Gary Z

Chassis setup usually requires four-wheel scales. Such scales are expensive and not commonly available. It should be possible to equalize weight on the rear wheels by using some sort of jury-rigged beam balance instead of scales. I'm thinking about a teeter-totter made of steel channel under the rear wheels. Level the car and balance the rear by adjusting the front springs. Any desired bias could be reached by adding temporary weight and re-balancing. Is this idea too goofy? Suggestions or comments, supportive or derisive, appreciated.

mad_steve

iTrader: (2)

Man, that sounds like a lot more BS than necessary. Do you have any dirt track racers in your area? Those guys usually have scales, or know someone that does. I would say that would be your best bet, rather than trying to "engineer" a set of scales.

Gary Z

There is no decent dirt track culture here. I'm all alone in Priusland.

03 BUSA

iTrader: (25)

I would try craigslist in different areas and get them a ton cheaper than new.

mad_steve

iTrader: (2)

I think either Jegs or Summit has some decent scales for a pretty good price. They won't be the greatest in the world, but will get the job done. I had a customer buy a set recently and they worked just fine for him.

mad_steve

iTrader: (2)

x2 might try ebay or Amazon.com as well.

joblo1978

iTrader: (14)

I've seen some used in excellent condition going for about 800 recently.

You can pay a shop to do it, possibly local. Believe it or not, Pikes Peak Acura in my area has everything to tune racecars including scales.

Gary Z

Thanks for the suggestions but I have no intention of buying scales. I just want equal loading on my rears with me in the driver's seat. I have adjustable front springs. My bad idea was inspired by comments MADMAN made in a nearby thread. Another way of expressing my idea is that scales are needed if you want determine absolute weight. I only want to determine relative weight, therefore a beam balance.

fenton06

iTrader: (1)

Pay the money and get it scaled, why reinvent the wheel?

If you REALLY want to cheap out though, get a bathroom scale and make spacers for the other 3 tires so the car is level. May not be perfect, but it would be pretty close.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

Most bathroom scales wont read that high, they usually top out at 350-500 pounds.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

http://www.jegs.com/i/Proform/778/67650/10002/-1?CT=999

$700 new

Gary Z

Simple calculations convinced me that I could make a beam balance from scrap steel that would be accurate to plus or minus five pounds if I could achieve dimensional accuracy of plus or minus 0.125 inch. My estimate ignored friction. Beam Balance accuracy is limited by friction; friction in the balance itself, and, in this case because the front wheels are not free, friction in the front springs and shocks. I like to experiment so I decided to test my idea. The attached pictures show my experiment.

I was surprised to see how well the car balanced on my contraption. By the way, both swaybars must be disconnected. The bad news is that when deflected from equilibrium by weight on one wheel, the car does not return to its original position when the weight is removed. This must be due to sticky friction in the front. I have not concluded that the method can not work but it is clearly not as easy as I guessed. A set of scales may be the way to go.

djfury05

iTrader: (30)

You could always look into airports near your location.. random idea I know, but aircraft always need to know what kind of weight they are carrying, whether it be personnel or cargo.. I can almost guarantee they will have scales like your looking for and you could probably do it for free. Worth a shot in my opinion.

studderin

iTrader: (28)

I dont know about that thing you made. But some locals scale there car with a lever for lower weight good scales, and it works for them. You make 4 of them out of steel angle iron, and use a 1/2 or 1/4 ratio.
I'm sure you can find info on building a setup. I'd find someone that knows what there doing if you have you havn't done it, sometimes it worth the money for that time your gona spend.


kinda like this but they used them off to the side of the car.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/scale-1.jpg

Gary Z

A multiplier for a bathroom scale is a good idea - thanks! Good to know this has worked for others. It doesn't need to be an exact integer multiplier because you could calibrate it. I think this is what I'll try next.

studderin

iTrader: (28)

yup just like a dyno,
you can set the +60 on the PR. ect

also check out circle track guys, if you dosnt have any drag friends. they use scales alot too.

Gary Z

I'm going to make two or four bathroom scale multipliers. I need my own stuff because my car is track-only and I don't have a trailer - no room. I rent a u-haul to go racing. Thanks again for the idea.