Cornering Weight Transfer from Side to Side

21st February 2005

Allot has been said about strong spring rate for suspension, but very little discuss over weight transfer during a turn.

Too strong a spring rate normally leads to very very little body roll, which allot of people like. But it is suspected that these cars may have issues sticking to the line without steering assistance. This is because when the car exhibit too little roll, it is unable to put more weight to the outside curb and hence unable to put extra weight on the outside wheel to increase outside grip. Which is somewhat useful. A little of everything helps. Can't have something too much and something too little.

i.e. human standing in train. Notice when the train turns, we lean our body INTO the turn, up to the point where our inner leg is completely lifted from the floor and not supporting our weight at all. We also feel the extra pressure put onto our outer leg.

This is natural and this is good.

So, with high spring rate, when it turns, it forces the inner wheels to ..... not rest like human legs - causes big problems..... May be I just think too much when I'm in train :)

 

Anyway, another scenario for you to think. Go get a trolley, one of those small type from hardware shop to help carry PC or boxes of A4 papers. Play with it, push around running :)

Then tilt the trolley one side - i.e. running on two wheels - both left side. Go straight, notice the trolley does not want to go straight. It wants to go left. Or was it right? I forgot but definitely not straight.

If I remember correctly, it is fighting against the direction of the BANKing menuveur.

So, everyday - when we turn our car right, assuming the inner wheel is slightly lifter, that the outer wheel is actually fighting to turn left instead. That's why tires wear faster in the front.

Anyway, .......

 

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