Tristan Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hi all , I do a fair bit with retro cars , including 3 Fiat 131 Abarths . These have 15in wheels (195/50 15s), independant rear suspension , with adjustable toe front and rear , with Macpherson struts all round . Just wondering if anyone can suggest settings for fast road/trackday use ? Grip and stability is more important that tyre wear . I have to do my mates one very soon as it's way off , it's actually crabbing! Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Any chance for camber/ castor adjusters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 not really Tony without slotting holes etc . That said , I wouldn't mind doing that so much if it really needs it . The struts are bolted on with 2 12mm bolts , like a Mk2 Golf front leg . Slotting of the top mount isn't too difficult on top , but access is very dificult on the rear . Dad rallies one , on proper competition tyres , the other ones are fun road cars . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 There's good news.... If the fronts are twin pinch bolt (strut to hub) then you can fit EZ adjusters for camber manipulation> Obviously the rear is a live axle so pretty much a done deal but by manipulating a front camber you can gain significant steer advantages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Actually , no the rear is NOT live axle . The ordinary 131s were , but the Abarths were all independant , semi trailing arm with CV joints each end of the half shafts . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Where can I get those camber adjusters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Where can I get those camber adjusters? http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/Pro...de=EIBE5.81250K you need to measure the diameter of the existing bolt then order it's counter adjuster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Actually , no the rear is NOT live axle . The ordinary 131s were , but the Abarths were all independant , semi trailing arm with CV joints each end of the half shafts . Sounds similar to my S12 Silvia then. I'd be surprised if it had McStruts allround as almost all Semi-trailing arm designs have seperate spring & dampners, as above. Problem with the S12 is it sees siginificant negative camber when lowered. Something like -3 degrees, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Actually , no the rear is NOT live axle . The ordinary 131s were , but the Abarths were all independant , semi trailing arm with CV joints each end of the half shafts . I sit corrected ..... In that case EZ bolts all round then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Sounds similar to my S12 Silvia then. Okay I could be the one wrong so , maybe not trailing arm then . Actually , it's located with a lower wishbone , a toe control link and definitely is a Mac strut . Sorry for the misinformation previous! I sit corrected ..... In that case EZ bolts all round then. No prob! They're bloody rare , only 400 made , so not many have likely been in the WIM workshop! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2009 The front is a mac Strut , with a tension strut going forward at a shallow angle , so castor is adjustable with that . Dad's rally car is blooming hard on front tyres , with the same compound front and rear , it seems to eat the fronts off faster than the rear . Plus the steering effort is quite high . The rack isn't very fast , and it's also new . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 29, 2009 Report Share Posted October 29, 2009 Is the rack powered or manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 manual rack and pinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 Have to be carefull with the castor position then, are you going to get the EZ adjusters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted October 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 I reckon so . I'll get a set of current suspension settings/measurements and report back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 31, 2009 Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 I reckon so . I'll get a set of current suspension settings/measurements and report back . Probably best.... I can suggest settings once i have an idea of the SAI and castor positions.... It's pointless to play with the toe settings since their influence is so low compared to camber, SAI, castor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Posted November 2, 2009 Report Share Posted November 2, 2009 Hi all , I do a fair bit with retro cars , including 3 Fiat 131 Abarths . These have 15in wheels (195/50 15s), independant rear suspension , with adjustable toe front and rear , with Macpherson struts all round . Just wondering if anyone can suggest settings for fast road/trackday use ? Grip and stability is more important that tyre wear . I have to do my mates one very soon as it's way off , it's actually crabbing! Thanks in advance! Woow i did not think any of these left,Had one of these, was my very 1st car had 2 over the eary yrs of driving, i loved the gearbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted November 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2009 Woow i did not think any of these left,Had one of these, was my very 1st car had 2 over the eary yrs of driving, i loved the gearbox no replicas here! Yours was an actual Abarth? 16v motor , LHD , independant rear susension? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Woow i did not think any of these left,Had one of these, was my very 1st car had 2 over the eary yrs of driving, i loved the gearbox no replicas here! Yours was an actual Abarth? 16v motor , LHD , independant rear susension? No sorry just 131 racing with Abarth gearbox, 2ltr twin can engine i crashed the 1st one i had, then when the rear diff went in the 2nd one, i used the diff from the 1st one, as the scrap yard still had it in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 still a cool car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 still a cool car! Not as cool as yours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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