Hard to use a few words when several thousand are required.
FWD has more weight at the front of the car than a RWD. Under hard
acceleration the 'weight transfer; from the front to the rear of the car will
reduce traction on a FWD car (which is why they wheel spin so easy at traffic
lights) but increase traction a RWD (because more the effective weight
transfer is to the driven wheels). If you have trouble with that just find a
video clip of a drag racing funny car and you will get the idea.
Most racing cars are RWD unless a specific class specifies FWD (eg a one make
series) and when RWD and FWD race in the same series there are often weight
penalties for the RWD cars to try and even up the advantage the RWD would
normally have.
Although the figures is increasing all the time, there is a limit at which it
is not deemed sensible to have FWD (used to be about 185bhp but must be in
the low 200s now).
Where the surface conditions do not offer good grip (wet, snow, ice, gravel)
the FWD car has the advantage as it is inherently more stable because it is
pulling a weight and any pendulum effect is readily controlled. Under
similiar conditions the RWD is pushing the front and is less stable. [not
absolutely sure this is explained well]
FWD inherently (eg usually all things being equal) understeer. RWD
inherently oversteer. BUT note that in the real world things are not that
clear cut.
Do a wheel spin in a FWD car and the car goes in a dead straight line
irrespective of the relationship of the angle of the car and the steering
input (did this in a Mini at a tee junction and was sufficiently scared not
to do on purpose again). Do a wheel spin in a RWD car and given enough time
and no steering correction the bad end swings round to catch up the front
(with a good a LSD in a powerful spridget you need a lot of lock, nerve
{balls if you are a man}to keep your foot hard down and wait for the car to
straighten out - or fish tail it down the road0.
There are course books with all this stuff in.
Daniel1312
In a message dated 20/09/00 18:09:15 GMT Daylight Time, gottstein@erols.com
writes:
<< Can someone please explain to me the pros and cons of Front Wheel Drive and
Rear Wheel Drive? I still really have no idea. Just really curious.
Thanks,
John Gottstein >>
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