Anyone use 'balast' in their Vee?

[*AL*]

I've been exploring the handling characteristics alot more recently and of course being very careful doing so. I've found the weakest handling issue is the front end being too light, especially at speed as the steering does tend to go light. I've since tried a bag of builders sand in the front bonnet area and found the car feels alot more stable, i am aware of a weight limit in the front storage area. Anyone else experimented and what are your findings?

 

[Jamesv6]

Renaults expert advice was indeed "put a bag of cement in there"

I would have though some sort of ballast blocks would be available for such a purpose, maybe a motorsport related thing?

Idea sounds good to me. :approve:

 

[maxi.man]

i know the ren 5 tour de corse cars filled their shock impact tube full of sand to stop car lifting same sort of thing :bow: :race:

 

[*AL*]

So has anyone else tried it to compare? I've found the difference very very noticable, maybe because my car is using KW coilovers?

 

[Ali]

I have no such issues with the front end. Car was sitting at 170 on the speedo on the way to the ring and solid on the road. On the track it was spot on too...

 

[Williams]

I had the front of my old vee full of beer and wine for a BBQ whilst in Switzerland a couple of years back, and i certainly noticed the car felt more planted and turned into corners much sharper... lol.. which of course it should with that weight there!

I'm due to change my OEM exhaust for a lighter full Janspeed. I may transfer the weight saved into the front... see how it feels, and will therefore not increase the cars weight.. just transfer it.

 

[Duncan]

when we did the peak district meet, i had been djing the friday beforehand and had my blooming heavy record bag in the front tray. it definitely felt better in the corners. didnt make any difference to 'lift' as such and still felt the same at motorway speeds as it did without the weight.

when i had the front splitter on my vee i noticed a similar sensation in the corners as having a weight in (but without the weight penalty) and also the splitter pinned the front down more at speed.

 

[chunkv6]

nice idea in theory but isnt the vee 'fat' enough!!??

 

[GTTurbo]

nice idea in theory but isnt the vee 'fat' enough!!??

Very true BUT this a quite an interesting topic, maybe a front spoiler and a bag of ballast will transform the lifting effect at high speeds?

 

[TRW1]

My car will be interesting as we've saved a lot weight, much of which is from nearer the front than the rear.
I've moved my road splitter further forward to make it more effective and will be adding canards and a bigger splitter for track/competition.
On a standard road car big aero attachments may not be to everyones liking so the alternative is adding weight up front....preferably lower down rather than chucking it in the tray but it definitely works.......at the cost of a little acceleration.

 

[*AL*]

My car will be interesting as we've saved a lot weight, much of which is from nearer the front than the rear.
I've moved my road splitter further forward to make it more effective and will be adding canards and a bigger splitter for track/competition.
On a standard road car big aero attachments may not be to everyones liking so the alternative is adding weight up front....preferably lower down rather than chucking it in the tray but it definitely works.......at the cost of a little acceleration.

Surely downforce also costs acceleration? The car is being pushed heavier into the road, ie 'downforce' (if this makes sense). The front spoilers will not help the car at lower speed cornering as you need speed to generate the downforce. With added weight directly over the front axle like a bag of sand in the front boot, handling i found improves quite noticable with lower speed cornering.Give it a go!

 

[Mike T]

Downforce only costs acceleration at higher speeds which is then negated largely as a requirement as cornering speeds and in particular corner exit speeds are higher.

As on track the start is highly critical so is the mass of the car!

Rotational mass (wheels and tyres) have a huge bearing on acceleration (both positive and negative ie braking).

If you wish to go slower to 60 and go round slow corners more quickly then a bag of sand works, if you wish to retain the acceleration and get the front to bite learn to left foot brake as anyone thats been in a 911 with a proper driver will testify, the throttle AND brake are alway in play going round bends.

Take a course on left foot braking, group buy one maybe, it's the way of the mid to rear engined car.

Now where did that canard idea come from??
:rollseyes:

 

[TRW1]

Left foot braking will certainly help the cornering but takes some mastering....best practise on an airfield first as a dab too much brake or too much easing on the throttle as you try and balance it and you'll be off just as quickly.

Canards? think I saw them on a V6 replica once.....

 

[Milky]

58 cans of fosters 1 bottle of Vodka and 5 bags of ice works wonders!

 

[Jamesv6]

All sorts really.

 

[*AL*]

All sorts really.

:rofl: Looks cruel James but if you have to do, then use a ginger child. [smilie=boohoo.gif]

 

[SIMDOG123]

I keep most of my detailing products in there, who'd have thought meguiars shampoo was actually improving my handling.

 

[Zim1]

I tried a bag of sand and messed with the tyre pressures , was happy for a while but when I had to remove it one day I realised what I had been missing! I think it does sit in a bad place as well (too high) , if you were serious ... I'd get 4 slabs of lead made and bolt them on to that massive X underneath the tray ...?
I'd also like to bet that the torque of the V6 would make the extra 25kg sandbag irrelevant(ish)
I can also recommend NOT using your left foot for braking in your V6 Haha! ..

 

[JimA]

i've got a Trophy spoiler fitted & yep front end/steering is uber light @ speed.....

So a couple of 10kg bags of salt ( commercial stuff for your drive etc ) improves things a bit & helps in the snow/ice when you need to self grit :rofl:

Top end speed is of course already reduced courtesy of the Trophy spoiler, so an 20kg upfront doesn't matter if ur after a more stable ride