I'm just a little confused on how handling works in a front wheel drive car. I know how rear and 4WD drive works, mainly from the gran turismo games, but I never bought any FF cars on there, nor have I ever really tried anything with my car. Nor do I want to just yet. I intend to plan everything out with my car before making any purchases (it's still completely stock), or at least have what seems like a reasonable, plausible plan, before resorting to trial and error.

With that said I'll get right into it. Right now I've brought two things into question: 1) engine swaps, and 2) suspension (set up for autocrossing). Basically, relating to engine swaps, I want to know how adding weight to the front end of a front wheel drive car will affect a cars handling. As for suspension... It seems to me that one would want the rear tires to gain as little download as possible, and the front to gain as much as possible. Right? But I see so many people getting front strut bars and other things that would tighten front wheel body roll. That seems like it'd be good for the rear, but not for the front.

Any clarity on these issues would be appreciated.

 

well if you're on a super budget the first thing you wanna do is put stiffer springs on the back. hondas are set up for understeer (or plowing, front wheels loose traction instead of rear) as opposed to oversteer (***-sliding) because generally speaking people can get control of understear more easilly. they do this by having stiffer springs in the front. so your first thing to do is to get stiffer springs in the back. i know a LOT of professional honda tuners/autoxers use up to 500-600 pound springs in the back (on a 2500 pound car...it seems a little extreme but it works) with lighter, sometimes even stock springs in the front. if you can afford more than just springs, you can get either a good shock/spring setup or a good set of coil overs. if you drop your car more than 1.5 inches you will probably need a camber kit. some good wheels (16x7 or 7.5ish). strut bars would be next. after that stuff gets a little more complex.

after each change to the suspension you will want to get an alignment job or you will wear the hell out of your tires.