How much suspension travel does a car have?

The amount of shock travel needed depends on the type of suspension you are working with (solid axle, or independent) so it is best to consider wheel travel as well. Most street driven vehicles should have a minimum of 2.5-3” of compression travel at the wheel and 2-2.5” of rebound travel as a good rule of thumb.

Does Weight Affect suspension?

Increased weight causing changes in suspension travel and geometry, which affects the angle of the wheel resulting in the reduction of tyre contact with the road and increased tyre wear.

Is it bad to drive 4 hours straight?

As a general rule, it’s best to take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours, and to not drive for more than eight hours in a day, to ensure you stay alert and avoid the associated risks of driving for too long without a rest.

Is it bad to rev your car?

Letting your car sit for a minute or two right after it starts is a good idea. It helps distribute oil throughout the engine and get the engine block and engine oil up to temperature. Revving the engine won’t speed up the process. In fact, that could cause easily avoided damage.

How do you calculate suspension travel?

Raise the wheel to ~4” above ride height (measured vertically), record the exact compression. Measure and record the distance between the shock mounts. The amount the shock moved between droop and bump divided by the amount you moved the wheel is your motion ratio.

What is suspension travel?

Suspension travel refers to how much movement a suspension mechanism allows and is usually a measure of how much the wheel axle moves when the suspension compresses. Pedal bob and squat refer to how a suspension (usually rear), responds to the rider while pedaling.

How does weight affect car handling?

Short answer: More weight means your car will have more inertia, and will take longer to change direction. This means that a heavier car generally takes longer to slow down when braking and for its direction to change once you start turning. A light car generally handles better than a heavy car.

How long does a car’s suspension last?

When uneven pressure is applied to the axles resulting in under or over steer, the suspension life will decline at an ever-quickening rate. By contrast, when monitored and maintained in neutral steer, the suspension could last well over 100k miles. A failing suspension is usually evident in how the car rides.

How important is suspension in F1 and NASCAR racing?

Since F1 cars and NASCARs do a lot of accelerating, braking and steering, their performance will benefit from a properly tuned suspension. Weight transfer is a component of physics and Mother Nature. Most folks are painfully deluded into thinking things like “sway bars” and “anti-roll bars”, “stiff springs” and such prevent weight transfer.

What is the role of suspension in a car?

A big part of the role of the suspension is to control how these forces are distributed between the tyres. This is further complicated by the fact that cars with down-force generating bodywork are very sensitive to changes in ride height and rake angle, especially in the case of ground-effect down force.