NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #23/NN_1992_23.iso/spool/rec/autos/tech/13774

Internet Message Format | 1992-10-09 | 2.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!know!hri.com!ukma!darwin.sura.net!convex!news.utdallas.edu!corpgate!crchh327!crchh435!ericy
From:  (Eric Youngblood)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Calling F-body Suspension experts
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:53:50 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (News on crchh327)
Reply-To: Peon w/o Email priv (Eric Youngblood)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Richardson, Tx
Lines: 49
Nntp-Posting-Host: crchh435

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mark R Poulson) writes:
|> In article <[e-mail]>,  (Eric Youngblood) writes:
|> > I am looking for anyone who knows how to tune 69-81 firebird/camaro
|> > suspensions. The problem I am having is during the first 60 feet of
|> > acceleration.  The right rear tire breaks loose while the left rear
|> > does not.  I understand that the torque from the engine loads down
|> > the left rear wheel and unloads the right wheel reducing its grip.
|>
|> A very common problem. The things to do would be:
|>
|>     Remove the rear antisway bar (very important).
|>     Relocate the battery to the right side of the trunk.
|>     Use stickier tires.
|>     Get a positraction rear axle.
|>     Install traction bars or ladder bars.
|>     Use drag racing type shocks on the front end (not for street cars).
|>
|> Using weight jacking techniques will help (or just put a sandbag in the
|> right side of the trunk), but this is masking the problem. It will also screw
|> up your cornering balance unless you always remember to undo the weight
|> jacking for street driving. I guess this kind of applies to my first
|> suggestion too -- removing the rear antisway bar will allow a lot more body
|> roll and it will seem like the back end is floating all over if you corner
|> hard on the street, but the live axle isn't too badly affected by body roll.
|> Using a trans-am WS6 or larger FRONT bar will help to compensate.
|>
|>         Mark
|>

This has got me thinking... (scary, isnt it? :^))

1. A RWD solid axle vehicle torques the rear axle, thus loading the left wheel
   and unloading the right wheel.

2. The driver sits on the left side. (adding 150-200 lbs to left side suspension)
   Estimate 70% left & 30% on the right side. --> ~115 lbs more on left side.

3. The battery sits on the left side (This particular fbody anyway, 40lbs?)

Seems to me that my vehicle is already weight biased on the left side. Adding
items 2 & 3 above thats about 155 lbs before touching the gas!

Hmmmm ......
Doesnt look too good.

Any suggestions?

$0.02
Ericy