Improving VX Steering feel

[GenCuster]

Ok, so what I realy want is an S2 elise. What I have is a VX220 turbo for the forseeable future.

I recently drove a friends 07 Elise 'S' - the steering feel is miles better than the VX.

Is there anything I can do to improve steering feel of my VX?

Advice appreciated

Thanks in advance

Cheers

GC

[woody]

Jon fitted the S2 elise set up to his - 4 stud hubs and 16" front wheels. That would allow you a choice of tyres as well.

[steve_weegie]

I'll vouch for the setup that Jon had, with the s2 exige setup - brilliant handling car

[GenCuster]

Thanks Guys, 16" wheels are an easy mod, wonder how much difference they make on their own. I need to find out exactly what else Jon did! Before I pm the wrong guy I'm guessing that would be VXJon?!

Cheers

GC

[cstrachan]

Think Lazy has the same or similar setup, but both done on the N/A not the tubby.

[woody]

LD has the exige suspension on his car, as did VXJon along with the other bits listed above.

[GenCuster]

I was looking at the VX forum and LazyD has spoken on the subject of wider 16" front wheels and tyres before...

"In a nutshell there is a huge amount of bollocks spouted on here about amazing transformations but for most people who dont intent to track the car the standard wheels are tyres are fine with a geo tweak. "

I think first steps are probably to get the steering and suspension checked to make sure they're tip-top and then get a geo and see how it feels?

If that doesn't work maybe more radical Exige-suspension-mod type measures to follow....

Thanks

Cheers

GC

[rossl]

I noticed a massive difference changing to the 16" fronts on my na.

Made steering feel much more accurate, turn in was better and removed alot of understeer. Made steering lighter at lower speeds making driving in town easier. I would say that even if you arent tracking your car, this is certainly an option to consider.

I also had the exige suspension set up on the car and I think that the change in wheel size made all the difference to the steering feel.

[steve_weegie]

Some wider front tyres on the vx rims and a bit more -ve camber would be a good place to start

[cstrachan]

Eagle F1's allow you to go a little wider but you will have the bridgestome police on to you

[Lazydonkey]

I was looking at the VX forum and LazyD has spoken on the subject of wider 16" front wheels and tyres before...

"In a nutshell there is a huge amount of bollocks spouted on here about amazing transformations but for most people who dont intent to track the car the standard wheels are tyres are fine with a geo tweak. "

I think first steps are probably to get the steering and suspension checked to make sure they're tip-top and then get a geo and see how it feels?

If that doesn't work maybe more radical Exige-suspension-mod type measures to follow....

Thanks

Cheers

GC

lol another typically restrained post from me Welcome to have a shot of mine if you want ? As others have said Jon was running the same spec as me but with 16" bridgestones and i could tell no real difference. A048's or R888s as Ross had would be the ultimate but also come with downsides.

For the price of a geo check i'd definately get it done, as well as making sure the steering union joint is as tight as possible.

The main issue with 16"s is the you then have to consider changing the suspension to adjustables to get the ride heights right so your cheap and easy fix then becomes tyres, wheels and suspension. If you go for TD's or speedlines you can get ones that bolt on. If not you have to go the vxjon route and change hubs and discs as well.

[GenCuster]

Cheers LD - I actually thought your statement cut through the bullsh+t nicely!

Thanks for the offer - I'm up ABZ way but if I'm down your neck o the woods will take you up on that

Where is the steering union joint? It could be my imagination but there does seem to be more freeplay when the wheel is in the dead ahead position with the car stationary than there used to be?

Cheers

GC

[Lazydonkey]

Im not even vaugely technical but if you stick your head in the drivers footwell, and then look up at the steering column you'll see a bit knunckely thing mine was looser than a loose thing when i first got the car and tightening that up worked a treat. No idea how to tighten it as i paid a man to do it

Should say that money no object id fire nitrons and A048s on the car but i do too many miles just now and have other things that i'd rather spend the money on.

EDIT : Mrs Donkey hails from furry boot town so i'm up quite a lot but she usually makes up some reason for us to take the panda

[Andy G]

Interesting.

geo and alignment check would be first and cheapest thing to check.

Try using Exige settings.

are they 17" front and rear? VXs?

Certainly, 16" with 48's and Exige springs on the front, and the same with 17" on the rear, with an agressive geo (as closer to 340r track settings as it would go) made my 111r handle superbly.

Putting the 48's on also helped turn in massively - so much so i stopped using my winter tyres and drove the year on 48's

[VXJON]

Id echo lazy's comments, get the car Geo'd

I changed to the exige suspension mostly because the std n/a set is pants and I cant imagine the vxt to be any better. When the VXR was specced they fitted it with the same damper/spring rates as the the exige so changing your vxt can only be an improvement. It will raise the ride height 5mm or so


Ross has a set for sale on here

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... =7&t=20501


£200 for the dampers and £50ish for the geo and the car will be transformed



Next option would be to change to a vx fittment wheel, team dynamics being the most common. Loads of posts on the vx site about this but TBH the major benefit is a choice of tyres, being stuck on the std bridgestones is the big down side to the VX wheels. Again if you plan to track the car and want trick tyres this is the cheapest option

£500ish for the wheels and £500ish for the R rated tyres. Id also say that changing the geo and suspension would be best to get the full benefit


The route I went down is probably the most expensive and TBH probably pointless unless you are planning to ditch as much weight as possible

What you would need to change to the elise set up
1. Exige/elise wheels + tyres
2. Hubs *4
3. Discs *4
4. Pads
5. 4 hrs labour
6. Geo reset
7. Longer wheels bolts ( the vx one are just too short )
8. centre caps
(might also need to look at changing the ABS module, the size and weight differences seemed to really mess up my abs)

Say £2.5kish ( + suspension )

BTW the bridgestones are a more than capable road tyre and hold up well on track.