Sawblades going backwards?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Swanzey N. H.
Re: Sawblades going backwards? (GDP)
The '84-90 wheels were designed to draw the air in, while the '91-'96 were designed to draw air out. This is straight from one of the engineers.
That's correct.
GM's first idea was to "scoop" air into the wheel well and cool off the brakes, but that had disadvantages with lift.
The second version of the sawblade ('91-'96) was designed to draw air out from behind the wheel. They found this to not only be more effective at cooling the brakes, but it also decreased lift. :auto:
That's correct.
GM's first idea was to "scoop" air into the wheel well and cool off the brakes, but that had disadvantages with lift.
The second version of the sawblade ('91-'96) was designed to draw air out from behind the wheel. They found this to not only be more effective at cooling the brakes, but it also decreased lift. :auto:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,620
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From: MCAA License to Kill
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Sawblades going backwards? (Jimbo93)
So is it a good idea to switch to newer sawblades? Will it be noticeable cooler? And how much lift are we talking?? :confused:
Edit-And I wasn't asking if it was :cool:er. Also, is there a weight difference?
[Modified by JSA 007, 9:41 PM 5/16/2003]
Edit-And I wasn't asking if it was :cool:er. Also, is there a weight difference?
[Modified by JSA 007, 9:41 PM 5/16/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Montreal Que
Re: Sawblades going backwards? (CanadaVette)
If you mount them backwards you will not cool off your brakes as well as it was designed to do.
If you look at the saw blades they look like little side air fins(Like the ones you see on the side of rear engine cars) that suck the air into the wheels and onto the brakes.
If you look at the saw blades they look like little side air fins(Like the ones you see on the side of rear engine cars) that suck the air into the wheels and onto the brakes.
They are designed with a turbine effect so if you turn them around they will only push some air in, alot less then what they would pull out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
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Re: Sawblades going backwards? (CanadaVette)
The lift is a factor for track use, and it's one reason the CC teams reversed the wheels. When they did, brake temps went down. Those results may well have prompted GM engineers to reverse the flow on later production vettes. For normal driving, lift wouldn't be a factor.
As for the street use, the problems I've seen or heard of had to do with having the Gatorbacks mounted backwards, either on the wheel itself or on the car. That caused some handling issues and, allegedly, some accidents. Other than Mr. Mojo's post, I've never heard of cooling problems, and while I'm glad the problem went away afterward, I'm not sure the reversal was the actual solution.
Back then, few cars had any induced airflow in that area whatsoever and were typically packaged more tightly around less-ventilated wheels and lower-performance brakes without problems ensuing.
As for the street use, the problems I've seen or heard of had to do with having the Gatorbacks mounted backwards, either on the wheel itself or on the car. That caused some handling issues and, allegedly, some accidents. Other than Mr. Mojo's post, I've never heard of cooling problems, and while I'm glad the problem went away afterward, I'm not sure the reversal was the actual solution.
Back then, few cars had any induced airflow in that area whatsoever and were typically packaged more tightly around less-ventilated wheels and lower-performance brakes without problems ensuing.
