Go Kart Chassis Tuning for Dirt Oval Racing

This is a basic guide to some of the changes you can make on the track to try and mark on your chassis. All of these changes should be used only after you have your basic settings, which includes setting the tip, stagger, sag, and weight percentages. These basic configuration adjustments should be made at home during the week. Your chassis manufacturer should provide you with a starting point for setup. Over time, this starting point may change depending on what works best for your riding style, different tracks, and different track conditions.

If it is loose when entering

1.Reduce the air in the bathroom

2.Switch to a smaller LF

3.Switch to a harder RF

4.Decrease the curvature of LF

5.Add cross weight

6.Lower front weight

7.Decrease back stepping

If it is loose when leaving

1.Increase RF sag

2.Switch to a softer tire on LR

3. Move LR in

4. Increase cross weight

5.Decrease back stepping

If the chassis pushes the inlet

1.Switch to a softer RF tire

2. Change to a larger LF

3. Increase the back stepping

4. Lower RF air pressure

5. Increase the curvature of LF

6.Move LR out

If the chassis pushes out

1. Decrease RF curvature

2. Reduce cross weight

3. Move LR out

4. Change to a harder tire on LR

5. Increase rear stepping

6. Reduce front stagger

7. Increase front weight

If the chassis is binding

1. Increase front and rear stepping

2. Change to harder tires

3. Increase the air pressure

4. Reduce cross weight

5. Increase rear weight

6. Move RR out

4 wheel drift

1. Lower air pressures

2. Move RR in

3. Change to softer tires

4. Reduce the left weight

5. Raise VCG (raise seat)

There are many useful tools and gauges made to assist racers with setting up their racing 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, are available from most go-kart shops including mine: http: // smokinjoeracing.com