Track Width

[4OfaKind]

I am working on a custom tube frame to adapt suspension parts from various vehicles. The rear track width is 62". The front is 60". What are the pros/cons of having a narrower front track width than the rear? Does it affect handling / cornering much? Should I modfiy the front to equal the rear?

Thanks

[baz67]

Please do not take this the wrong way. I say this to give you some food for thought. Because you have the skills to fabricate your own suspension does not mean you have the knowledge to design you own suspension. You are smart for asking the question, but for something as serious as your suspension you should know the answer.

What chassis is this on? You say you are trying do adapt varius parts to your frame. Do you know how(not will) they will work with each other kinematicly? In any suspension each change you make causes change elsewhere. It is not a matter just making them fit together.

In short yes it will effect handling? Good or bad, who knows it depends on the overall design. In general a wider track has less lateral weight transfer during cornering. That lets the inside tire do more work. It will be only two inches, but what about the big picture.

Modifing the front may not be your answer as well. If you do not take into account how it will effect you RCH, scrub radius, bump steer, FVSA , header clearance, motor location, chassis flex, and many other factors you may not have a safe handling car.

It is amazing how your simple question created many more in my mind.

[4OfaKind]

Please do not take this the wrong way.

I don't. The reason I asked was to make sure I did not miss anything. As far as building this chassis, I am leaving that up to professionals. I don't have the know how to do it myself (desire, but not know how). I designed the overall chassis, I am leaving the details up to the pro. I just had a question I wanted answered before I took it to the pro to make sure he is not trying to put one over on me.

My chassis is full tube AWD. I am using S10 front A-arms and differential. It is 60" from brake face to brake face. The rear is a Corvette C4 Dana 44. It is 62" from brake face to brake face. I plan to use my 4000lb '56 for crusing mostly w/ occasional drag and road course time (once every 6 mos). With everything esle properly designed and set up, should I tell him to increase the front width or does 2" really matter to an Andretti wanna be? Money saved here in mock up and fab can be spent elsewhere.

Thanks again for the help.

[Mean 69]

AWD? Cool! That sounds fun if done well.

I wouldn't sweat the front/rear track issue, as long as the overall geometry suits your needs. The back of a stick axle car, or even IRS, is a lot less sensitive to funky wheel offsets, because the rear wheels don't have to turn. The main issue on the fronts is the result of less than desireable scrub radius, wheel hitting frame, stuff like that. Not nearly as important on the rear, as long as it doesn't get "too" crazy to have a negative impact on wheel bearing due to cantilever (which yours won't as described).

Fun project!
M

[4OfaKind]

I wouldn't sweat the front/rear track issue, as long as the overall geometry suits your needs.

Thanks Mean,

I thought about cantilevers in the front but decided against it. AWD is trick enough.
Question: Didn't the older Porsches have a narrower track up front?

[wally8]

Hey everyone. I haven't posted anything on here in quite awhile. It's been a busy summer.

40,

Although I'm sure you can make it work as is, most race cars favor a narrower track at the rear than the front.

In generic terms, this helps with turn in and with how the car gets off the corner. You can tighten (narrower) or loosen (wider) a car by changing track width with different wheel offsets. In my experience the loosening only applies to going even up with the front. I'm not really sure if it would continue to be the case once you've gone beyond the front track width.

Later....

Wally

[4OfaKind]

Although I'm sure you can make it work as is, most race cars favor a narrower track at the rear than the front.

In generic terms, this helps with turn in and with how the car gets off the corner. You can tighten (narrower) or loosen (wider) a car by changing track width with different wheel offsets. In my experience the loosening only applies to going even up with the front. I'm not really sure if it would continue to be the case once you've gone beyond the front track width.

So the general consensus is that I can get away w/ a 2" narrower front track as long as the geometry is set up properly. However, the optimum setup is an equal track width f/r even though I am building a car for very part time race use.

I will widen the front track to match the rear at 62".

[Beige]

Thanks Mean,
Question: Didn't the older Porsches have a narrower track up front?

Older porsches also have 2/3 of the weight over the back end. So a wider track helps keep that extra rear weight in check.

[graycamaro]

maesuring brake face to brake face is not accurate to measure track width you should measure form the face of the hub where the wheel mounts and the depending on what those numbers are decide on wheel offset or spacers to get the track right.


Generally wider in the back will make the car want to oversteer but may not be a problem with an awd car.