mazda svd handling and turning circle

[sparkyj83]

Right ive just finished rebuilding my svd mazda now with a 305 bhp turbo 1.8 lump , ive taken it out for some shake down blats and ive found it rolls about form what im used to (mac#1 worx with a zx10r that felt like a go kart ) . is there any way to sort this cheaply ? been on the phone to siltech they have just developed a svd wide track with arb but come is around 1k . The other thing is the turning circle is a joke my van turns tighter , there must be a way of sorting this ? Manythanks 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Have you had the ride heights and geo adjusted since it's accident?

The turning circle you wont imorove without going wide-track as the cycle wings and front wheels will hit the body with any more lock.

[sparkyj83]

All been geo set up they said it was fine. was at H engineering in kent ,  its just the turning is ridiculous .

[Kit Car Electronics]

Just a thought, but how close do the wings get to your headlights on lock? They look wide - maybe the rack has more restrictive lockstops than normal? 

[darve]

With all that power, turn with your right foot?

[sparkyj83]

29 minutes ago, Kit Car Electronics said:

Just a thought, but how close do the wings get to your headlights on lock? They look wide - maybe the rack has more restrictive lockstops than normal? 

close lol

[TAFKARM]

I bet you can make it more nimble with a better geometry and shock set up session. 

 

[maurici]

That is going to be a long read... but I may try to give you some light.

turning radious:

I´m surprised that someone moans about this in this sort of vehicle. As long as you are happy with the steering imput, speed and feel whyle driving, you shouldn´t be too bothered about the turning radious. However, if you feel the need, check the lock stops that your current steering rack may have, and try to take them out. Also, shorter steering arms in the uprights would steer much more for the same ammount of imput. For your information, what you feel is "close." is actually pretty far. Not that i need it, but that is how close my widetrack with quick rack, short steering arms and without lock stops looks like when is close:

 

about the ARB

I don´t know the particularities of the SDV wishbones, and track, but 1k for a ARB system is ridiculous. mock it up with some steel wire, find some hollowed steel tube of 18mm of outer diameter and 8mm inner (this is 5mm wall thickness) and send it to bend somewhere. Do (or buy) some aluminium rods, and reach AdamR (clear motorsport webpage) for some clamps. That won´t cost more than 250/300 for both front and rear (some pictures of my setup. Isnt an SDV, but at the end is a custom fabricated ARB). In that way, you will have an ajustable setup for the front ant the rear, so you will easily be able to limit the roll as much as you want(but if you go too far probably will **** the front handling/unbalance the car).

Then, about the Roll itself.

I know the feeling of roll is a bit anoying, particulary if you are used to instant weight transfer and so... but the roll itself isn´t a bad thing.

For the geometry I can see in your car, you may have a pretty decent camber correction, that means more camber for every fraction of roll, and that improves the overal grip. Also, a car with some roll, is normally easier to drive, mor forgivable, and probably faster in normal hands. Of course, it needs some sort of limit and I seem to see you dont have any ARB, but don´t go too far. I strongly disagree with the superstiff zero roll cars, as they handle like **** and are very critical on the edge.

 

Thanks.

Maurici.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

1 hour ago, sparkyj83 said:

All been geo set up they said it was fine. was at H engineering in kent ,  its just the turning is ridiculous .

I can't say I know H-Engineering but looking at their website they appear to be more of a classic specialist rather than kit car or motorsports outfit.

What ride height (front and rear) and geometry settings did they apply on the car? Did they reccomend the settings they applied or did they use settings which you asked them to?

What length front dampers do you have (fully open)? the mazda SDV uses a longer front damper to the non-SDV westfield's and it not uncommon for people to fit or be supplied the wrong length.

[sparkyj83]

5 minutes ago, Mark (smokey mow) said:

I can't say I know H-Engineering but looking at their website they appear to be more of a classic specialist rather than kit car or motorsports outfit.

What ride height (front and rear) and geometry settings did they apply on the car? Did they reccomend the settings they applied or did they use settings which you asked them to?

What length front dampers do you have (fully open)? the mazda SDV uses a longer front damper to the non-SDV westfield's and it not uncommon for people to fit or be supplied the wrong length.

to be totally honest i don't know i just said i wanted it set up for fast road and track . yes i  think i have the right dampers protechs from westfield svd persific as i had to wait forever for them 

[sparkyj83]

7 minutes ago, Mark (smokey mow) said:

I can't say I know H-Engineering but looking at their website they appear to be more of a classic specialist rather than kit car or motorsports outfit.

What ride height (front and rear) and geometry settings did they apply on the car? Did they reccomend the settings they applied or did they use settings which you asked them to?

What length front dampers do you have (fully open)? the mazda SDV uses a longer front damper to the non-SDV westfield's and it not uncommon for people to fit or be supplied the wrong length.

got another question seen as your the svd guru ,ive got a air lock in my system and its proving to be a right pig to get rid off as im seen high water temp when i give it a blast any ideas

?  Thanks 

[TAFKARM]

Did you get a print out of the geo settings?

[sparkyj83]

1 minute ago, RussH said:

Did you get a print out of the geo settings?

unfortunately not  

[maurici]

2 minutes ago, sparkyj83 said:

got another question seen as your the svd guru ,ive got a air lock in my system and its proving to be a right pig to get rid off as im seen high water temp when i give it a blast any ideas

?  Thanks 

Im not the sdv guru... but i know something about mx5 and cooling systems. May you expansion tank be a bit too low? Mx5 engine is pretty straightforward filling, and actually it doesnt needs any massive ammount of height differential to have it filled.

Is there any particular instalation in the turbo or water/oil exchanger?

Is there any pronounced "U" shape in the cooling system? And if so... could you get rid of it?

[DamperMan]

Off topic..   great choice of vehicles... Westfield, T3(T25) and a BMW 3-Series ..SNAP