around a corner and the starts to slide (whether frontend first, backend first, or both equally) the average persons initial reaction to an unexpexted loss of control is to lift off the throttle rapidly and brake.

If the nose is pushing straight, by lifting will slow and turn the car properly.

If the car is loose (*** end out), bby lifing and braking will further induce an uncontrolable end around and thus cause damage.

The understeer is much safer for the average driver, especially in a heavy downpour.

 

also, you were going uphill, so the weight is transferred to the rear.

 

Plus, if you want the rear to break loose, use some throttle.

My car is hellaweak power wise so I have to restrict my drifting to rainy conditions in middles-of nowhere.