Cornering balance

[bmw325i]

Have you ever noticed that when we run our buggies on tarmac and high grip tires there is a huge imbalance related to the lateral weight tranfer? In other words, right hand cornering is tighter than left hand or vice versa.

I have thought that It might be the side exhaust that spits oil on to the rear tire, hence losing grip on one side only.

On the other hand I am thinking that the static Centre of gravity might not be centered.

What do you think guys? Have you ever placed your buggy in corner weight scales to see its weight distribution - or what are your thoughts about it?

[HumboldtBlazer]

Traction roll, very common on high grip surfaces, check your shocks as the weight on most buggies is VERY even the only varible being how much fuel is in the tank at any given time. My MBX-5 corners left the same way it corners right. Check your steering endpoints on your TX, check camber, toe-in, and toe-out to make sure they are the same on the left side as they are on the right side. Also check your sway bars to make sire they are set the same on both sides. Also check all shocks to make sure the fluid level is the same and that they rebound at the same rate.

[Maskale]

if you were to divid your chassis and side guards into 4 parts LF RF LR RR on the LF you have the fuel tank, and the weight changes with fuel level; and the front part of the exaust. On the RF you have steering servo and maybe half of the throttle servo, LR you have engine and back part of exaust. RR you have half of the throtle servo , radio gear and hump pack. So to me it seems that the whole left side is heavier, plus the muffler is all the way to the left over the side guard were as the right side has nothing. Hope that made sense. So IMO the left is heavier.

[CorradoPsi]

Originally Posted by Maskale

if you were to divid your chassis and side guards into 4 parts LF RF LR RR on the LF you have the fuel tank, and the weight changes with fuel level; and the front part of the exaust. On the RF you have steering servo and maybe half of the throttle servo, LR you have engine and back part of exaust. RR you have half of the throtle servo , radio gear and hump pack. So to me it seems that the whole left side is heavier, plus the muffler is all the way to the left over the side guard were as the right side has nothing. Hope that made sense. So IMO the left is heavier.

so set up 2 golf tee's and balance your car on it to prove your point. take a picture of it, one with the tank full, the other with the tank empty. consider it a learning experience.

[niggle]

Static weight distribution is only half the story but corner weights are a good guide as to how you should set your spring platforms.

By increasing shock spring pre-load at the left rear-corner and reducing the pre-load at the front right corner you can encourage weight to transfer away from the heavily loaded left-rear corner under braking and cornering.

This is best done by throwing away the pre-load spacers and instead using two adjusting rings per shock. Lock the adjusting rings together to stop them slipping.

[WA2FAST]

Either way, I agree with Maskale, they can't be 100% even across the board, there are way too many factors that come into play... and the fact that the heaviest two pieces are over the same corner as well as the muffler hanging way further out than anything else. A nitro engine, header, exhaust, and motor mount being all on the left rear (not all of it is over the rear half I understand, but damn near all of it) does NOT get balanced out by the carbon fiber servo tray and 2 servos... no, 1 servo... the throttle servo still is in the back.

I understand that the weight is closely balanced, but it is by no means even... and depending on what materials your buggy is made out of, what buggy you have, what engine and so on, they are all different anyway.

I would think that the exhaust could coat the rear wheel some and I could totally see how that would affect traction on that tire. I know that the rear left tire was the only tarmac tire that came unglued and it was all nasty from debris building up from all of the exhaust... so I am willing to bet it has at least some affect on it. Suspension setup is the most important here though for sure. As long as your front toe, rear toe, caster angle, EPA's, and steering geometry are setup exactly the same... you should be able to control any imbalances through tuning the suspension. I still think that the exhaust even with a deflector gets on that rear tire... actually I know it does, but I am not sure just how much it affects it... it surely has to at least a little.

[Maskale]

Originally Posted by CorradoPsi

so set up 2 golf tee's and balance your car on it to prove your point. take a picture of it, one with the tank full, the other with the tank empty. consider it a learning experience.

Hey i dont golf so would Ti screws work for you.

[Maskale]

Check the slide show 5 pics. in all.

[HumboldtBlazer]

Maskale, you seem to already be using that brand new Jammin pipe with the re-inforced stinger. That's awesome, but from what I know that just came out. Yours looks quite used. Were you testing for them or are they available where you are at.

[robriguez]

seems like YOUR buggy def is a tiny little bit heavier on the left side based on those picks. Or did you put a weight on the left to prove your point. lol

[Maskale]

Yes I did weight it down with a 21 engine, exaust and half a tank of fuel, anyone out there can go balance their buggy on two 3mm screws and see what happens.



HumboldtBlazer I have had that pipe for a good 2 months, but dont know how long it was out before that.

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally Posted by Maskale

HumboldtBlazer I have had that pipe for a good 2 months, but dont know how long it was out before that.

where did you buy it? From the LHS? If so who and where are they if you don't mind me asking as I want to order one.

[WA2FAST]

HAHA! That is hilarious! You crack me up... went through all of that just to make the point that you (we) were trying to make all along. Good work man.

[CorradoPsi]

Originally Posted by Maskale

Hey i dont golf so would Ti screws work for you.

hehe yeah that would work. i have some Ti 1/4-20's here with matching nuts if you need to borrow some. but yeah i agree its an unbalanced design. one of the faults with a shaft drive layout. maybe manufactures should look into putting the tank on the other side of the cars. anyway, at least i can balance my super nitro rs4 on golf tee's. haha.

[uDi_MP7.5]

I think someone just has their radio/steering linkages set to give more steering throw one way than the other....

i've never noticed any issues with mine, and I drive onroad a fair bit. If what you want is onroad perfection, just buy an onroad dude. These things are meant to be raced on a dirt track, and do surprisingly well in many other areas considering that.

those are my thoughts on it.
-uDi