Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
11-26-2007, 08:48 AM
#13
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Babylon, NY
Posts: 3,031
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
If you're talking about constant oversteer:
1) Better tires.
2) Stiffer front shock setting.
3) Softer rear shock setting.
4) Stiffer front swaybar.
5) softer right foot.
1) Better tires.
2) Stiffer front shock setting.
3) Softer rear shock setting.
4) Stiffer front swaybar.
5) softer right foot.
11-26-2007, 08:56 AM
#14
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pa
Posts: 763
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
First off, you should never just be coasting thru a corner at speed. You should either be on the brakes, or on the gas, ideally in the pattern Wolfie said. Talk to any road racer or autocrosser.. the fastest way to come loose in a turn is to not have some sort of force on the tires, be it drag from brakes or torque from acceleration.
Fishtailing happens when the lateral inertial forces exceed the Amount of friction the tire holds on the road with. So, you have two ways of dealing with this... either reduce the inertia (i.e. slow down) or increase the friction between the road and the tire. Since it seems like you think your already going slow enough (a fact that I would say your car is disagreeing with you on since it's fishtailing), there's a lot of parts you could throw at your car... tires, sway bars, Watt's links.. anyting that will increase the traction the rear end has on the road
Fishtailing happens when the lateral inertial forces exceed the Amount of friction the tire holds on the road with. So, you have two ways of dealing with this... either reduce the inertia (i.e. slow down) or increase the friction between the road and the tire. Since it seems like you think your already going slow enough (a fact that I would say your car is disagreeing with you on since it's fishtailing), there's a lot of parts you could throw at your car... tires, sway bars, Watt's links.. anyting that will increase the traction the rear end has on the road
11-26-2007, 10:39 AM
#15
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 770
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
i rarely use absolute terms like "never".
whatif you are driving onsnow or rain?
try braking in a corner in snow or accelerating through a corner in rain.
sounds like he needs to be more careful and know the limits of his tires and realize he is NOT on an autocross track.
whatif you are driving onsnow or rain?
try braking in a corner in snow or accelerating through a corner in rain.
sounds like he needs to be more careful and know the limits of his tires and realize he is NOT on an autocross track.
ORIGINAL: GT Bob
First off, you should never just be coasting thru a corner at speed. You should either be on the brakes, or on the gas, ideally in the pattern Wolfie said.
First off, you should never just be coasting thru a corner at speed. You should either be on the brakes, or on the gas, ideally in the pattern Wolfie said.
11-26-2007, 11:08 AM
#16
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location:
Posts: 245
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
ORIGINAL: olvanish
It wasn't because I floored it. It happned like 3 times after I passed the turns and was getting out of them already without me even stepping on the gas.
It wasn't because I floored it. It happned like 3 times after I passed the turns and was getting out of them already without me even stepping on the gas.
If we are talking about tire squeal/grip issues, playing with tire pressure can have a significant effect. About 2 psi different front to rear is what I use to balance my car at autocross. Make sure your tire pressures are equal, then try adjusting the front down 1 psi.
If we are talking the wiggle from shifting/accelerating, that's the panhard bar (I believe). I personally haven't fixed this yet, but a watts linkage is the answer.
Tom
11-26-2007, 09:08 PM
#17
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location:
Posts: 538
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
ORIGINAL: olvanish
Today I went out driving after work as always and because of something that happened (a good thing actually) I was a little hyped up so I was really pushing it as fast as I could and noticed that my car fishatailed a lot while front end was just fine. The turns I was taking were short. What's the best thing that will help me get rid of this? Wider tires (really don't wanna do that because I'd need to get wider rims), thicker sway bar in the rear or a set good shocks/springs?
Today I went out driving after work as always and because of something that happened (a good thing actually) I was a little hyped up so I was really pushing it as fast as I could and noticed that my car fishatailed a lot while front end was just fine. The turns I was taking were short. What's the best thing that will help me get rid of this? Wider tires (really don't wanna do that because I'd need to get wider rims), thicker sway bar in the rear or a set good shocks/springs?
What eliminates fishtailing is: avoid over-correcting for your original skid. What eliminates original skids is not driving too fast for your unbalanced car.
What eliminates all this on the road is for you to avoid "really pushing it". Especially when you are "hyped up". That's irresponsible and dangerous. Please leave instructions so your surviving family members will be able to come on here and tell us the date, time, and location of your funeral.
11-26-2007, 09:17 PM
#18
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
ORIGINAL: FyouGitive
"Fishtail" is when the back end goes one way, then the other way, perhaps more than once or twice.
What eliminates fishtailing is: avoid over-correcting for your original skid. What eliminates original skids is not driving too fast for your unbalanced car.
What eliminates all this on the road is for you to avoid "really pushing it". Especially when you are "hyped up". That's irresponsible and dangerous. Please leave instructions so your surviving family members will be able to come on here and tell us the date, time, and location of your funeral.
ORIGINAL: olvanish
Today I went out driving after work as always and because of something that happened (a good thing actually) I was a little hyped up so I was really pushing it as fast as I could and noticed that my car fishatailed a lot while front end was just fine. The turns I was taking were short. What's the best thing that will help me get rid of this? Wider tires (really don't wanna do that because I'd need to get wider rims), thicker sway bar in the rear or a set good shocks/springs?
Today I went out driving after work as always and because of something that happened (a good thing actually) I was a little hyped up so I was really pushing it as fast as I could and noticed that my car fishatailed a lot while front end was just fine. The turns I was taking were short. What's the best thing that will help me get rid of this? Wider tires (really don't wanna do that because I'd need to get wider rims), thicker sway bar in the rear or a set good shocks/springs?
What eliminates fishtailing is: avoid over-correcting for your original skid. What eliminates original skids is not driving too fast for your unbalanced car.
What eliminates all this on the road is for you to avoid "really pushing it". Especially when you are "hyped up". That's irresponsible and dangerous. Please leave instructions so your surviving family members will be able to come on here and tell us the date, time, and location of your funeral.
11-26-2007, 09:41 PM
#20
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location:
Posts: 1,699
RE: Fishtailing... what will get rid of it?
I'm just a newb and don't know squat so don't take this the wrong way, but with a rear wheel drive car, the front 'should' always feel fine if you're getting some fish tailing. I think taking it a little easy on the pedal will solve all of your problems.