How do front spoilers work

[sgernon]

I am no engineer but I understand that in general spoilers are to add downforce to a car though I am a bit confused by front spoilers and how many of them work. I have a 72 Camaro I am working on and know they sometimes came with a spoiler but I am assuming the factory part was more for looks than for function. Am I wrong? I'd like to better understand how they funstion so I can decide if I should add one to my car. The metal spoilers below definately seem stonger but will the factory style spoiler also add to the car?

Is a front spoiler intended to add downforce for the front tires, move air to the radiator, move air to the sides of the car or something else? I know it fully depends on the car but it seems from what I see that many of the spoilers would end up trapping the air unlike a rear spoiler.

Perhaps some will think of this as an dumb question but I was always taught that you never learn if you don't ask. Since I know there are a lot of very intellegent people on this board I thought I would ask the experts. Thanks in advance.


Some aftermarket pics I found





Factory style spoiler on Jr's car




Steve

[406 Q-ship]

Is a front spoiler intended to add downforce for the front tires, move air to the radiator, move air to the sides of the car or something else? I know it fully depends on the car but it seems from what I see that many of the spoilers would end up trapping the air unlike a rear spoiler.

Steve

Yes a front spoiler can add downforce on the front tires with one of two ways. The spoiler can just create straight downforce same as a rear tail spoiler or it can create downforce by directing the air from going under the vehicle it can make a negative pressure center behind radiator (pulls air through the rad better so cooling yes too) and under the vehicle, this will remove trapped from engine compartment either stopping front lift (nothing like seeing a car at speed and the front tires damn near off the ground). A spoiler can make or break handling of some cars and a poorly designed one is worse than junk when they do trap air under the vehicle. Do you remember a few years back when Mercedes had issues of their car taking flight at LeMans....scary.

[monza]

Some info here ...https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...hlight=spoiler

and the site that made the spoiler on Bad Penny and Jackass I believe had some tech stuff but I cant find the link.

[zbugger]

Amazingly, the early 2nd gen spoilers actually work.

[sgernon]

Thanks for the replies and the link to the other thread. Very helpful information. Think I'll get the car running then decide if I want to add the front spoiler or not once I have an idea of the handling characteristics.

[stirfry89]

indeed. anything that adds surface area to the front of the car, especially if it is angled back, will add downforce because of the way it pushes the wall of air in front of a car.

If you can, walk by a light hanging curtain in your house at walking pace, before you get there, about 5 feet in front of you the curtain will wave...this is because your body is displacing a wall or bubble of air in front of you. This is what a front spoiler (AKA a splitter/splitter tray) is doing on your car.

[David Pozzi]

Factory spoilers work. The front spoiler does not work as well as the rear. Stock soft springs make the problem worse, air under the front will cause the front end to rise at high speeds and that creates even more front lift. Just putting stiffer front springs on a car can help quite a bit because it limits front lift. It isn't solving the main problem though.

Read this: http://www.camaro-untoldsecrets.com/...es/rpo_d80.htm

[shmoov69]

Wow! Member since 2006 and the first post??!!?

Good question tho! LOL

[sgernon]

Yea, I've been lurking for a long time but typically just find my answers with searches. Perhaps now that my cherry is popped things will change.

[Bjkadron]

Yea, I've been lurking for a long time but typically just find my answers with searches. Perhaps now that my cherry is popped things will change.

That is a good way to do it. Unfortunately I normally have more questions after I find the answer.

As a side note most front spoilers reduce drag as well.

[DocJr]

As a side note most front spoilers reduce drag as well.

Technically, downforce is drag.

[Bad Bird]

No it isn't. A diffuser (for example) can reduce drag AND give downforce.

[Roadrage David]

when you make a rezenable efford to reduce the turbuland airfow under our muscle cars with a flat bodemplate THEN the difuser gives douwnforce and reduces drag !!!

[garner67]

I thought one of the main benefits is reducing the amount of airflow under the car. Airflow under the car causes lift, and the undercarriage has a lot of uneven surfaces that cause turbulence/drag.

Less air moving under the car equals less drag.... correct?

[Bjkadron]

Technically, downforce is drag.

Technically it isn't. But most ways of making downforce cause drag. But on cars with aero as bad as most musclecars are, you can actually improve both with some mods.

No it isn't. A diffuser (for example) can reduce drag AND give downforce.

same with the spoiler. Air management is pretty complicated.

when you make a rezenable efford to reduce the turbuland airfow under our muscle cars with a flat bodemplate THEN the difuser gives douwnforce and reduces drag !!!

yes... otherwise it won't work efficiently. the bellypan helps the air move along without turbulence.
.

I thought one of the main benefits is reducing the amount of airflow under the car. Airflow under the car causes lift, and the undercarriage has a lot of uneven surfaces that cause turbulence/drag.

Less air moving under the car equals less drag.... correct?

Pretty much! But you can't just stop all air from going under. you won't have good downforce. but for the most part yes.

[DocJr]

You are correct to a point.

Downforce, is a force acting upon a car. You wouldn't take a perfectly aero car and create more downforce, you would be creating drag. Any force acting upon a car is creating drag. It's important to know what you're doing with it.

The ultimate aero shape is a teardrop. Air particle A (Over the top surface), and air particle B (Under the bottom surface) need to be traveling at the same speed. Airplane wings generate lift, particle A moves faster creating low pressure, (high pressure from the bottom), creating lift. Similarly, cars do the same thing, hence your front end lifting at high speeds.

To counteract your front end from lifting you can add a front spoiler to either dam the air from going under the car, or literally "Catch" air and create downforce. Does that reduce drag? I wouldn't think so, your trapping air in the front of your car.

Most of the front spoilers I've seen for Camaros stop when it gets to the tires....Tires are a cars worst enemy for drag. Get something to shield air from hitting the front tires, and direct it around the tires.

[DocJr]

I can admit when I'm wrong. I just spent the last few hours reading my book haha. What do ya know, I had most of this stuff highlighted. You'd be amazed of what your brain fails to remember... You are right, downforce reduces drag.

Some things I mentioned are still valid though...like getting a front spoiler to cover your tires, back flares (Strakes) too, because you want to get that air moving around the tires instead of having it smash into them. Front splitters do the same thing, its starts the separation of air sooner, "Splitting" the air before it even gets to the front end of the car.

I apologize for any inconvenience haha.

[Bjkadron]

Haha! No problem.. I do that all the time... I read my super technical books then go "wow" then read it a couple more times to try and remember some of it. All very good points too!