Offset weight dist.

[W racing]

In the picture we see in orange the standard COM for a car (3 wheels)

The red lines are lines of instability.

If your car balances on one of these lines the nose will have zero weight on it. or, in the case of the diagonal line, the car will ride on two wheels... (the two wheels connected by the line)

The weight on each side of the car is equal.
So the side with the DFW (Dominant Front Wheel)has less weight on the rear wheel.

In fact if the DFW has 0.6 ounces on it then the Left Rear Wheel has 2.5 ounces and the right rear wheel has 1.9 ounces on it.

2.5=0.6 + 1.9

The thought of offsetting the weight towards the DFW is to equal out the load on the rear wheel bores creating an eqaual Cofecient of friction on each bore....

Some have had sucess with this. Most have not.

 

[SoGone]

 

[Flamethrower]

how are you measuring the weight on each wheel?

 

[SoGone]

Just a guess Flame, But I would say 3 pocket scales. W you can chime in to clarify if I'm off base.

 

[W racing]

Three scales work. You could also place say .1 ounce closer to the DFW side. In the rear of the car. You would not want to add weight to the front of a car...

Or you can design the car with a spreadsheet to make the weights balance.

 

[Stealthscan]

I know we like our cars to look symmetrical and sexy, but...
Could a guy place the car on scales and (using one chunk) float the tungsten around the car body surface until the weight was balanced for peak performance then tack it there? I understand we typically design and build the car around the weight, and this could still be the process with a bit of modification.

 

[Cam-Car]

I have done some testing with moving more weight to the DFW side, but for me, it hasn't made any difference.

 

[Guest]

I have done some testing with moving more weight to the DFW side, but for me, it hasn't made any difference.

Cam Car I feel the same way as you! I remember DaPine made a post a couple years ago.............those back wheels don't know what that weight its doing back there, so why offset it? LOL

 

[MWDracing]

I still offset weight (OCD), but I don't think it helps the speed any or much.

MWD

 

[5KidsRacing]

If you move a little weight around during testing you can usually pick up some speed and/or stability, but I haven't found that offsetting the weight in a certain pattern gives you speed. Every car is a little different.

 

[MackayDesign]

Lot of action

 

[OPARENNEN]

I agree. I did the same thing as 5K on my unlimited. I gained time on both, but the weight pattern on each is entirely different. Maybe it was because of the body shapes, which are very different.

If you move a little weight around during testing you can usually pick up some speed and/or stability, but I haven't found that offsetting the weight in a certain pattern gives you speed. Every car is a little different.

 

[~JBD RACING~]

I have some cars that are offset... and some that are not. I have 3 scale.that I weigh each wheel. Each car is different. I think if u run more steer the the offset isn't needed as much...less steer may need more...far as speed really havent seen slot but moving weight around u wheel find speed

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Aren't you already offsetting the weight by tuning your DFW to steer in to run on the rail? If your left rear wheel carries a heavier load than your right rear wheel, but tune the car to run towards the heavier side, wont this balance it out?

 

[Old Geeezer]

The weight stays the same on your DFW no matter how much steer you put into the car. You can prove this out by adjusting DFW for say 7 inches of steer then weighing the car with a scale on each wheel then set steer for 2 or 3 inches of steer and weigh the car again, it will not change. The opposit is true if you move the weight around as it will affect the steer of the DFW. I think most of the time moving the weight around just helps to fine tune the steer closer than you can adjust it by turning you DFW axle.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

I wasn't really referring the tuning of the dfw like it would change the weight. I was saying by steering, tuning, the dfw to the rail, opposite of the heavier rear wheel, would counter the weight placement in the downward momentum and wouldn't effect anything.

 

[Guest]

I notice on a car that the weight in the rear of the car is shift more on the DFW side. It seems that the car was faster, but had slight wiggles in the rear. Should the weight be placed towards the DFW side.

 

[W racing]

DFW side for sure...

 

[~JBD RACING~]

Tighten ur wheel gaps and add some more steer and it won't wiggle...