understeer question

[Adam]

Lower is better. The ideal height is as low as you can get without scraping too badly. What kind of tires are you running? If you're losing front grip maybe try some grippier tires and if you want more oversteer then stiffen the rear like CJ and Blue said.

[kabel]

someone mentioned it alrady, but I'll echo experimenting with tire pressures first (it free!).

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Adam

Lower is better. The ideal height is as low as you can get without scraping too badly. What kind of tires are you running? If you're losing front grip maybe try some grippier tires and if you want more oversteer then stiffen the rear like CJ and Blue said.

I have to slightly disagree with lower is always better. Handling suffers alot if the suspension runs out of travel over bumps and in corners. You can also end up with so much camber that you're wearing the heck out of the inside of the tires and not using the full tire's grip.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I have to slightly disagree with lower is always better. Handling suffers alot if the suspension runs out of travel over bumps and in corners. You can also end up with so much camber that you're wearing the heck out of the inside of the tires and not using the full tire's grip.

That's a good point, the surface being driven on has to be considered. The optimum setup for a smooth track or circuit wouldn't the same as a street driven vehicle or vise versa.

[stephen wilson]

Ride height isn't going to change the handling balance, though added rake may help turn-in. As has been mentioned, try a wider front tire relative to the rear, larger rear anti-roll bar ( preferrably adjustable), or stiffer rear springs (or softer front springs). More agressive front alignment may help a little. Stiffer struts would only help with transient balance, not mid-corner "steady state" handling.
Steve

[jacabean]

what would happen if I raise the front suspension about a 1/2" . this would also soften the springs a little and increase travel . would softening the front give more of and oversteer feel?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by jacabean

what would happen if I raise the front suspension about a 1/2" . this would also soften the springs a little and increase travel . would softening the front give more of and oversteer feel?

Assuming your car was originally set up by a competant tuner, your best bet is to either get new tires and/or a set of adjustable sway bars, as has already been noted.

[stephen wilson]

Raising the front ( say by adjusting a coil spring perch ) won't change the spring rate, you have to physically replace the spring to do that. Does this car have coil-overs? If so, experimenting with ride height would be much easier, though the alignment will have to be adjusted after each change. If anything, you'd want the front lower, relative to the rear, not higher.

As far as lowering changing the balance, I'm not a Boxster expert, but in general:
The C.G. will drop, and the roll center will drop by a similar amount, so the front roll couple, and therefore the handling balance, remains essentially unchanged.

Lowering will also lessen front weight transfer by a small amount, increasing the available traction of the front tires, but the magnitude would be small.

The only way to quantify the results would be to try and see.

Steve

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

Ride height isn't going to change the handling balance,
Steve

Lowering the car lowers the center of gravity and moves the car's roll center. Both changes work together to alter the car's handling.