Is a 50/50 weight balance best

[TCJBOLDIE]

Came across this and thought that it would be of interest to our more tech minded members. There are many other tech articles as well.

http://automotivethinker.com/chassis/stop-and-weight-a-5050-weight-distribution-is-not-optimal/

 

[old-git]

The responses are interesting

 

[obi_waynne]

I quite like the proper 50/50 BMW seem to have it sorted and the Alfa Romeo's with a rear axle diff/gearbox helped achieve this mystical balance.

I don't accept that a true 50/50 weight distribution can be created by tweaking the suspension, you're missing the point of this concept if you think this can be achieved or beneficial.

 

[stamford]

Some ego's in the blog posts, very entertaining!

 

[old-git]

He isn't saying that 50/50 can be achieved by tweaking the suspension, he is saying that good handling can be achieved by proper suspension set up and not by 50/50. BMW's ads are aimed at the general public who haven't got a clue about how a car works. This reminds me of people who think 20/20 vision is perfect vision as they haven't got a clue as to what these numbers mean.

The McLaren F1 is a pretty good handling car, but has a weight distribution of 42/58 front/rear and this was designed as the best handling car in its class. Could Gordon have been so wrong?

 

[old-git]

Just checked and the Elan (as built) had a near as dammit 50/50 split. I think mine is going to be nose heavy due to the use of a ship's anchor as an engine

 

[obi_waynne]

He isn't saying that 50/50 can be achieved by tweaking the suspension, he is saying that good handling can be achieved by proper suspension set up and not by 50/50. BMW's ads are aimed at the general public who haven't got a clue about how a car works. This reminds me of people who think 20/20 vision is perfect vision as they haven't got a clue as to what these numbers mean.

The McLaren F1 is a pretty good handling car, but has a weight distribution of 42/58 front/rear and this was designed as the best handling car in its class. Could Gordon have been so wrong?

Sorry, shoul'd have explained that I was thinking more of the people commenting, most seemed to totally miss the whole point of the article.

 

[obi_waynne]

Just checked and the Elan (as built) had a near as dammit 50/50 split. I think mine is going to be nose heavy due to the use of a ship's anchor as an engine

What even after you've drilled loads of holes in it?

 

[old-git]

What even after you've drilled loads of holes in it?

I have drilled holes at both ends

Just to clarify, the original Elan was 50/50, I have no idea what mine will end up at.

 

[HDi fun]

Achieving 50:50 weight balance by adding mass to the back of the car (as per Alfa) is not the ideal way to do it. As to the merits of 50:50 balance, I can attest to BMWs claims regarding handling.

Now go and drive a Mondeo 2.2 TDCi ST which is arguably nose heavier. Handling? Superb.

There are more exceptions than rules.

 

[herb]

At the end of the day you can have a great handling car whether it be nose heavy 50/50/ distributed.
But all this is irrelevant if the driver can only drive quick in a straight line! Basically every workday atm I'm using some nice A roads and everyday I'm guaranteed to get some sort of more expensive car driving up my backside on the straight bits! But come to a bend I keep a constant speed and for some reason the driver behind in the superior car is nowhere to be seen until the next straight where there he is again up my backside
I'm not trying to make out I'm Colin mcrae but I can drive a standard rover 75 barge more competently than 90% of these idiot driver's in superior cars.

 

[HDi fun]

I've said many times that modern cars have incredibly high limits. Some drivers are outrageously over-cautious on bends, slowing down ridiculously.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

I am constantly surprised when I come across some of my dream cars M3,Porsche,AMG slowing for corners that my hi riding 4x4 sails thru without her indoors grabbing for something to hold onto.

 

[obi_waynne]

I have drilled holes at both ends

Just to clarify, the original Elan was 50/50, I have no idea what mine will end up at.

Probably end up being 25/25 with all that weight you've lost!

 

[old-git]

Probably end up being 25/25 with all that weight you've lost!

 

[T9 man]

I am constantly surprised when I come across some of my dream cars M3,Porsche,AMG slowing for corners that my hi riding 4x4 sails thru without her indoors grabbing for something to hold onto.

I have a huge chuckle at the same thing Rad. I come off a particular motorway to join another and there are cars away into the distance, I don't even have to slow down as I approach the double bends and I have caught them and past them ridiculously easily I can feel their eyes on me as I sail past, you just know they are wondering "where the Dickens did he come from?"

 

[obi_waynne]

Many drivers can only drive quickly in a straight line. When it comes to corners they have no idea how to set the car up, balance the throttle and exit a corner and slow right up.

I do think it's more the driver than the car though but some cars lend themselves to cornering more than others.