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Thread: Handling Characteristics

  1. #1
    Spanner Monkey

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    Handling Characteristics

    on my escy, when its wet and i boot it around a corner the front carries on going straight on as i'm turning (understeer if i'm not mistaken) then when i lift off the fun pedal the back end will step out (lift off oversteer if i'm not mistaken). are these normal characteristics for my Escort?

    (std rear axle, no tramp bars, 7 inch rims with 195 tyres, bilstein shocks, single leaf springs, quick rack, running a crossflow)

    just interested, Tom.

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    Mechanic

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    What suspension on the front ?

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    It depends on a few things and the type of corner. My guess is your suspention is soft and the problem is weight transfer. When u boot it round a corner all the weight is transfered to the back wheels causing the front wheels to loose grip and the back ones to gain grip. When you take your foot off when turning the weight distribution becomes less on the back wheels and more on the front, causing the front wheels to grip more and rear wheels to grip less, hence the arse out action

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    World Champion Decade Plus User popuptoaster's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    lifting off in a corner also engine brakes the rear wheels, handbrake turn anyone? best off staying brave and keeping your foot in on a rear drive car.

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    Racer Decade Plus User Roger Miller's Avatar
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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    Sounds like an escort to me

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    Racer Lee S's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    Hmm good point, never really thought about that. Had my escort two weeks now but I cant bring myself to screw it around in the wet as its rwd - think im scared! I would regularly screw my dads car, probably because it was his and it was fwd!

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    World Champion Decade Plus User popuptoaster's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    i cant drive a fwd car for toffee in the wet, only ever owned 2 and they were both minis.

    sorry, i lied, owned a maxi too.

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    Racer Decade Plus User Willid1's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    Sounds like an escort to me
    Ditto.

    Never was the advice "slow in fast out" more applicable than to a wide tyred Escort in the wet.

    David

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    Racer Decade Plus User Paul_G's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    I once took a previous mk2 escort out in the snow but didn't get very far. There was a hill at the end of my driveway and it was block paving. The snow had just fallen about 1 inch had settled and I thought it would be great fun to have a quick spin around the block. I got as far as the bottom of the hill about 30 yards and had to leave it there till the next day.
    Firstly I got the car moving and had my foot over the brake cautiously, I slid down the hill at about 2mph with the brake on. There was no chance of getting back up it.
    Sorrt its not that relevant to the post but its just a memory thought I would like to share.
    Paul

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    to solve this understeer on gas thing....get the diff welded, it works like a charm......

    p.s. hands must be fast wid d well up not u goin find your in trouble.lol.

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    i'm not 100% sure on whats on the front end. think its 2.0 Capri struts or something similar. not sure if there are any decent shocks in, the springs have also been chopped . going to change them at some time. its all pretty solid though, you deffo wouldn't describe it as "soft".

    sidewaysmk1, my hands are fast i'm a shit hot driver (except when i'm driving a 800cc Daewoo Matiz ). i can't get my diff welded up though, its a road car and i've heard its not a very sensible thing to do, unless its just a track/drag car.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User popuptoaster's Avatar

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    Re: Handling Characteristics

    it'll understeer more with a welded diff, unless you power slide everywhere.

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