[V8] track F/R and fun stuff.....:-)

[J123fs at aol.com]

Scott,
 
Lots of people think that automatically going lower will be better- but it  
is not always so.....enough said.
 
I emailed my buddy who might be selling his scirocco Mk1 to me  that I'm 
hoping to turn into a GT4-5 car (deciding on motor as we speak) and we  talked on 
just this same thing and the last thread here on the V8 list, and  about 
relocating the a-arm mounts/ axle changes......fun stuff (Also considering  a 
F-Vee, but big $$ to run). If you want we can go off list with it I might pick  
your brain some more. 
 
And yes, you are correct with Ackermann terminology- I just didn't want to  
muddy the water anymore:-) Funny though-and a good example of what to do, and  
why the front geometry of the 44 is a compromise for packaging and  
comfort-....  is look at any formula car and you can see the steering  rack mounted very 
close indeed to the plane of the front suspension for exactly  that reason of 
helping eliminate bumpsteer issues. 
 
As far as type 85 vs. 44- my thoughts go to the shocks almost  
immediately....... at least in the context of the washboard road and the  Audi being 
schooled by a Ford Ranger.....I had a 5000 tq I did a rallycross and  tsd rally with 
and found the newish Boge's I had in the car not able to  deal with any speed 
effectively, what do you think? I think the breakup of  traction could be the 
wheels are just not on the ground = no traction. 
 
I also think the type 85 fundamentally sits lower than the comfort biased  
type 44 suspension. I know a few folks that have them (Mark Besso are you out  
there?) who might confirm or deny it.I admit to not really knowing about 85's,  
as I never got excited over them being a little portly for my tastes. 
 
I think the 44 can handle pretty  well, just depends what your end need is- 
track car- family hauler, ect. Sadly, I do not think it can  do BOTH very 
effectively, as you compromise comfort or the ability to  absorb pothole impacts 
when you really lower it, not to mention the other  issues we already covered, 
and ergo a good comfortable street setup sorely lacks  front end traction so 
badly due to the weight bias it will just grind the front  tires right off on 
the track!  They DO brake nicely though with all  that weight up there!
 
Time to actually do some work:-)
 
Jack
 

 

>>>>>>>In a message dated 4/17/2007 10:09:29 P.M.  Central Standard Time, 
J123fs at aol.com writes:

Maybe it's time to put this thread to bed, like myself right now- all  the  
midnight oil is gone! :-) (12:08  am)

Jack<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Jack
All good points and well stated.  The ad from eibach I see all the  time sums 
it up "Uncool (big fender-wheel gap pic) Cool (lowered car smaller  
fender-wheel gap pic).  Most folks don't realize how absolutely dead nuts  on that ad 
really is!
 
The type 44 quattro ride height is set for what audi figures are the best  
compromises to suspension geometry.  Drop .5in from that height, you can  see 
the geometry changes become 'significant' (read bumpsteer or really when you  
speak to several differing arcs it's technically ackermann bumpsteer  effect).  
What is really interesting to audis rally roots is 'lifting' a  type 44 by 1in 
actually shows geometry improvement under dynamic  load.
 
The question was also raised about type 44 to 4kq on washboard.  The  
difference is two different suspensions, the type 85 quattro is a traditional  
control arm with swaybar link, and the rear subframe is the front turned around  180 
degrees.  Simplicity and good solid geometry.  That said, it's not  as good 
as a type 44 rear geometry, but as I've discussed, that's not the type  44 
inherent problem.
 
My best success in street performance on type 44/C4 chassis is to put a  
linear rate spring in the rear (sometimes swaybar in rear, usually not) and a  
bigger bar up front with larger wheel tire combo all around with stock or .5in  
drop ride height max.  A set of bilsteins (HD not sports).  This setup  was on 
my 87 5ktqavant, and many here know that the handling was excellent both  
street and track.
 
Dropping a v8 can be expensive, and still be a compromise to a properly  
setup stock ride height car.  Besides, you lower it, it's tougher to put in  those 
255/40 17's, btdt.
 
SJ<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 
 
 
 
 









 
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