Dennis and Other Listers,
Rotational mass does affect acceleration more than non rotational mass... but
the difference is much less than 10x. The more
reasonable number is 3x. At the Vehicle Research Institute (in the tech school
that I went to), they said that 2.7x is more
accurate but 3x is easier to use. Unsprung weight does not affect acceleration
at all. Unsprung weight is all the mass outside of
the strut mounting location... as in the wheel, tire, bearings, half the tie
rods, half the a-arms, et cetera, et cetera. What
unsprung weight does is kind of add spasmatic leveraged weight to your
suspension system... It's kind of uncontrolled suspension
and it makes your car handle less predictably. I know it dosen't work
*exactly* like that but that's kind of the simple
explaination. There are whole books on the subject.. just go to:
http:\\www.amazon.com and I'm sure you find some good ones.
Later,
Clayton
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 22:53:47 -0500
From: "Denis P. Goldman" <>
Subject: Re:
20 lbs off and now your car runs like hell? Hmm. Did you know that the
difference between a full and an empty tank of gas is about 100 lbs? 20
lbs wouldn't make very much of a difference at all in your
acceleration. You should try going to smaller tires (I went from
205/60-14 to 195/55-14, 23 lbs a tire vs 18lbs a tire) That translates
to 20 lbs total, but the key is that its unsprung, rolling weight. I
forget what the multiplier is, but I think its 10x, meaning for every
pound of unsprung weight taken off the car, its like taking 10lbs off.
20 times 10 is 200 lbs off, imagine getting in your car and driving down
the street and the car driving like its 200lbs lighter.
When you remove that cast iron bracket that holds the alt/compressor,
along with the evaporator and condensor, you should notice more of a
difference in the car's handling, the lighter front end is more
responsive.
Denis
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