BODY ROLL, What to do Options

[wjpierce]

Hello 914World.
I recently purchased a '74 914 racer and had it on track at Buttonwillow raceway last weekend. There were issues in that the car was last raced in 2014 but these were overcome.

Here is the major problem with the car. Body roll. Transitioning from a right to left turn requires neutralizing the car mid cormer and then allowing it to set. If that isn't done, the car wants to break loose when it sets into the next turn. I don't have a rear sway bar on the car and that is the first order of business but it seems impossible to me that a sway bar could overcome this much roll by itself.

I was thinking of trying coilover shocks to help with this. This might also allow us to corner weight the car.

What are your thoughts on this. Any other strategies that have worked for others with 914 racers?

I appreciate your input. Bill Pierce

[stownsen914]

From what you describe, it sounds like something is loose somewhere. Or you have a deteriorating bushing somewhere in your suspension - could be rubber or poly, I've seen both wear out / break apart. Many times the "taking a set" and wanting to break loose is the result of having to take up slack from looseness. It's called snap oversteer when this happens. It can be scary to drive a car that has this issue. A few things to look at - you can jack the car to get each corner off the ground and give the wheel or suspension a good shake as a first test.
Worn bushings on swaybar droplinks (or something loose)
Side to side slack in front swaybar (make sure the droplinks are pressed up against the bushings, or even better have a clamp on the car just inboard of where the bushings mount to the body)
Worn bushings in front suspension (or something loose)
Worn bushings in rear suspension (or something loose)

Another possibility is the car is set up too stiff in the rear, springs and/or swaybar, or alignment is way off, causing the car to oversteer. It's different than what I describe above, but can feel similar - the rear will feel "loose." Tell us about your suspension setup, including torsion bar and swaybar sizes, shocks, and rear spring rates. Those things tell much of the story. Also alignment specs.