jRaskell

iTrader: (1)

Am I correct in reading that a stiffer rear swaybar will push the car towards a tendancy to oversteer (or reduce it's tendancy to understeer)? If this is true, it's indicating that a stiffer rear bar either decreases rear traction and/or increases front traction. If this is correct, can somebody explain how it actually does this? My own intuition tells me that eliminating rear body roll helps maintain good weight distribution which would increase rear traction, so where's my thinking going astray here?

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

Might I suggest a couple of books that help explain chassis dynamics.

Tune to Win is a very good book, written in simple terms that helps understand ALL the dynamics of weight transfer management.

That is what sways do, is tune the weight transfer.

But what I learned from research is that sway bars, springs and shocks, along with the pivot points, all add up to a stiffness factor. When tuning a suspension, ALL that needs to be considered.

One thing in that book the author reiterates (I think it's that book) is that "different" is manytimes equated to "better". Unless data aquisition is very controlled, "better" cannot be verified.

jRaskell

iTrader: (1)

Book is ordered. However, it was listed as 5-7 days to ship. Oh well, it'll be here well before spring.

jRaskell

iTrader: (1)

I also added Drive to Win to my purchase list. Not sure about Engineering to Win though. Any input on that book? I don't plan on custom building any of my own automotive parts anytime in the foreseeable future.

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

Engineer to win is an excellent book as well. It gets a little "in depth", but if you decide to ask, it usually will answer.

jRaskell

iTrader: (1)

Any more book recommendations out there? I got Drive to Win, but Tune to Win has been delayed, estimated delivery date is now Feb 12th to Feb 25th!, and I ordered it on Jan 20th.

Drive to Win is a great read though. Excellent info. I've read through the Vehicle Dynamics chapters 3 times now trying to absorb all the info. Looking forward to Tune to Win (especially since he talks about making chassis changes based on principles covered in Tune to Win, in particular using swaybars, springs, tires to adjust over and under steer conditions, etc)

So, any other good books to read? In particular, here are a few more I've found listed on Amazon.com...

How to Make Your Car Handle by Fred Puhn
Chassis Engineering/Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling by Herb Adams
Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving by Carl Lopez
Sports Car and Competition Driving by Paul Frere, Phil Hill
Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocrossing and Time Trials by Henry A. Watts
Competiton Car Suspension: Design, Construction, Tuning by Allan Staniforth
Bob Bondurant on High Performance Driving by Bob Bondurant, John Blakemore

What are the must haves and must avoids out there?

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

I have both the Puhn and Adams book.

I also have competition driving by Alain Prost.

jRaskell

iTrader: (1)

^ I'll take that as an endorsement of those books.

Thanks Mitch.

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

The Prost book was one I saw at a flea market and picked it up for a buck or so.

It's actually a good read, but is basically what you have in Drive to Win.