I'm keen to know what other people have in terms of front rear weight distribution with their VW race cars.

My buggy at the mo is 32/68 (without me in the car). I'm aiming for 40/60.

I talked to a rally driver on the weekend who was driving a 2.4l 911 rally car and was amazed to find out the car has a 45/55 weight split.

Also, what have people done to try and even up bad weight distribution in their cars?

I've just moved my battery forward about a metre. The back of the car is about to go on a big diet and be swiss cheesed. Does anyone have any other good ideas?

Eat more.Put a VW engine in and leave the radiator full of water on the front.

Anything that is made of steel, replace it with alloy. Do you have cast iron brackets for alternators or anything? Anything that is made of alloy replace with plastic. make it all as small as possible. I mounted my intercooler up with 1.2mm aluminium 20mm wide. It moved around a bit, but that doesnt matter. Cut bolts off flush with the face of the nut, anything that protrudes outside the nut is wasted. Reduce the diameter of fasteners where possible. If you can pop rivent something on instead of bolting, all the better. Anything in the rear that doesnt have to be in the rear goes in the front. Mount the fire extinguisher as far forward as possible. What about unsprung weight? What are your calipers made from? Can you get lighter wheels? Be totally anal about everything. And go crazy with holesaws. Go as crazy as you dare.

I just lost 2kg off the back of the car by removing any useless brackets, a reverse light that isn't mandatory and chopping off excess threads. I also drilled some racing holes.

I'm planning a much, much lighter rear engine cage too. Afterall, it's not at all structural except for holding up a few bits of exhaust.

And I bought 2 hole saws the other day. BIG NASTY HOLE SAWS for steel.

Hi Peter

Is your car IRS? If it is try moving the gearbox forward. I was reading about a 1303 race car in the UK on another site, he ended up with a 44/56 split. Try moving everything you can to the front of the car, battery, fuel tank etc.

Steve

Hi Peter,

I'd just see how the car handles first. You can change the handling characteristics with springs, shocks, ride height and weight as you probably know.

Dropping the suspension height at the front will put a bit more weight on the front wheels and also change the handling characteristics.

My car was 39/61 which was apparently close to some competitive Porsche 911s.

Regards

Hi CT,

sort of been there already. I've played with the front adjusters and lowered the car, but what the front end really needs is weight in it. What the back really needs is less weight. It's got to the stage where front bumpstops have become consumables, which is not good for the car or my wallet. And it's really cheats way of fixing the main problem, which is chronic weight distribution.

I'm pleased to hear your car was 39/61. It means my goal figure is on par and attainable.

BTW, here a pic of the 911 rally car I was talking about...

http://www.pbase.com/blacky_rally/image/78821636 

[ Edited on 16-5-07 by pete wood ]

That rally car is just too nice for the dirt. I don't think I've ever seen a Porsche on 8 spoke wheels. He probably couldn't get any cookie cutters or fuchs because the VW nusts have got them all. I'm partially responsible.

What exactly is your car doing or not doing? What are you trying to solve?

understeer.

it's the key issue all buggies have. I could use steering brakes, but I dunno. Kinda seems like cheating to me. I've helped it alot just by moving the radiator and the battery up the front. I've got mild but effective sway bars and the shocks are on the money. I think I could do with fatter torsion bars in the rear, but I'd prefer to fix the weight distribution first. Then I know I'm playing with the best hand rather than shuffling garbage.

Anyway, I've got a motorkhana on saturday. so I'll see how much improvement there is there and hopefully I might even do it some justice by driving properly.