If your car starts understeering mid-corner, should I only lift of the gas?

 

If you have to ask, yes. That's all you should do.

 

some people say you should never press the brake while turning..



thats like saying bigger brakes, beefier calipers, ss lines are pointless if running on chinese tires..front wheel lockup.

 

The internet is not going to educate you properly, find a course and an instructor.

 

That's mostly true for FWD as all the power and steering is going through the front wheels. If you are already at the traction limit the brakes will just send you spinning.

 

This is a broad question but generally it's best to remember that all inputs should be gentle, especially at the edge of traction mid corner. Lifting off of the throttle (which you shouldn't be on heavily mid-corner to begin with) will transfer more of the weight back to the front tires which will give you a bit more grip. You can also left foot brake, but you need to know how that works ahead of time, not try to break it out to save you in a bad situation.

 

The best thing to do is to be at the correct speed when entering the corner in the first place. There is another nasty scenario that can happen by simply lifting off the gas and can cause a loss of control. Its called snap over steer or lift over steer. Mostly common in mid engine mount vehicles, like MR2s, but I do know our Tibs are prone to it as well.



187sks said it perfectly: all input adjustments should be gentle when your car is at its traction limits.

 

This guy tried lifting mid corner the last time I was at Pacific Raceways:

 

^- AWDs CAN DO DAT!?



I thought it was funny when the media was all over toyota trying to find ways to bash it. They showed the sequoia (I can't find the video now) going into a turn under heavy throttle and lifting right at the apex. The arse end kicked out a bit and they made a pretty big deal. Look at it.. trying to spin! Its crazy.. death trap! Not advocating for SUVs but really... if it is doing that crap on normal turns or what you should be doing with them ok... jeez.





I don't always lose control, but when I do. I abruptly lift off the gas and slam on the brakes.

 

Yeah, not as much excuse for it in the Evo, but it can still happen.



I'm the 4th car gladly in front of the drama



Screencap above was from this video:

In car at Pacific Raceways with Evo spin aftermath

I was running a glasspack and a turndown off of the header collector. Loud, sounded HORRIBLE inside the car but sounded pretty good from outside. I have a full 2-1/4" mandrel bent system now which is less loud and sounds better inside and out.



A little more video of my laps in case someone cares lol.

More Pacific Raceways