Unsprung Weight Question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Unsprung Weight Question
BeeJay has just posted a thread indicating that the Wilwoods he installed are 44 lbs lighter than OE calipers.
With no other changes to his setup, how will he feel this lower unsprung weight? Will the ride be smoother due to less inertia at the axle resulting in quicker movement of the wheel or stiffer due to the same spring reacting to a lower weight?
With no other changes to his setup, how will he feel this lower unsprung weight? Will the ride be smoother due to less inertia at the axle resulting in quicker movement of the wheel or stiffer due to the same spring reacting to a lower weight?
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,715
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
Originally Posted by flynhi
BeeJay has just posted a thread indicating that the Wilwoods he installed are 44 lbs lighter than OE calipers.
With no other changes to his setup, how will he feel this lower unsprung weight? Will the ride be smoother due to less inertia at the axle resulting in quicker movement of the wheel or stiffer due to the same spring reacting to a lower weight?
With no other changes to his setup, how will he feel this lower unsprung weight? Will the ride be smoother due to less inertia at the axle resulting in quicker movement of the wheel or stiffer due to the same spring reacting to a lower weight?
i have willwood superlight calipers all round and there is a massive unsprung weight saving there
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
if you spend most of your time driving to the show n' shine and back, lower unsprung weight means nothing.
Better sealing calipers will make your life easier though, so there are benefits for all.
Better sealing calipers will make your life easier though, so there are benefits for all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by flynhi
... how will he feel this lower unsprung weight? Will the ride be smoother ...
Conversely on a dip (or hole) a reduced mass will be accelerated more rapidly downward (by the force of the spring) keeping the tires in better contact with the ground.
Reducing the weight of the wheel/tire/brake disk has this effect also, but, in addition lighter weight wheel/tires/brake disks have less inertia to overcome and can accelerate the car faster.
If you are going to take weight off a car, the reducing the unsprung mass will have the greatest ride improvement effect with reducing the tire/wheel/brake disk gaining the most in performance.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
I have the Aerospace Components front drag brake kit (Van Steel sells those) and it took 56 lbs off the front of the car.
My best 60' time went from 1.531 down to 1.466. I'd guess that this is about a tenth of a second improvement on your 0 - 60 mph acceleration..
My best 60' time went from 1.531 down to 1.466. I'd guess that this is about a tenth of a second improvement on your 0 - 60 mph acceleration..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Thanks, Mapman.
Since the rotor is unsprung, How do I reduce it's weight econimically? Drilling doesn't seem to remove much weight. VBP's alum hub and disk are about the same weight as a GM rotor.
So, what are the options?
Since the rotor is unsprung, How do I reduce it's weight econimically? Drilling doesn't seem to remove much weight. VBP's alum hub and disk are about the same weight as a GM rotor.
So, what are the options?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Originally Posted by mapman
The ride will be smoother. Force equals mass time acceleration. When the wheel/tire is deflected by a bump then the unsprung weight of the tire/wheel/brake/suspension components (mass) is accelerated into the sprung mass of the car. The less the unsprung mass is, the less the force is directed to the car (sprung mass). The less the force, the smoother the ride.
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