Coilovers and Corner Weights
29 April 2009, 02:39 PM
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Coilovers and Corner Weights
Does anyone bother with scales and corner weights? Is this an old technique.
Only I’m soon to install coilovers on my car and from the set up guides I’ve read most of them recommend using scales to set up the corner weights.
However all of the wheel alignment specialists I’ve called don’t have scales. I find this odd as there are a lot of people with coilovers, so how do these people know that their front drivers side coilover isn’t loaded with 65% of the cars weight?!
Is there anywhere that does this?
Only I’m soon to install coilovers on my car and from the set up guides I’ve read most of them recommend using scales to set up the corner weights.
However all of the wheel alignment specialists I’ve called don’t have scales. I find this odd as there are a lot of people with coilovers, so how do these people know that their front drivers side coilover isn’t loaded with 65% of the cars weight?!
Is there anywhere that does this?
29 April 2009, 06:44 PM
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Top end of the market may well have the gear, but the cost may frighten you !
The Porsche types are well into set-up, and are charged accordingly.
The sort of money that mappers are charging are to be expected.
HTH
dunx
£200 to get through the door !
Race Dampers | Porsche Chassis Engineering | Porsche Suspension
The Porsche types are well into set-up, and are charged accordingly.
The sort of money that mappers are charging are to be expected.
HTH
dunx
£200 to get through the door !
Race Dampers | Porsche Chassis Engineering | Porsche Suspension
Last edited by dunx; 29 April 2009 at 06:48 PM.
29 April 2009, 08:45 PM
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29 April 2009, 10:00 PM
#4
yeah i think about 250 will get you a full setup and corner weighting.
Due to the rediculous cost of this. I mean you can buy the machine for 2 grand. and it doesnt take long to do despite what they say.
I was thinking of doing my own alignment by making some some frames, lazerpens and diginal spirit levels. Ive not looked to far into this yet, but as i only paid for my alignment a month ago i can use that as the initial setup and a base to differentiate from.
If it works well ill post what i did. Dunno how much it is to buy an alignment setup system. Would be nice to change my track setup from road.
As per wheel alignment, my local scrappy has a big scale. i will be able to use to check the weights.
I mean its not gonna be perfect but its probably good for something. I assume weighting change is done by coilover height? 50/50/50 is the optimum im told.
Due to the rediculous cost of this. I mean you can buy the machine for 2 grand. and it doesnt take long to do despite what they say.
I was thinking of doing my own alignment by making some some frames, lazerpens and diginal spirit levels. Ive not looked to far into this yet, but as i only paid for my alignment a month ago i can use that as the initial setup and a base to differentiate from.
If it works well ill post what i did. Dunno how much it is to buy an alignment setup system. Would be nice to change my track setup from road.
As per wheel alignment, my local scrappy has a big scale. i will be able to use to check the weights.
I mean its not gonna be perfect but its probably good for something. I assume weighting change is done by coilover height? 50/50/50 is the optimum im told.
30 April 2009, 06:16 AM
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If you have 'coilovers' (silly name, stock suspension is coilover!) it seems silly not to get the corner weighting done, you can't correct out inadequacies in the basic vehicle, but the aim is to get both pairs of diagnonals (so front left, rear right and vice versa) to 50% of the car weight.
Simon
Simon
05 May 2009, 12:10 PM
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So far in my search in find a garage near me (midlands) I have found 2 places.
Northampton Motorsport, which have quoted me £200 + vat for corner weights and 4 wheel alignment.
Centre Gravity in Atherstone, a one man band by the sounds of it. It will take him all day to do your suspension and it sounds like a proper job with test runs involved. If you want you can spend the day with him while he does your suspension.
As you can imagine it isn't cheap £450+vat but he sounds like a decent bloke and if you decide to spend a day with him you'll probably learn a lot.
I'm still searching as Northampton is too far and Centre Gravity is a bit too much for me right now. Shame though.
Northampton Motorsport, which have quoted me £200 + vat for corner weights and 4 wheel alignment.
Centre Gravity in Atherstone, a one man band by the sounds of it. It will take him all day to do your suspension and it sounds like a proper job with test runs involved. If you want you can spend the day with him while he does your suspension.
As you can imagine it isn't cheap £450+vat but he sounds like a decent bloke and if you decide to spend a day with him you'll probably learn a lot.
I'm still searching as Northampton is too far and Centre Gravity is a bit too much for me right now. Shame though.
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05 May 2009, 09:27 PM
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Chevron Motorsport in Stafford will do it properly for you. And as for it doesn't take long. You can spend ages doing it to get it right, or you can do 1/2 a job and do it in a couple of hours. They have done all my setup, and the main guy there is very good (an ex Mcclaren suspension engineer).
The proof of their competence is that they got a standard engine car to finish in 5th place at the first round of Time Attack a few weeks ago (0.14 sec from the podium). All due to their setup, rather than a massive HP engine. I'd like to think that the driving helped too!
Depending on what you want from the car depends on what weight you should have at each corner, same as general suspension settings, it all comes down to what you want from the car and what suspension you have fitted.
The proof of their competence is that they got a standard engine car to finish in 5th place at the first round of Time Attack a few weeks ago (0.14 sec from the podium). All due to their setup, rather than a massive HP engine. I'd like to think that the driving helped too!
Depending on what you want from the car depends on what weight you should have at each corner, same as general suspension settings, it all comes down to what you want from the car and what suspension you have fitted.
05 May 2009, 10:13 PM
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I've been looking at these for a cheaper (and more hands on) option when it comes to corner weight setting
Corner Weight Gauges from Merlin Motorsport
Corner Weight Gauges from Merlin Motorsport
04 June 2009, 03:16 PM
#10
How do they actually work from merlin motorsport? 160 quid seems a like a good alternative to 250 quid as you can do it for the rest of your life...
Ok looks like you set up the height of the jack to the height of the bottom ball join when on the floor. Then take the wheel off and lever it up/down to this height and it will effectivly give you the weight which is on that corner when the car is at normal rest?
is this correct?
Ok looks like you set up the height of the jack to the height of the bottom ball join when on the floor. Then take the wheel off and lever it up/down to this height and it will effectivly give you the weight which is on that corner when the car is at normal rest?
is this correct?
Last edited by scoobyc; 04 June 2009 at 03:18 PM.
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