I spent the morning and afternoon corner balancing my R with 2 friends. All scales were properly leveled with shims to ensure a perfecly level measuring surface. It was a tedious process making small adjustments to the ride height at each corner. The most important numbers when doing this is the cross weights from one corner diagonally across to the other corner.

I am very hapy with the results, all weights with half tank of gas:

Total weight without driver: 2,510
Total weight with driver: 2,707

Corner weights with driver
LF: 885 RF: 818
LR: 539 RR: 467

Left-Right balance with driver
L: 1,424 (52.5%)
R: 1,285 (47.4%)

Front-Rear balance with driver
F: 1,703 (63%)
R: 1,006 (37%)

Cross Weights with driver
LR -> RF: 50% (1,357)
RR -> LF: 50% (1,352)


[Modified by Flux, 9:42 PM 4/5/2003]

 

What type of scale did you use?

 

i need to do this. where did you get scales?

 

Truechoice.com has a few scales of different manufacturers starting at $1,149.

Go buy a set.

 

At my last track event last weekend (Porsche Club NW - Pacific Raceways) - they had some guys with scales all set up - so you could corner weight your car and check the alignment specs between run groups.

I had similar weights to you (although my car has a 6 point cage) - total weight with driver and 1/2 tank of gas was 2700.

I also had the ~70 lbs discrepancy between the RR and RL with me in the car.

Did you end up adjusting the FR??

 

Pig Car, Go Slow...

 

A guy in our Autocross club has a complete professional setup that he let us borrow for $50...

I thought that was pretty light for an R that hasn't been stripped down. Weight saving items include: header, exhaust, coilovers and wheels. Car still has AC.

What does a stock R weigh?

 

Just out of curiosity, but can you tell a difference in the way the car handles/feels?

 

Not yet, I haven't really pushed the car to the limits. The feeling will be very subtle in handeling - just ensuring the car is balanced equally in left and right corners...

 

How do you actually balance or adjust the weights from front/back and side/side?

 

I didn't actually physically move weight in the car. When corner balancing you are able to shift small amounts and %s of weight across the diagonals (and corners) by adjusting ride height.

F-R and L-R balances did change slightly during the corner balancing, but very small amounts. The purpose of corner balancing is not to adjust F-R or L-R, it is to balance the diagonals.

To better balance F-R and L-R you need to physically need to move weight in the car.

 

Would you be kind enough to tell us what suspension and spring rates you are using, as well as the measurements of the fender lip height at each of the corners.

Thanks, Ed

 

sweet results. Can't wait to see you again at the next Spokes event.

 

I am running TODA Racing FIGHTEX FS coilovers.
Spring rates are 10k (560) front and 8k (480) rear.

 

What about the fender lip heights?
After cornerweighting mine were about 23 3/8" with the highest being in the back left (driver) and the front's higher on the driver's side than on the passenger side.

 

So after making these adjustments at the corners, is the ride height noticeably different at all the corners?

 

Sorry, forgot to answer that question. I have not measured the fender lip heights.

We were very careful to keep the ride heights the same across axles. When making adjustment we made small adjustments at each corner to get the desired results rather than larger adjustments at a single corner.

No, there is no obvious difference in the corners..

 

Do some reading.


http://www.grmotorsports.com/cornerweight.html


Enjoy it.

 

I just got weighed in yesterday. With me, my helmet and a 8 point cage

Total weight w/ driver and 1/4 tank: 2537

I weigh 150. Left side was 50-60 pounds heavier if I remember correctly. Still need to cornerweight....

 

F-R and L-R balances did change slightly during the corner balancing, but very small amounts. The purpose of corner balancing is not to adjust F-R or L-R, it is to balance the diagonals.

Although you do adjust corner weighting diagonally across the car, my understanding is that you adjust corner weighting to suit the track/conditions.

Say you were going to LRP (mostly right hand turns) you might find the car does better lap times with more weight on the inside of the turn (right side of car). So maybe your scales read 650 LF; 850 RF, 400 LR; 600 RR).

At NHIS, it's mostly left hand turns, so maybe a stopwatch indicates your current setup is appropriate.

Caroll Smith's books explain the whole deal better than I ever could. But my understanding is that it is the left vs right (and possibly front vs rear) that is most important.


[Modified by pcorad, 3:33 PM 4/7/2003]