Coilovers... the proper way.
11-29-2008, 09:42 PM
#41
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Scikotics
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Location: Minneapolis, MN
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That is correct big al. And as in any alignment, suspension setup, ballast should be used to simulate driver weight.. unless you want to sit in the car for hours while someone else does it 
Corner balancing helps to ensure you have proper weight distibution, or as good as it can get for your car.
Ride height plays a lot with suspension geometry. There is the obvious part, which is lowering the center of gravity. A lot of people think this is the sole effect, which makes them feel that lower is better. Besides that, changing ride height changes the way the suspension is sitting and the associated angles. These angles play together to form a roll couple. Roll couple represents the effect of the lever arm between the center of gravity and the roll center, which is the actual center of rotation for what you feel as body roll. Over-lowering can actually increase the roll couple in many situations due to the way it affects the geometry of the car. It also has a general effect on how all the parts play together. So this is why so many of us preach about not over-lowering the car.
Then there are polar moments... but for this conversation, we wont go there But it all isnt that confusing once you think about it for a while. Calculating the roll couple, roll center, CG, etc, is not so easy, but enough people have played around with it on the tC to give us a general idea of where the optimum ride height resides. And if Rick would send me his sketches of the geometry he made.. I would be in real debt to him :D
Corner balancing helps to ensure you have proper weight distibution, or as good as it can get for your car.
Ride height plays a lot with suspension geometry. There is the obvious part, which is lowering the center of gravity. A lot of people think this is the sole effect, which makes them feel that lower is better. Besides that, changing ride height changes the way the suspension is sitting and the associated angles. These angles play together to form a roll couple. Roll couple represents the effect of the lever arm between the center of gravity and the roll center, which is the actual center of rotation for what you feel as body roll. Over-lowering can actually increase the roll couple in many situations due to the way it affects the geometry of the car. It also has a general effect on how all the parts play together. So this is why so many of us preach about not over-lowering the car.
Then there are polar moments... but for this conversation, we wont go there
But it all isnt that confusing once you think about it for a while. Calculating the roll couple, roll center, CG, etc, is not so easy, but enough people have played around with it on the tC to give us a general idea of where the optimum ride height resides. And if Rick would send me his sketches of the geometry he made.. I would be in real debt to him :D
12-06-2008, 03:38 AM
#43
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Garland , TX
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Originally Posted by Dr_Isotope
Front endlinks.
Originally Posted by Dr_Isotope
My drop isn't about looks-- it's about works. No offense taken-- most folks think the "best" drop is the one that looks the best-- and that's really not the case.
On a side note, I never realized just how heavy our cars are. I always guess that with a driver and a full tank we might be tipping 3000lbs. But 3300lbs is just mind blowing. It really makes me think twice about removing my rear seats and putting the car on a diet.
12-09-2008, 02:30 AM
#45
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The glass roof does add weight to the highest part of the car.. but while most assume it is a huge amount, the entire assembly weighs about 70 lbs. Not near what most think. And as far as rigidity, it is excellent. The tC has one of the strongest roof structures on the market, and is one of the few that would pass the new proposed roof crush standard.
So while it puts a bit of weight north of the CG, which isnt so great, it is not killing us in any way. This car can handle very nicely with a bit of suspension tuning.
My car sitting on a certified truck scale, with my laptop bag inside and no driver:
Those scales are state certifed and round to the next higher 20 lb increment, meaning it weighed in between 2900 and 2920. Of course, I dont have a lot of extra sound system equipment, added sound deadening, etc, so mine reflects what a stock tC (5 spd) should weigh.
So while it puts a bit of weight north of the CG, which isnt so great, it is not killing us in any way. This car can handle very nicely with a bit of suspension tuning.
My car sitting on a certified truck scale, with my laptop bag inside and no driver:
Those scales are state certifed and round to the next higher 20 lb increment, meaning it weighed in between 2900 and 2920. Of course, I dont have a lot of extra sound system equipment, added sound deadening, etc, so mine reflects what a stock tC (5 spd) should weigh.
12-09-2008, 02:51 AM
#46
Yeah, my sub box alone is 62lbs. Just by taking out me and the subs, the car weighed 3008. Take away my significant amount of sound deadening, amps and other speakers, TV headrests, splitter and spoiler, etc, etc... I'd be even lighter than engifineers.
12-09-2008, 09:51 PM
#48
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Originally Posted by Soulquarian
Originally Posted by dp-_-
so uhhhh doc....interested in getting paid to do this on other tc's?
12-27-2008, 07:54 PM
#51
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Location: Miami, FL
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Re: Coilovers... the proper way.
[/quote]I noticed somebody said in a very sarcastic way "nice shift" or something..
anyways, this is very nice for a race setup, it's close to the wheel, and I like the "dogbone" style it has, looks comfy. Dr Isotope, do you make/sell this? I didn't see it on your website.
12-29-2008, 02:29 AM
#52
I've sold a handful of LazyBoys on request, there are about half a dozen of them out in the world now. Not a regular sale item, they're pretty labor intensive to make, and the demand isn't very high-- it's a specialty piece, to be sure.
12-29-2008, 02:30 AM
#53
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Originally Posted by Dr_Isotope
I've sold a handful of LazyBoys on request, there are about half a dozen of them out in the world now. Not a regular sale item, they're pretty labor intensive to make, and the demand isn't very high-- it's a specialty piece, to be sure.
12-29-2008, 02:43 AM
#54
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Scion Evolution
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fremont, CA
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Re: Coilovers... the proper way.
Originally Posted by Dr_Isotope
New house for the EDFC:
Are you planning on making the plate/panel for the EDFC? If so I might want to get one when I get the EDFC controller for my SS-P's
01-07-2009, 04:49 AM
#55
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Originally Posted by Cracker_tC
Originally Posted by Dr_Isotope
I've sold a handful of LazyBoys on request, there are about half a dozen of them out in the world now. Not a regular sale item, they're pretty labor intensive to make, and the demand isn't very high-- it's a specialty piece, to be sure.
And thanks Doc for posting the pic, I can say mine is that height. It is actually much lower all around. I really wish you lived closer so I could ride in your car to get a better feel to try and feel a difference.
