|
In Reply to: Rack and Pinion Steering posted by dan on March 01, 2001 at 20:22:37:
Rack and pinion is what you find on the 3-series. It is a long metal tube with teeth on top, kind of like a spine. This is the rack. The pinion is a small (about 2" in dia) gear that is connected to the steering wheel. The pinion rotates, causing the rack to move side-to-side. This is completely different from the recirculating ball steering found on nearly all 5 series (E39 528i has r&p), 6er, 7er, and 8er. It is also used on most Mercedes Benzes and also trucks. It is very heavy duty. It is also nearly impossible to explain without pictures. I can't find it on "How stuff works" website, either. Click here to see a crude description of both kinds of steering.
To reduce understeer, lower the front suspension (up to a certain point), increase front camber, increase front tire pressure (in street tires), increase rear spring rate, increase rear anti-roll rate, decrease front anti-roll rate, use same tire size front and rear (not 205f 225r or 225f 245r). Did I miss something?
What is your car like? Suspension mods? What tires and sizes are on the car? Are they all the same age? Is the rear anti-roll bar still connected?
Do you know how to trail brake? Do you brake too late? Turn in too fast? Early apex? Do you know how to steer with the throttle? It's not hard with 290HP on tap! Unless I'm entering a corner REALLY hot, I don't have any severe understeer problems. Don't like understeer? Then buy an 80's or early 90's 911. Ever wonder why they have 205 front tires and 255 rear tires? It's called an arrow flying backwards for a good reason.
No, I'm not knocking 911's. They're a lot faster than M5s, albeit really twitchy.
James
james_535@yahoo.com
88 M5
88 M3
83 535i
© 1997 -
2009
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.
