Ultimate RC Setup Troubleshooting Guide

September 27, 2021

How to fix understeer (push), oversteer (loose), and other common handling problems for both on-road and off-road RC cars.

Tips for using this guide:

Start at the top: We have grouped our recommendations by impact, so you can usually pick things to try from the top of the list first, and work your way down. That said, every car is different, so some cars will react differently to some changes.
Do your own testing: This guide is generally correct, but racing is a complicated thing, and factors like weather, grip level, surface, tires, and suspension can combine to do unpredictable things, especially when you consider differences between on-road and off-road racing. So, while these recommendations will be correct for most cars most of the time, there will be situations where they just don't work, which, again, is why you need to do your own testing, one setting at a time, to see what works for your situation.
You have options! One of our goals here was to present you with many options to address any handling problem. Sometimes some of the solutions won't be possible due to your car's current setup or you may not have the parts on hand for it, so we present many options so you can choose whatever works best for your situation.
One change at a time! You won't be able to determine the true impact of a change if you make several all at once. The only way to truly learn how your car reacts in a given situation is to make one change, record it, and record the results. As it happens, the So Dialed App is ideal for both tracking your changes and recording their impacts!
Check your baseline: Before jumping into the solutions found here, determine if your car has any settings that are dramatically different from the kit setup. If they are, those settings may be the cause of your handling issues, as kit setups are generally pretty neutral. Make sure your car's settings are fairly "normal" before using this guide. (For example, if you're running 10 degrees of front toe-in, set that back to the kit default first.)
Ask around: Folks at your track may already have solved the problem, and racers are generally happy to share knowledge, so feel free to ask!
Make sure it's relevant! Some solutions listed here only apply to certain car types (e.g. pan cars, off-road, etc.). They are clearly marked, but make sure you don't miss those details.
See a mistake? Let us know!