Date:         Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:53:46 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Westy Weighed... Setting Corner Spring Rates
Comments: cc: Derek Drew <derekdrew@DEREKMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4ed0def9.c2c5e70a.6458.ffffbedb@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

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.
>