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From: hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: skidpad numbers: Vette vs Porsche
Message-ID: <330025@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Mar-85 02:15:00 EST
Article-I.D.: acf4.330025
Posted: Thu Mar 21 02:15:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Mar-85 03:07:21 EST
References: <293@oblio.UUCP>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 20

Bump Steer and the Corvette

Bump steer, at least on the old Vettes, is indeed pretty bad.  But bump
steer is not really a handling problem fundamental to a car's design.  
Rather, it is one of those variables which may be programmed into the
car's existing suspension, much the same as spring stiffness.

Bump steer is caused by
the relation of the tie rods to the A-arms.  If the tie rods travel
with the suspension, there is little bump steer.  If suspension travel also
affect tie rod geometry, then steering will be altered by the suspension
travel.  The trick to fix this is to relocate the end links of the tie
rods so that suspension travel will not affect steering geometry.  For the
Vette, this means lowering the rods a couple of inches, or picking up
a link from Dick Guldstrand Engineering for about 30 bucks.

Why did GM program bump steer into the Vette suspension?  They figured the 
car would handle more "safely."

(signed) Speed Racer