b'TECH TIP PAGE Tech Tip 12A: The concept of rear steer is normally associatedwith IRS. But every linkage style suspension with a straight axle rear end is capable of rear steer. In fact, if it has been ignored, many race cars with linkage suspensions have some form of rearsteer, if the lower links have not been leveled to the ground.What is rear steer in a straight axle?It is when the car chassis/body rolls & thatroll causes the lower links (or other so named suspension components) to pushone side of the rear axle rearward and one forward. This only happens if the lower links are not level. If the lower links run uphill going forward, like the example above, as the race car turns left & the chassis rolls to the right, the left side of the chassis picks the front of the lower link up more, shortening it relative to the rear axle centerline, pulling the left wheel forward. The opposite is happening on the right, lengthening it relative to the axle centerline, pushing the right wheel back, similar to the illustration on the left. This skews the axle & wheels relative to chassis centerline & Rear Steers.Racers have used positive rear steer & counter rear steer for years as a tuning tool. But there is no free lunch.Heres the basics. If the lower link pivot points are level to the ground, the chassis roll does not cause rear steer. If the front chassis link pivot is higher than the axle pivot, as in the example above, we end up with some degree of positive rear steer. This helps the car turn better in the corner, but reduces rear tire grip on acceleration. If the front chassis link pivot is lower than the axle pivot, we end up with some degree of counter rear steer. This increases rear tire grip on acceleration, but hinders (tightens) the car turning in the corner.Dues to the negative side effects, Ron Sutton does not usually utilize any rear steer. He prefers to make the car turn & accelerate well without this band aid. So, at RSRT we utilize slotted front chassis brackets to run the lower links perfectly level.Tech Tip 12B: There are rare exceptions when Ron Sutton will use either positive rear steer or counter rear steer to achieve a goal. One is if the car is super low power, like Formula Fords that weigh 900# & make about 110HP. They are so low powered they dont need a posi or locker & dont want the added friction. This was a situation where Ron has used positive rear steer (with an IRS) to get the car to turn better. No down side.An opposite example is when Ron worked out a unique setup for Tom Whalens C5 Corvette. He wanted to win the Silver State &Big Bend Unlimited Class with only 700HP LS & NO AERO.He had crashed & totaled a C5 at 180mph trying this & almost killed himself. Ron designed a setup with counter rear steer, so that as Tom drove the corners at160-180mph, the chassis rolled 1.5 & the C5 rear counter rear steered 3/16 toward the inside of the corner, creating plenty rear grip. Tom Whalen won the Silver State Unlimited Class once in 2016 & the Big Bend Unlimited Class twice in 2016 & 2018, with this setup.66'