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Re: Why new leaf springs may be a waste

To: <mgs@Autox.Team.Net>, "Barney Gaylord" <barneymg@ntsource.com>
Subject: Re: Why new leaf springs may be a waste
From: "Mike Gigante" <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 12:39:47 -0700
Barney,

>>3) LSD
>
>I don't think that Lysergic acid Diethylamide would do much for the car,
>although it could do amazing thing for (or to) the driver.  Somehow I
>suspect you are refering to something else?
>

Indeed, I am referring to a Limited Slip Diff. If you are lifting the inside
rear,
then a clutch-type LSD or even (perish the thought) a detroit locker will at
least allow you to drive out of the corner. Note that the common Quaife LSD
will not work in this situation. Maintaining drive out of the corner also
keeps
the weight on the rear wheels which helps as well. It also means you aren't
suddenly unbalanced as you lose drive.

Again, it may not be allowed (but it was a BMC catalogued item at least for
the spridget).

BTW, you can also just weld up the spider gears in the diff to give yourself
a
permanently locked diff. It is hard on the axles though and causes
understeer
on turn-in.

>>4) stiffer rear shocks (very stiff bump damping before 'blowoff')
>
>I don't think that stiffer shocks would do much for this problem.  Once the
>one tire is in the air it can continue to wheel around on three like that
>until it slows down or completes the turn.  On a smooth pavement there may
>be no motion of the shocks while in this static condition.
>

Aaahh, but it does help. It helps a bit earlier in the process. By
increasing
rear damper stiffness you will get less roll on the transients at turn-in.
It has
no effect on steady-state, but that isn't the issue here. As a result of
reducing
transient-induced roll (i.e. the lurch on turn-in), you may find you no
longer lift
the rear wheel. This works well for me.

Finally, as someone else noted, if you re-arch the new springs to be at
stock
height, how can anyone complain?

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Barney Gaylord <barneymg@ntsource.com>
To: Mike Gigante <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>; mgs@autox.team.net
<mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 1998 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: Why new leaf springs may be a waste


>At 10:05 PM 8/10/98 -0700, Mike Gigante wrote:
>>A couple of things come to mind, but it depends on the rules for your
class.
>>
>>1) lowering blocks
>
>Not allowed in Stock class.
>
>>2) longer droop straps (or remove them altogether)
>
>Not allowed in Stock class, and may result in damage to the lever shocks
>from overextension.
>
>>3) LSD
>
>I don't think that Lysergic acid Diethylamide would do much for the car,
>although it could do amazing thing for (or to) the driver.  Somehow I
>suspect you are refering to something else?
>
>>4) stiffer rear shocks (very stiff bump damping before 'blowoff')
>
>I don't think that stiffer shocks would do much for this problem.  Once the
>one tire is in the air it can continue to wheel around on three like that
>until it slows down or completes the turn.  On a smooth pavement there may
>be no motion of the shocks while in this static condition.
>
>>You could also try removing a leaf to drop the ride height a little. ....
>some or all of the above may not be allowable depending on your class
>rules. ....
>
>Yep.  Any mechanical changes to the car are not allowed in Stock class
>unless specifically mentioned in the rule book, and the exceptions to stock
>are very few.
>
>Barney Gaylord
>1958 MGA with an attitude
>
>>----Original Message-----
>>From: Barney Gaylord <barneymg@ntsource.com>
>>Date: Monday, August 10, 1998 12:48 AM
>>....
>>.... thought it was a good idea to install new leaf springs to regain some
>ground clearance .... when the car returned to the track it had a rather
>dramatic change in personality. So here's the problem.
>>>
>>>.... As the car is approaching the limit of adhesion in hard cornering,
>the body roll gets to the point where the inside rear fender lifts until
>the rebound strap is stretched completely tight.  At that point the rear
>roll stifness suddenly transitions to infinity.  Then with just a little
>more body roll the inside rear wheel gets lifted right off the pavement.
>


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