How to get better handling from our Rogue

[Pescakl1]

With all the discussion lately about the H&R drop kit for the Nissan Rogue, I was wondering what we can do to improve the handling of the car.

I really love the car, and I compare it quite often to new comers on the market and still wins me over at the end, but there is one point which always push me to look else where (other than the fact that it doesn't have an hand brake, so make it 2) : When it is slippery outside, wet or snow or ice, the car understeers like a pig! It basically go straight.

I know it is a FWD car and it is high on the ground (CUV), but man oh man, this is not funny to drive a car behaving like that. I have known better (and drove worse too, the rogue is still above average in that field).

So in order to stay in love with this car, I am trying to find a way to improve this characteristic. I am not looking for it to behave like a RWD car (oversteer) but to be more neutral as a good handling FWD car (think VW Golf or a Renault Megane if you want).

Will changing the springs to either H&R or Eibach drop kits springs (Is there an Eibach kit for the Rogue?) help to cure the understeer? If so, will it be significant?

Is there another way to do that, like changing the sway bars and putting bigger ones? Are we talking sway bars or stabilizer bars (technical english on this is not good enough yet, I am learning)?

Any other ways?

Any help/suggestions from anyone, newby like me in this field or gurus, appreciated.

[Leo2005]

I've been looking for stabilizer bar for myself for a looong time. Almost since day 1 I bought the car but still nothing came out even from stillen and even for sentra. That would make a slightly different handling but don't expect too much from it. At least this is something that we can install pretty easily at home.

[philipa_240sx]

Pescakl,

It's hard to get a FWD to oversteer. I've seen lots of guys with FWD cars in my racing days, and the principles to reduce understeer/increase oversteer remain the same:

- Increase rear tire pressure and reduce the fronts. This is simple one to experiment with, but be careful as it quickly becomes a law of diminishing returns if you deviate too far with tire pressures.
- Stiffen the rear sway bar, soften the front.
- Increase front wheel camber.

[Pescakl1]

Philip,

I don't want the car to oversteer, I want it to LESS understeer, getting closer to a neutral behavior, especially when it gets slippery.

I don't like to play with the tire pressures too much, as you will lose feedback from the car with the car rolling over the lower pressure front tires. It is also bad for fuel economy.

I was looking more for stronger/bigger stabilizer bars, but as Leo said (thanks for searching), I cannot find any for the Rogue (even the Cube have aftermarket parts for it).

Are sway bars and stabilizer bars two different parts or two denominations of the same part?

As for the drop kits, EddNogg and SeniorPayne7 (Spelling?), since you got it on your car, do you feel a difference in the handling?

[philipa_240sx]

Philip,

I don't want the car to oversteer, I want it to LESS understeer, getting closer to a neutral behavior, especially when it gets slippery.

You will be pretty hard pressed to get the Rogue to oversteer. It's just the nature of FWD vehicles.

The only FWD vehicles that I have seen 'loose' are race cars with incredibly stiff rear suspensions.

Are sway bars and stabilizer bars two different parts or two denominations of the same part?

They are the same thing.

[Nick 568]

...You will be pretty hard pressed to get the Rogue to oversteer. It's just the nature of FWD vehicles...

Three words: Fast Food Trays :P

[philipa_240sx]

...You will be pretty hard pressed to get the Rogue to oversteer. It's just the nature of FWD vehicles...

Three words: Fast Food Trays :P

I already know about that one...