Corner Weight Gauge

[07cob]

Warren

Excellent work! I'll take a number...

Geof

[Wazza]

They've arrived, and really look like good quality gear.

I'll bring them up this weekend to the Club Christmas party, and you can take them home Merv.

Would you think that the expected time for each "lend" would be around a week?....or would it need to be longer ?

Trying to make a list of "conditions of use", so that people can use them , but not keep them for weeks at a time,
and also be responsible for their safe keeping etc.

Maybe it will need some extra time for the first few , until we work out how to use them correctly.

Merv...........Maybe you can be the test dummy...( No offence)

Anyway...I'm sure you will work out any problems with them, and it might be easier as we go.

Cheers,

Warren.

[Merv and Sharon]

That sounds fine Warren. Happy to be the 'test dummy'. I should be done with them in 24 hrs. Have all in readiness now. Who is next?

[Wazza]

07COB....a.k.a "One F " Geof has his name down next....

I know the "racers" group in the club are keen to sort their cars out before we get into it again early in the New Year, so they'll be well used I'm sure.

I'll arrange a " Hoist/corner weights/b.b.q./beers/sausage sizzle " day at my warehouse in the near future....and we can do a number of the cars in one day.

Good excuse for a fun day !

Cheers,
Warren

Cheers,
Warren.

[Merv and Sharon]

"One F" it is then. That name could stick...

[Wazza]

I started calling him "One F" many years ago...and it stuck !

That's the only name I ever call him these days.

Cheers,
Warren

[Bobcat]

Guys , sorry for intruding on your thread , but I gave Merv an answer earlier on the hydraulic wheel weight checker . Just got my ERA back from the shop where I had them redo the corner weights ( changed shocks/springs ) . If this seems obvious , sorry , but disconnect all anti sway bars before setting your corner weights . My rear bar had preloaded almost 1 1/2 % weight into the suspension .... which is pretty significant . We aligned the car and set all corner weights and then made sure the bars attached with zero loading/binding .
Big difference on the way the car handles on turns and also WOT on straights .

[Merv and Sharon]

Timely advice Bob. I hope to get to this on Sunday.

[boxhead]

Great tip bobcat

[07cob]

Merv

I will be intersted to see how your weights stack up before you make any adjustments and how well balanaced they end up.

Warren

Yes I certainly expressed an interest and will make use of the scales as soon as I get a motor in my car!! A few others might like to check theirs in the mean time

Geof

[Merv and Sharon]

Well the CCC(Q) scales arrived, thanks to Warren, and they were tested this afternoon. Before any adjustments, there was a difference with FR +24kgs > FL and 14kgs for LR > RR.

Overall car weight was 1110kgs with 2/3 tank of fuel.

After disconnecting the HICAS at the rear, I proceeded to start some adjustments, taking the ride height at each point. It is definitely an advantage with a hoist in doing this as you are up and down more often than grandpa's pyjamas, with checks and adjustments.

I have settled at this stage with:



This is pretty close to even L to R (with no driver and I think it would be sensible to do it all again with a driver in) and the optimal 50/50% cross balance. Interestingly, the weight balance has a slight advantage to the rear in my car, reflecting the extreme rear engine mounting.

The website above showing the process for a Honda 2000 is a great help.

[Wazza]

I always though that you had to set them up with a driver in the seat...or some weights etc, as if there was a driver in the car.


Hope they help set the car up nicely....

cheers,
Warren.

[Merv and Sharon]

I still have to see what effect driver weight makes Warren. So far noticeably smoother steering and braking.

[Wazza]

That's Good news....

Pass on anything that you work out to the next guy...and we'll all be better off.

Good Stuff.

Cheers,
Warren

[Merv and Sharon]

Will do. And thanks for this from Wayne P. Really shows how important corner weighting is to a good Cobra setup. There is a sequence of UTube posts, not just one.

Corner Weight - Part 1 - YouTube

And this explains well how to set up single and double adjustable shocks:

Adjustable Shocks - How they work - How to adjust - YouTube

[Bobcat]

Merv .... been waiting to see how you made out ... sounds like you are happy with the handling . My car goes straight as an arrow all the time . I see where Wazza asked about having the driver in the car when you set it up . I always do that since in my case , there is about 88 kilos on the left side ... and it will have an effect . This shop sets up vintage race cars and every car is set with about 3/4 tank of fuel and the driver`s weight in the seat . Alignment is also done with driver`s weight in the car . Most people won`t go that far , but the shop manager used to work for Jack Roush on his IMSA cars and that`s the way they did it .
If you have the time , an interesting experiment would be to change tire pressure and watch what happens to your wheel weights .... it may surprise you .
BTW , my car also has a rearward weight bias ... about 51.9% on the rear . I have an aluminum engine and the ERA is designed to have a slight rear weight bias .

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks Bob. Yes with this scale set up, you can position the control module in such a way that you can sit in the car and read off the measurements yourself. So there is no need to have my wife sitting in it, holding a calibration weight of some kind!

Good point about the tyre pressures!

I will do some final measurements tomorrow and then hand it on to another member up here.

[400TT]

I think it is a great idea buying a set of scales for club members. We find them invaluable at the factory.

You can also purchase dumbell type weights to put inside the car to simulate the driver weight. Maybe these would be a worthwhile purchase as well to go with the scale set. Probably just the 20kg ones would be enough and you can always find stuff in the workshop to fine tune the smaller weight increments. If setting up for the track don't forget to add in the weight of helmet, race suit, gloves, shoes etc.

For any club members local on the Gold Coast or willing to drive down, you are more than welcome to use one of the hoists at our factory, our string line setup etc. with the club scales. Just call in advance to make sure we have a suitable hoist free.

Merv, have you got a sheet/template to document the numbers? Did the scales come with that sort of stuff. If not I could drop you a copy of what we use and we could burn them on disc or on USB stick to keep with the scale documentation.

Have fun.

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks Craig. No - with the scales there is only rudimentary information, I used the spreadsheet on this: Corner Weighting

It is very useful. Is that similar to the one that you have? The idea of a USB is a good one and I am happy to save such a program on to USB and if we each add our details and the car specifications (Harrison, CR, etc.) that would be a useful guide for others following.

[Modena]

This all good stuff, and those youtube vids were a help too, but maybe I have missed something...

If you're effectively adjusting ride height to adjust weight, this obviously means you're going to end up with different ride heights left/right front/back whatever, is this not a problem, or is the benefit of the even weight distribution much more valuable than equal ride height?