This guide makes it easy to improve kart handling for a typical kart in normal conditions.  Only testing will confirm these recommendations.

Oversteering at corner entry or there is too much front end bite.

• Reduce jacking effect
  • Reduce scrub radius (remove one wheel spacer from both front spindles)
  • Increase rear track width
  • Reduce castor
  • Reduce Ackermann
• Increase rear grip
  • Raise rear tyre pressure by 1 PSI or drop front tyre pressure by 1 PSI
  • Move weight towards rear of the kart
  • Remove 3rd Axle bearing (in low grip conditions)
• Reduce front grip
  • Lower the front of the chassis
  • Reduce toe-out (0-2mm is normal toe-out)
  • Remove or loosen front torsion bar and loosen crash bar

Understeering at corner entry (pushing out)

• Increase jacking effect
  • Increase scrub radius (add one wheel spacer on both front spindles)
  • Increase castor
  • Increase Ackermann
  • Decrease rear track width
• Increase front grip
  • Raise front tyre pressure by 1 PSI or drop rear tyre pressure by 1 PSI
  • Shift weight forward (seat, ballast)
  • Raise the front end of the kart
  • Add or tighten front torsion bar and crash bar
  • Use shorter rear hubs or softer axle
• Increase toe-out (0-2mm is normal toe-out)

Oversteering out of the corner

• Increase rear grip
  • Raise rear tyre pressure by 1 PSI or drop front tyre pressure by 1 PSI
  • Put longer (or shorter) wheel hubs on the axle
  • Add torsion bar or turn torsion bar to vertical position
  • Raise any ballast to a higher vertical position on the rear of the kart
  • Raise the rear ride height
  • Change to a stiffer (or softer) rear axle
  • Add or tighten 4th rail
  • Add seat stays
  • Raise and or move seat back
  • Use a stiffer seat
  • Reduce (or incresase)width of rear track
• Reduce jacking effect
  • Increase width of rear track
• Reduce front grip
  • Remove or loosen front torsion bar

Understeering out of the corner

• Increase front grip
  • Add or tighten front torsion bar and crash bar
  • Move the seat forward
  • Use a softer seat
• Reduce Rear grip
  • Put shorter wheel hubs on the axle.
  • Lower the air pressure in the rear tyres by 1 psi
  • Change to a softer rear axle
  • Lower any ballast to a lower vertical position at the rear of the kart
  • Remove one set of seat struts
  • Lower the rear ride height
  • Loosen Side Pod Bars
• Increase jacking effect
  • Reduce the rear track width

Understeering all the way through the turn

• Increase rear tack width
• Turn rear torsion bar to horizontal position or remove it
• Loosen 4th rail
• Increase front tyre pressure by 1 PSI

Bounce in the rear

• Increase rear tack width
• Lower chassis height
• lower seat height

Too little grip in all four tyres or there is not enough side bite

• Decrease front and rear track width
• Add or tighten 4th rail (normally should be tight)
• Loosen the side pods
• Raise the air pressure in all 4 tires by 1 psi
• Raise (increase outside tyre bite) or lower (if outside tyres not able to cope with friction) centre of gravity

Too much grip in all four tyres (two wheeling around corners)

• Increase width of front and rear track
• Remove or loosen 4th rail
• Lower the the rear of the chassis (normally in highest position)
• Tighten the side pods
• Lower the air pressure in all 4 tires by 1 psi
• Lower (decrease outside tyre bite) or increase (outside tyres not able to handle increased friction) centre of gravity

Lack of top end speed

• Insufficent power
  • Change sprocket
  • Change exhaust flex length
  • Change jetting settings
  • Change spark plug if fouled or select appropriat heat range
  • Check or replace fuel filter(s)
• Friction
  • Check that brake pads are not touching brake disks
  • Check that front the wheel bearings are free spinning (should be able to turn with fingers)
  • Too much toe-in, toe-out or camber
• Increase rear grip
  • Raise rear tyre pressure by 1 PSI