

| Subject: | Re: Westy Weighed... Setting Corner Spring Rates |
| From: | Michael Snow |
| Date: | Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:53:46 -0500 |
I have the same problem, and would like to do something about it. Thinking aloud: As I understand it, this type of cross-weight (wedge?) would cause understeer during left turns, and oversteer during right turns. Turning left would tend to equalize the loads on the rear wheels and increase traction at the rear, while making the front imbalance even worse, decreasing front wheel traction. Turning right would equalize the front wheel loads and increase front wheel traction, while making the rear imbalance worse and decreasing rear wheel traction. This is a tuneable condition, to some extent, in a reasonably balanced car, but a loaded camper is far from reasonably balanced. Most tuning is done in extreme conditions (racing) where the car is finely balanced and operates near the limits of tire adhesion, but a loaded camper is far less likely to operate at the limits of adhesion, at least on pavement where is going fast enough to make a difference, and the balance changes with (and during) every journey. One thing for sure, the left rear tire has an awfully high load when accelerating through a right turn, and this could cause problems if your tires are not significantly overrated in comparison to stock Vanagon tires. What could be done to equalize the left and right loads at each end, enabling the van to sit and ride level, while using matched springs on each side and providing more neutral handling? If you could decrease the right front load, the left rear load should also decrease without leaning to the left, no? Mike On 11/26/2011 07:43 AM, Derek Drew wrote: > In terms of raw numbers, weight distribution is similar to this: > > LEFT RIGHT LBS. > 1092 1316 FRONT > 1598 1294 REAR > > The question is what to do about this from a springs point of view. >
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