[s-cars] active sway bar

[Peter Golledge]

If you want to see how "ugly" Electronic stability systems are take an RS4
for a run on an Ice track.  The default mode fights any sort of sporty
(basic oversteer) turns.  Even after turning ESP "off" you still find some
unexpected brake actuations as you crank through some big rally style turns.
There is still some sort of monitoring/correction going on and it fights you
at exactly the wrong times.

Basically it takes the 420HP monster it could be and makes it something
less. :-(

Cheers

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Pasqualoni, James E
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:06 AM
To: sbpowers at gmail.com; tedebearp at yahoo.com
Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [s-cars] active sway bar

Is this a compnent of the new 'Active Steering' that is being employed by
BMW?  Would certainly give the steering more "bite' in the twisties.

James Pasqualoni
Boston Global Advisors
T: 617-204-2406

----- Original Message -----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com <s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com>
To: Theodore Chen <tedebearp at yahoo.com>
Cc: S-Cars <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Sat Oct 27 11:48:10 2007
Subject: Re: [s-cars] active sway bar

your comment tells me that perhaps BMW haven't gotten it right, e.g.
the control part. I think the idea is sound but the implementation isn't.

if it's dynamic that implies that they are pumping variable pressure to the
servo under computer control. the pressure into the servo unit is what
modifies the stiffness of the bar.

what if you replaced all that computer control crap with a hydraulic screw
pump, e.g. like what you have to adjust ride height on motorcycle shocks.
the only moving part is a "screw" into a cylinder - pressure is
increased/decreased by moving the "screw" into/out of the cylinder.

that would allow one to set the stiffness and adjust it very easily (within
a range) if it needed changing.

Steve

On 10/26/07, Theodore Chen <tedebearp at yahoo.com> wrote:
> bmw calls it dynamic roll control.  if you like driving, run away!  it's
part of what causes the recent bmws to feel more like video games.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Steve Powers <sbpowers at gmail.com>
> To: S-Cars <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 9:08:27 PM
> Subject: [s-cars] active sway bar
>
> I was at a high-end body shop yesterday here in Seattle and got a 
> chance to eye a BMW 5-series rear subframe up close and personal. The 
> unit had been entirely removed from the car with the wheels and struts 
> still attached and undamaged.
>
> I couldn't help but notice the servo lump with hydraulic lines located 
> smack dab in the middle of the rear sway bar. It's an active 
> suspension (anti-roll) mechanism that is controlled hydraulically.
> Assuming the rates were done properly, would be a pretty 
> sweet-adjust-it-from-the-driver's-seat sort of gizmo.
>
> Otherwise, it would be a large sinkhole for Pentosin.
>
> I could see some here (hi Hap!) modifying such a beast for use in our
cars...
>
> Steve Powers
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