![]() ![]() ![]() In our analogy, that would be equivalent to cutting short a table leg. The reverse happens if you reduce the tension on the left-rear wheel's spring or subtract wedge. So if you increase the tension in the left-rear wheel, the left-rear and right-front wheels will hold a larger share of the car's total weight than the right-rear and left-front wheels. As with the table, the corresponding diagonal corner of the vehicle gets more of the car's weight. This adds pressure to that end of the car just like putting the paper wedge underneath the table leg. The same thing happens with a race car. Compressing the spring of a left-rear wheel or adding wedge puts more of the car's weight on that corner. But here's how things get tricky: When you adjust the tension of a spring on one wheel, it can affect the other three wheels in interesting ways. When adjusted appropriately, the amount of tension on the individual springs can help attain proper weight distribution and grip during a turn. It turns out that the amount of tension on a spring can alter how much of the total weight bears down on a given wheel. If weight shifts off of a tire during a turn, the tire will lose grip with the road and the driver will have less control of the vehicle. This is what happens during NASCAR races. This keeps the tire in constant contact with the road as the springs continue to push wheels downward.Įven using springs, maintaining grip between the road and the tire can still be difficult when taking a turn at a high speed. With a spring at each tire, these suspension systems transfer the energy of the jolting tire to its spring, which pushes back. Springs are a great way to absorb the energy that tires encounter with bumps. Although NASCAR racetracks may not have any mud, even the slightest loss of grip can affect a car's performance. If you ever got a tire stuck in the mud, you know how important grip is. It can also make the tires lose their grip on the road. When a car is moving and encounters a bump, that bump spends energy by transferring some of the car's forward force to upward force. This system is meant to combat the negative affects of bumps on a road. To do so, we'll first look at the suspension system, which affects more than just the bumpiness of a ride.Ĭar engineers are able to take advantage of a spring's unique qualities in a car's suspension system. Before we do that, let's learn why this adjustment is so important. We'll find out more about this special shortcut a little later. These openings allow the crew easy access to tubes that go directly to springs in the suspension system. If you've ever seen a race car up close, you may have noticed small holes in its rear window. But shouldn't the race team take the time to get the suspension right before a race begins? It turns out that the suspension system is so dependant on changing conditions that it's difficult to get it precisely right until the driver feels the subtle handling effects during a race.īut how can pit crews fine-tune the suspension - something buried in the inner workings of a race car - midrace? Actually, they don't even have to pop the hood or climb under the vehicle. Specifically, wedge adjustment refers to changing the amount of tension on a spring in the rear suspension. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |