Reduce body roll

[Jarod]

Photo courtesy of Hsun
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/SW20MR2/022506%20DIA%20autox%20MR2%20pics%20only/P2250502.jpg

I spent a lot of money on my coilovers to be happy with this amount of body roll. What would you all reccomend to get rid of some of it?

Stiffer springs or rear sway bar?

[Donnie]

big swaybars:D i think the suspension techniques bars are the biggest for the MR2 but its been a few years tht could have changed

[PaulL]

That's really not much body roll at all. If you're not running out of camber because the roll is eating all of it up, then it might be best not to stiffen it anymore. Stiffer away bars will load up the outside tires and you could end up having to go slower to account for the higher vertical loading.

[Eric Pollock]

I would talk to Mr Hsun Chen about MR2 setups for suspensions. He would be the one to know more about them in the local regions and he's done alot of work on his.

Paul's right about that body roll...that is not alot. You should look into camber plates or camber adjustment atleast before you do anything with swaybars. But if you have stock sway bars you should atleast upgrade to a bigger bar then you have only if it's stock.

Are you on street tires or race rubber?

[MrViggy]

Did someone say "vertical loading" (check out the last two pics):

http://www.morisoncom.com/cac2005/gallery/index_10.htm

Discussion:

http://cscc.speedracer.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=14693&highlight=#14693

Viggy

[Clay Turner]

What is a Firefly/Swift? I want to recognize one when it shows up in grid!

[S Abshire]

What is a Firefly/Swift? I want to recognize one when it shows up in grid!

Geo Metro | Suzuki Swift to us yanks.

[Jarod]

Are you on street tires or race rubber?

v700's message too short, need ten characters

[gordon0412]

I don't think that looks like much roll either. As opposed to say my car last year before I added a bigger front sway bar. Hopefully the H&R race springs help even more.

[tronic]

there is such a thing as "too low" also. if you lower your car such that the roll center is below the ground, you will increase the tendency for body roll. this is especially pertinent to VW's with front strut suspensions - I don't know how that compares to an MR2. this all seems contrary to the "lower is better", but the center of gravity is something else all together.

your car looks absolutely slammed (which looks cool at least), I'd suggest raising it an inch or two, you might find it handles better.

[EGbeater]

there is such a thing as "too low" also. if you lower your car such that the roll center is below the ground, you will increase the tendency for body roll. this is especially pertinent to VW's with front strut suspensions - I don't know how that compares to an MR2.

your car looks absolutely slammed (which looks cool at least), I'd suggest raising it an inch or two, you might find it handles better.

I would also agree that your body roll is not a limiting factor in your car's cornering ability right now.

I'm no suspension guru, MR2 or otherwise, but I'd guess that your ride height is below optimal for autox. If you're hitting the bumpstops/end of your travel because of too little suspension travel for your spring rate/damping capabilities, you're going to be dabbling with infinite spring rates.

Having never driven or even ridden in your car, I will venture these general suggestions.

1. Pick a ride height, perhaps a 1/2" to 3/4" higher than you are at now.

2. Get your car aligned. Without any idea what your toe is currently set at front and rear, it is pointless IMO to attempt to refine the car's handling. Try straight ahead in the front (zero toe), a lot of a positive caster (yes, beyond the OEM spec), and perhaps 1/8" total toe in for the rear. Don't worry too much about the camber right now, because unless you're running crash bolts or camber plates, there isn't any way to adjust it. If you do have camber adjustability, you'll need to check with some accomplished 2nd gen MR2 autoxers on mr2oc.com and see what they recommend.

3. See how the new alignment works out for you. If you want more neutrality/tendency to oversteer, gradually bring the rear toe out closer to straight ahead. Personally, I would not venture into rear toe out in a pre-'93 SW20 MR2.

4. After you're comfortable with the alignment settings, then consider upgrading to some bigger/wider tires if you feel your grip is still your limiting factor in cornering.