Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Autocross, Rallycross, ProRally, Drag, WRC, F1 etc...

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Post Reply
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

What would be the effect on handling, from the perspective of autocrossing, if weight quickly transferred to the outside rear tire in turns? Would the quick weight transfer help or hurt cornering performance? Obviously, more weight on the outside rear tire might mean less weight on the inside front tire, causing it to lift. Am I correct in assuming this? Imagine the trunk were full of water 3/4 of the way up. The inertial force would cause the water to shift to the right in a left hand turn, putting more weight on the outside rear tire. What effect might this have on handling?
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

Anybody?
free5ty1e
Fifth Gear
Posts: 2266
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:26 am
Location: USA: Portland, OR (Tigard, ~200ft elevation)
Contact:

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by free5ty1e »

Sounds interesting, wish I could answer -- but thinking about what you propose it does sound like it'd be fun to try :)

Would be easier to break the tail end loose, at the very least...
-Chris
91SS 4EAT stock
91SS 5MT awaiting engine rebuild and VF36...
92SS 4EAT - RIP :(
94SS 5MT4.11+rLSD 289k km: RobTune550,TD05-16g @ 18psi,FMIC,3"TBE,Forester lift
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27884
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by Legacy777 »

I guess my one thought would be that having something like that move around to cause more or less weight shift would be unpredictable and may not be too helpful.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

free5ty1e wrote:Sounds interesting, wish I could answer -- but thinking about what you propose it does sound like it'd be fun to try :)

Would be easier to break the tail end loose, at the very least...
This is what I thought the answer might be. In other words, great for drifting if the suspension was set up correctly and the driver was used to it, but probably terrible for autocross.
James614
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1744
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:35 am
Location: Arkansas

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by James614 »

I'm thinking even for drifting, likely bad. The issue is the way you turn now not only has to account for the corner and the tires and the suspension but now a mass that's sliding around independently of the rest of the vehicle. On corners with rapid turn in or a fast change of direction, the weight could trail loading the tires/suspension very inconsistently and make it hard to control.

If it was a lot of long, sweeping corners, then maybe it could help. But you must also consider how much the weight will slow you down and reduce handling response, and compare that against simply setting the rear suspension to be looser.
93 Touring Wagon (EJ20G 5spd Swap) -- Finally back and running strong as ever!

05 Outback 2.5XT 5spd -- Now the wife can have her SUV and get in on the turbo Legacy goodness at the same time.
James614
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1744
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:35 am
Location: Arkansas

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by James614 »

Of course, if you require a similar amount of counterweight to balance the car or meet a minimum weight in the first place, then it becomes a much more interesting proposition.
93 Touring Wagon (EJ20G 5spd Swap) -- Finally back and running strong as ever!

05 Outback 2.5XT 5spd -- Now the wife can have her SUV and get in on the turbo Legacy goodness at the same time.
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

The interesting part about this idea though is that body roll would not (necessarily) be the cause of the weight transfer. The car could possibly remain level throughout the turn, and yet, weight would still transfer to the rear outside corner. I'm sure, however, that the weight transfer would quickly induce oversteer, unless compensated for by suspension setup and/or the drivers skill.
James614
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1744
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:35 am
Location: Arkansas

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by James614 »

Weight transfers to the outside with no body roll anyway, just much less. Having a static weight in the rear will still reault in increased weight transfer to the outside rear tire in corners.
93 Touring Wagon (EJ20G 5spd Swap) -- Finally back and running strong as ever!

05 Outback 2.5XT 5spd -- Now the wife can have her SUV and get in on the turbo Legacy goodness at the same time.
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

James614 wrote: On corners with rapid turn in or a fast change of direction, the weight could trail loading the tires/suspension very inconsistently and make it hard to control.
Inconsistency of suspension load. Good point. All the more to convince me that it's a bad idea. I imagine that anything that upsets the balance of the vehicle is bad for handling especially for a tight course. Thanks
Imprezive
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1428
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:07 am
Location: Northern CA

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by Imprezive »

Have you been reading the manga series of Initial D? I can see how this transfer would be interesting for a drift car to experiment with, but for grip racing it seems like a bad idea. Now I wonder if you could do the opposite; have this mass set in to motion in a direction opposite of weight transfer, time it just right so that it counters the weight transfer progressively mid-corner.
1992 T-Leg = 195whp 197wtq SOLD :(
1988 4Runner RIP
2006 Suzuki DRZ400sm
2007 Miata
1994 Miata
2003 WRX Wagon
2016 Mazda 3
BoneIslandScooby
First Gear
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 6:43 am
Location: Key West, Florida

Re: Hypothetical question about handling dynamics.

Post by BoneIslandScooby »

You would use the same principal as Electric Power Steering except pumping water into a chamber. You would adjust the static LPH rate and the progressive gain based on wheel position to get the right balance. Of course, going opposite lock would then cause it to go the "wrong" direction again, but the point of this system would be to avoid oversteer. Electronic stability control would probably be just as effective, if not more so, and probably add less weight. I think shocks, springs, and anti-sway bars are simple and effective enough. It's interesting for the Bat Car, however. I just like to think out of the box.
Post Reply