4 replies to this topic

[grayclassic]

[998 cooper conversion
1989
Turning left the the handling is standard mini tight and a little understeer

Turning right it has alarming over steer,

I had a previous forum thread regarding 12inch wheels catching the wheel arch.
Actions taken

• spacers fitted between the sub frame and valance
• adjustable front suspension
• new front suspension rubbers all round
• front near side needle roller bearings fitted

the adjusterble trumpets are set at the same height, the wheels now clear the arches (Just)

does any one have suggestions about how to even up the handling

[jaydee]

Take the car to your local specialist to have tracking setted properly.
Try also increasing tyre pressure a couple psi and see if car goes better.

[Cooperman]

First of all check the camber of the rear wheels. Where +ve camber is present there is often a tendancy to oversteer. Ideally set to zero to 0.5 degs neg on the back with 1 mm to 2 mm rear wheel toe-in. When this sort of turn-in oversteer occurs it is very often the rear wheel camber or toe-in/out.
If you have adjustable dampers soften off the one at the rear on the side where the oversteer is happening, but check that it is still the same as the other side. In other words, a damper one side which is too stiff on the rear can cause this oversteer. Also check that both front dampers are to the same stiffness and stiffen them up a bit to reduce oversteer generally.
Check that the car is running 'true' front to rear. The rear track is narrower than the front, so take this into account. If the car is 'crabbing' this can cause some peculiar road-holding and/or handling issues.
I had this with a rover 214 and it was a bent rear axle beam.changed the beam and it was perfect. To equate that to a Mini, it would be a mis-aligned radius arm, but the rear track and front to rear alignment check will give the answer. It could even be a bent rear radius arm location bracket on the sub-frame.

[Wil_h]

Is it sat on the bump-stops at the front? If it is it can cause massive weight transfer and the result is oversteer.

[MRA]

It can also just be something simple such as tyre pressures.....