Weight distribution and handling

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

A quickie.

I drove my S2 back from North Wales last Friday, having spent a week there (Frontrunner was attended en route from London to Pwillheli.)

For a number of reasons, we ended up driving the car back with significantly more load then on the way there. We picked up a passenger, and a fair quantity more luggage. This means that the car came back with 3 adults on board and a boot full of heavy luggage.

The 'old girl did very well, and didn't miss a beat (and those Snowdonia roads take some bettering!), but what I did notice was that the car handled really quite differently. I am used to accomodating for extra weight in cars, but the difference here was substantial.

Interestingly, it wasn't felt so much on twisty roads, but much more on fast straight roads. Normally the car feels very very stable; this time it felt wallowy and floaty and very imprecise. To the extent that I really thought that something was wrong, and was considering what it could be and how to go about fixing it. The rear suspension was making some minor 'clonks' as well - possibly nothing more than thumping over bumps, but noticably more than usual. (The car had a suspension rebuild about 10 months ago, with new ARB bushes, and a full alignment about 8 months ago.)

Now we are home, have unpacked, the car is the normal weight and back to normal handling. So it can only have been a result of the weight.

So ... the question. Has anyone else experienced a dramatic change in handling characteristics as a result of loading? Particularly at high speed?

Oh, and another thing. I did a hard stop on the motorway on the way back as well - 90mph to a standstill, about as quick as I possibly could (ABS didn't cut in tho'). And the brakes felt ... not too crisp towards the end of the deceleration. I thought the S2 brakes were meant to be good when in good condition (which mine are in, I think .... )


Oli.

 

[appletonn]

All together now...

"You wanna get one of them Turbo jobbies...."[][][]

I'll get my coat....

 

[Riverside]

Mine understeers more with a passenger in, on my own it's neutral. I'm taking about track driving here though, the difference isn;t noticeable on the road (I never approach the limit).

Brake feel is a difficult one to answer - not because it's subjective but because there are so many factors that can affect the situation you describe. Old brake fluid, rust on the disks, burnt pads, pads not bedded in etc. The brakes will feel different cold vs hot, but once they cool down again they should be consistent with before. If not maybe your fluid could do with changing (or just a bleed). I do mine before every track day to make sure they are as consistent as possible (it works).

 

[appletonn]

Mine tends to understeer in slower corners, especially if I am clumsy with the throttle as i think the LSD tends to push the car straight on in those circumstances.

I have to say that i am still not quite happy with the front end grip and turn in of mine and may well have to get some of those lovely camber plates so that i can dial in more front end bite...[8|][][]

Could be the tyres too, I suppose?

 

[xenon]

Three adults? Was one on the roof and / or of Willie Carson proportions? I couldn't imagine getting a small child in the back, never mind an adult.

The claustrophobia I would feel if crammed into the back of a 944 makes me feel a bit ill just thinking about it. Mind you, at 6' 3" and 18st, it's enough of a job fitting in the front... [8D]

 

[zcacogp]

Ian,

The small one was Mrs zcacogp, and she was in the back. 5ft nothing, and about 8 stone, so a bit smaller than your good self.

I once sat in the back of my S2 for 20 minutes (during the PPI before I bought it - the (then) owner sat in the front with the guy doing the inspection) and was VERY glad to get out. (And I'm 5ft8, 12 stone.)


Oli.

 

[Wigeon Incognito]

ORIGINAL: xenon

Three adults? Was one on the roof and / or of Willie Carson proportions? I couldn't imagine getting a small child in the back, never mind an adult.

The claustrophobia I would feel if crammed into the back of a 944 makes me feel a bit ill just thinking about it. Mind you, at 6' 3" and 18st, it's enough of a job fitting in the front... [8D]

I had mine four up a couple of weeks ago. Behind me was a little guy (5' 8" ish), and behind my passenger was a taller guy (6' 2" ish). Sunroof popped up for headroom, knees by their necks, and faces pushed against the seat backs - at least that meant their complaints were muffled!!

Suffice to say my suggestion of an impromptu Eurotrip wasn't met with much enthusiasm!

 

[appletonn]

My 3 year old daughter loves being in the back of "the red car", ensconced in her booster seat, as she can see out of the window much better than in Daddy's normal car[]

Wouldn't fancy trying to fit adults in there though...[8|]

 

[Diver944]

We are a family of four and only have 944s so regularly go on family holidays with 2-3 suitcases in the boot and two rear passengers. It definately does make the front feel lighter and less precise and I can only put this down to a more 'nose up' attitude with possibly 200 extra kilos to the rear of the car.

If the car feels fine now Oli I would say that is your answer.

90mph to zero with a possible total of 1500 kilos is a lot of work for any brake system but I would expect it to feel the same from start to finish if it is only one stop. Repeated stops would be another matter

 

[Hilux]

Paul`s right. The weight transfer is huge in real terms and will (in a 50/50 weighted car) change the dynamics. The idea of 50/50 is to minimse wieght transfer not only for handling but also when braking. You`re car will have experienced a bigger weight transfer when braking ergo the brakes work harder. You are after all adding some 15-20% ish (somone correct me) weight.

 

[zcacogp]

Paul, Paul,

Thanks. It certainly is back to normal now, and feeling as good as ever. So, it must be the weight distribution. Interesting that it made so much difference - it surprised me.

Brakes? I'm not sure about these. They too feel fine, maybe I was being a bit over-concerned (motoring hypochondria, anyone?) when pushing on them as I haven't ever stopped like that before, so heavily laden. Maybe I need to try it again a few times ... the brakes should be in decent nick, as there is no plate lift anywhere, and I changed the fluid less than a year ago. And I think the pads have a decent amount of meat on them, and the disks are far from being past it.

Ho hum. Thanks for your comments.


Oli.