Notices
Autocross/Road SCCA Solo II, SCCA Club Racing, Redline Track Events, Speed Trial, Speed Ventures, Grand-Am Cup, JGTC, Procar Australia

Strange Corner Balance?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-14-2016, 04:45 PM
  #1  
N80
New Member
Thread Starter
 
N80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SC
Posts: 717
Received 25 Likes on 19 Posts
Default Strange Corner Balance?

I was at the track this weekend and put my 07 Enthusiast on the scales they have at the track. My Z is completely stock. Corner weights looked like this with me in the car:

L Front: 950# R Front: 653#

L Rear: 800# R Front: 752#

Total weight: 3,155#

We weighed it twice. Same numbers.

Several things seem wrong. First, curb weight for stock Enthusiast is listed at about 3,350#. I have lighter (Enkei) wheels but larger tires (265 Hankook RS-3s) and the spare tire and jack removed. But I weigh 200#. Fuel tank was near full.

So the total weight seems off.

Then there is the difference between the front corners. 950# on the left and 653# on the right?!?! That seems crazy.

Should I assume the scales were wonky? (They were using them in impound for the races.) If not, what's up?
Old 02-14-2016, 05:09 PM
  #2  
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
dcains's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lutz, FL
Posts: 5,126
Received 435 Likes on 342 Posts
Default

Rear seems OK, but 300# difference up front seems extreme. Overall and front/rear seems pretty close, though.
Old 02-14-2016, 05:27 PM
  #3  
Z1NONLY
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Z1NONLY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SW Fl
Posts: 6,503
Received 95 Likes on 61 Posts
Default

Sway bar pre-load gave me some strange numbers up front one of the times I corner balanced my Z.

That still seems like a bit much though.

My best guess is that the FR scale is off by a lot. If you add LF+RR and double it, the car is much closer to spec. (for curb weight with you in it)

Your car is either amazingly light AND it has a ridiculously "short" RF suspension assembly, or the scale at that corner is way off.

Will they let you back the car on the scales? (or enter from the other side)

That would tell you a lot. If you turn the car around and suddenly the LR is 250lbs lighter than it should be, then you know it's the scales.

If you turn the car around and the RF is still pushing down on the scale with 250lbs less force than it should be....then you should start troubleshooting the car.
Old 02-14-2016, 07:55 PM
  #4  
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
 
MicVelo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Northern California
Posts: 10,047
Received 3,263 Likes on 2,321 Posts
Default

It seems a little on the high side for the FL to be THAT much higher but not unusual.... driver weight and steering gear weight compensation. Keep in mind that corner weighting is NEVER (or never should be) equal because of that.

Ever wonder why the battery on all Z cars are on that side of the car?

I would also not presume it's the scales as they are/should be calibrated if used for impound purposes. Just like buying meat at the market, they are routinely checked by the "authorities".
Old 02-15-2016, 04:02 AM
  #5  
Z1NONLY
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Z1NONLY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SW Fl
Posts: 6,503
Received 95 Likes on 61 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by MicVelo
It seems a little on the high side for the FL to be THAT much higher but not unusual.... driver weight and steering gear weight compensation. Keep in mind that corner weighting is NEVER (or never should be) equal because of that.
I don't know:

With me in the car:
Name:  20150823_114326_zps8cyitadj.jpg
Views: 328
Size:  213.6 KB


Now, That's after the corner balance, but the three times I have done my car, and the handful of other cars I have corner balanced, I have never seen a single corner be so far from it's other side (left to right. before or after balancing).

I suspect the scale because his car is "missing" ~200lbs AND one lonely corner just coincidentally happens to be 200lbs lighter than it should be.

I would be less suspicions of the scales if the total weight added up.
Old 02-15-2016, 06:58 AM
  #6  
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
 
MicVelo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Northern California
Posts: 10,047
Received 3,263 Likes on 2,321 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Z1NONLY
I don't know:

With me in the car:



Now, That's after the corner balance, but the three times I have done my car, and the handful of other cars I have corner balanced, I have never seen a single corner be so far from it's other side (left to right. before or after balancing).

I suspect the scale because his car is "missing" ~200lbs AND one lonely corner just coincidentally happens to be 200lbs lighter than it should be.

I would be less suspicions of the scales if the total weight added up.

Not exactly sure if you're disagreeing with me or what but your pic shows the loaded weight - a really good side-side balance - exactly what I was saying.

But whatever the case, it definitely "could be" the scales. And if it is.... I'd sure as he*l challenge an "underweight DQ" with the scrutineers. Heh heh...
Old 02-15-2016, 10:05 AM
  #7  
N80
New Member
Thread Starter
 
N80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SC
Posts: 717
Received 25 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

I should have put the car on the scales facing the other way. It just did not dawn on me at the time. I weighed it twice but both times facing the same way. Doh!

Will check it again next time I'm at the track.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JDMStanced
Wheels & Tires
11
03-01-2016 10:15 PM
Traininvain
Zs & Gs For Sale
12
02-20-2016 03:18 PM
sauer420
Wheels & Tires
6
02-14-2016 03:48 PM
Detailed Image
Cleaning & Detailing
0
02-11-2016 04:49 AM
Akkidonz
Buying/Leasing
7
02-10-2016 07:13 AM



Quick Reply: Strange Corner Balance?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:04 PM.