I recently purchased an HPI RS4 Rally for a good price to use as my "muck around" car with a couple of mates at the local schools in the area. It has been set up for bituman useage,ie on road shocks, slicks etc, but it handles dreadfully. Very very loose in the tail, keeps spinning out with even the most gentle throttle input around even the slightest corners. I've noticed excessive tyre wear on the insides of all four tyres, indicating too much negative camber, which I assume is pronounced by the shorter shocks. Does too much negative camber lead to minimal cornering grip??
Thanks for any advice, comments.
(Tyres are Proline VRage)

Anyone?

I am guessing there is more than just shorter shocks and slick tyres to converting the HPI rally car to a road car. Yes too much neg camber can cause loss of traction, but only really if there is not much chassis roll on the car, ie if there is not much traction and the suspension is stiff and does not have much travel, and perhaps if you are running a low speed motor, 0 degrees camber is usually best. I don't think this is it.

If the car is suddenly hooking around as you back off for corners, but is okay when you keep the throttle on, then your inside rear might be lifting off the ground..... ie there is too much weight transfer to to front of the car when you back off. In this case, I would try really stiffening up the front of the car with heavier springs and oil, and check to see if you have got enough droop (down travel) on the back shocks to keep the tyres in contact with the ground. Also, make sure the front diff is not too loose

If the problem however, is as you are getting on the throttle, I would say soften up the rear shocks, although, as it is a rally car, I can't really see this being the case.

sounds like you are just starting out, I guess. the advice given is good but I think it may confuse you a little. the best thing to do is get down to a track and ask some of the fast guys to give it the once over and set it up. If you want to come down to Castle hill raceway which is not too far from you then we can help you. It's on riday night and for directions go to www.castlehillraceway.com. Ask around for me (or look for a pink car) if you want and I can have a quick look at it and give you some advice on it. Not saying I am fast but i should be able to help you out.

Coxy.

Appreciate the replies guys. Coxy, i've raced stock at Castle Hill a few times in the past. Whilst im not the most experienced, I can get around a car pretty well. I basically "pinched" the camber settings from my trusty Pro 2 & hey presto, hooked up well. The stock shocks provided in the RS4 Rally kit are longer, ie rally spec, so the touring car shorter shocks really through the camber way off. Handles sweet now. I'll seek you out when next at Castle Hill, thinking of a comeback, i forgot how much fun RC is!!