[s-cars] Quattro - What Don't I get?

[Theodore Chen]

--- Keith Maddock <keith.maddock at gmail.com> wrote:
>  <calvinlc at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> > On a side note since we are talking about differentials; does anybody know
> > why it is that every open differential RWD car I have ever owned spins the
> > right side tire when the clutch is dropped and never spins the left side
> > tire?  I would think some would be more predisposed to left side spinning
> > and some more to right...what's up with this.
> 
> Some might say coriolis effect?  Take your car(s) to Argentina and see
> if it changes sides..
> 
> Actually more seriously - most likely it is due to the uneven weight
> distribution (especially when only the driver is in the car....  )
> 
> Also - thinking out loud - does one half of an open diff have more
> mass/intertia than another half ?  The side with less inertia would
> initially spin a fraction easier.  Once one wheel breaks traction and
> loses traction, then of course then it will be difficult to get the
> opposite wheel to spin (assuming actual traction on both sides is the
> same).

keith, you're thinking like a guy accustomed to more sophisticated cars.
i've noticed from calvin's sig that he's owned detroit iron, and i think
those are the cars he's referring to.  they all have solid rear axles
(except for the corvette and some recent cars from GM and chrysler).
the torque reaction of the driveshaft causes the rear right wheel 
to lift.

it's common for drag racers to run more spring or compression damping
at the rear right wheel to combat the driveshaft torque reaction.

a 3-link rear suspension often has the upper link offset to the passenger
side to counteract driveshaft torque without having to run as much anti-squat.

that's why in normal street use, the rear right tire always wears more
than the rear left tire.

-teddy
'87 mustang



		
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