[Highrev1]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

So, if weight transfer = an overall reduction in the amount of traction a car can make, wouldn't reducing weight trasfer though stiffer springs, dampers, anti roll bars increase the level of grip a car has? Or would it not increase grip but increase the amount of speed the car can maintain in a corner at that level of grip? i.e. the same number of g's but a higher speed (if that is even possible.)

I'd give you rep to but i cant either.

NO NO Nothing Negative here :) I enjoy this, I have been bored for weeks now.

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"Its a matter of do you stand to gain more by increasing the potential traction of the front end by reducing lateral load transfer with running a soft or no front anti rollbar, Vs what traction you gain by having low suspension frequencys due to low spring rates.

and the answer to that would be, How rough of a Road/Track are you running on and how much static negitive camber can you run. Given that smoother track/streets will allow you to get away with stiffer springs, where rough tracks will require you to run soft springs. and static camber settings will help determin how much chassis roll is acceptible.

So, given a rough road (requireing soft springs) on a car with low amounts of static camber then Yes, you probably will gain more by stabilizing the tires contact patchs by running a stiff front bar. You'll see this alot in the stock Autox classes. Alternatly, in the same instance but with increased static camber, you could afford to run a softer front bar and ultimatly have a higher amount of potential traction because you are reducing the lateral load transfer accross the nose.

its all about comprimise on a FWD setup.

BTW, it doesnt just hurt putting power down. Increasing lateral load transfer actually reduces the potential traction that end of the car can make in any particular part of the turn. It deals with how tires make traction and the non-liniar function of Weight Vs traction. Basically as weight is applied to a tire the amount of traction it creates increases, but at a decreasing rate. This is due to the tire compounds Coefficient of friction decreasing as weight increases. So, given that relationship, as weight is transfered in a turn, the outside tire will have an increase in traction slower then the inside tire will have a decrease in traction. Resulting in an overall reduction in traction.

The nose of these cars will allways be the limiting factor in the amount of traction you can make in a turn, so any thing that can be done to maximize the potential traction should be done."