Quote:
Originally Posted by strictlypersonl
Not quite accurate. You have to figure in the transmission and differential ratios in the torque that's delivered to the axles.
Torque to the axle= engine torque x transmission ratio x differential ratio.
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You are right about the trans and differential ratios and their effect on the load the transmission and rear axle internals see, Bob. I was just trying to dumb it down.
For the readers who are trying to understand what we are talking about, it goes (simplistically) like this;
If the transmission has to pull against a tall ring an pinion the internal loading the transmission gears will see is greater than if the transmission has to pull against a short ring and pinion. Tall means a ratio like 3.08 and short means a ratio like 5.12 to sort of put markers on the fairway.
When you have a 5.12 ring and pinion you take load away from the transmission and the ring and pinion sees the increased loading with a corresponding reduction in load on the transmission internals.
Similarly when you have a 3.08 ring and pinion the load on the transmission internals to produce the same torque at the tire patch on the ground goes up in proportion to the reduction in rear end gear ratio.
That said it takes substantially more strength to process a 1400 ft/lb torque load at the flywheel than it does to process a 400 ft/lb torque load at the flywheel. In the end, increased torque loading will be what precipitates the component failure for the weakest component in the drivetrain.
There is also an impact effect that is more significant to pay attention to in drag cars than other types of performance cars. When you are at the starting line and the engine is at 6,000 rpm or higher when the light goes yellow and you drop the clutch there is a sudden and frightful impact that all components in the drive train need to be able to absorb without failure. The stickier the tires and the more aggressive the clutch friction materials the more significant this phenomena is.
The moment you get away from big sticky tires and high rpm launches this phenomena basically disappears.
Ed