Corner weighting the car
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Location: Earth
Not sure what exactly is done but I know the car is weighed & adjusted with scales under each tire, the driver's (your) weight is taken into account and since I paid a professional to have it done, it does make a difference in the handling.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 122
From: Lighthouse Point FL
With a coilover set up it is pretty straight forward. As said above, you sit in the car, set the fluids where you want (full,1/2, 1/4 tank of gas) and put the scales under each wheel. Adjust each coilover spring pre-load until each scale indicates the same weight, side to side.
I suppose you could do something similar with the "lowering bolts" at each corner of the vette.
I suppose you could do something similar with the "lowering bolts" at each corner of the vette.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Corner weighting is done for extreme performance road cars. the goal is equal weight on each corner of the car. On the 'Vette this is done by adjusting the height at each corner since the weight transfer is diagonal(lowering the left front removes weight from the right rear). With the production parts and assembly variations you could end up with a major L to R AND F to R height variation. Definitely not for the show and shine guys.
If you have your car measured for corner weight you will be surprised at the percentages Front to Rear and Left to Right. I had my car measured when I had the alignment done 6-'05.
LF = 901 RF = 914
LR = 819 RR = 784
53% Front, 47% rear; 1/4 tank of gas,my 170# and some tools and manuals in the car.
If you have your car measured for corner weight you will be surprised at the percentages Front to Rear and Left to Right. I had my car measured when I had the alignment done 6-'05.
LF = 901 RF = 914
LR = 819 RR = 784
53% Front, 47% rear; 1/4 tank of gas,my 170# and some tools and manuals in the car.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
If there is any "load" on the sway bar before or after the height adjustment you will have to either adjust the end links and/or buy and install different length end links. If the sway bar is loaded with the car at rest it affects the corner weight.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
At any time removing wt from the front left side and putting balest in the right rear or on the passanger side floor next to the tunnel helps balance the car out.
For street use, is it really necessary?? I dont think so, but if you happen to run into someone who has the scales and can do alignments, and you are more currious, then go for it.
For racing or track time, it is a must. The cars just corner much quicker when a corner balance is done.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor MI
Hold on here . . . the goal is NOT to get to same weight on each corner of the car. This is nearly impossibly unless the car is perfectly balanced by design.
The goal of corner-weighting is to get the CROSS weights equal, i.e., (LF+RR) = (RF+LR).
Here's an article that explains it in more detail.
http://www.grmotorsports.com/news/01...er-weights.php
For a street car it's overkill, but on the track it makes for much more consistent handling in right turns vs. left. Worth the effort/cost for sure.
The goal of corner-weighting is to get the CROSS weights equal, i.e., (LF+RR) = (RF+LR).
Here's an article that explains it in more detail.
http://www.grmotorsports.com/news/01...er-weights.php
For a street car it's overkill, but on the track it makes for much more consistent handling in right turns vs. left. Worth the effort/cost for sure.