Go Kart Chassis Tuning for Dirt Oval Racing



Posted: Saturday, July 14, 2007

by
Smokin Joe Racing

This is a basic guide on some of the changes you can make at the track to try and dial in your chassis. All of these changes should be used only after you have your basic set-up which includes setting toe end, stagger, camber and weight percentages. These basic set-up adjustments should be done at home during the week. Your chassis manufacturer should provide you with a set-up starting point. In time this starting point may change according to what works best for your driving style, different tracks and different track conditions.

If Loose on Entry

  • Reduce air in RR
  • Change to a smaller LF
  • Change to a harder RF
  • Decrease LF camber
  • Add cross weight
  • Decrease front weight
  • Decrease rear stagger

    If Loose on Exit

  • Increase RF camber
  • Change to a softer tire on LR
  • Move LR in
  • Increase cross weight
  • Decrease rear stagger

    If Chassis Pushes on Entry

  • Change to a softer RF tire
  • Change to a larger LF
  • Increase rear stagger
  • Lower RF air pressure
  • Increase LF camber
  • Move LR out

    If Chassis Pushes on Exit

  • Decrease RF camber
  • Reduce cross weight
  • Move LR out
  • Chage to a harder tire on LR
  • Increase rear stagger
  • Reduce front stagger
  • Increase front weight

    If Chassis is Binding

  • Increase front and rear stagger
  • Change to harder tires.
  • Raise air pressure
  • Decrease cross weight
  • Increase rear weight
  • Move RR out

    4 Wheel Drift

  • Lower air pressures
  • Move RR in
  • Change to softer tires
  • Decrease left weight
  • Raise VCG (raise seat)

    There are many handy tools and gauges made to help racers with set-up of their racing go kart chassis. Most of these, such as Longacre Caster/Camber Gauges, Longacre Computerscales, Accutoe Pro Laser Toe Gauge, Longacre Air Gauges, Longacre Durometer and Tire Stagger tape measures are available at most kart shops, including my own: www.smokinjoeracing.com

    • This Article has been viewed 6,766 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
    Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
    » left by chris w.
    from williamsburg indana     3 years 220 days ago.
    iam just starting karting & found these tips very helpfull thank you
    We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.