Track Width Effects/wheel spacers?

[cygnusx1]

What if any handling changes can be acheived by simply adding/subtracting wheel spacers to the front, rear or both? Just curious because this doesn't come up much in discussions.

 

This is different than lengthening LCA's by way of camber, or isn't it?

 

Here is a pretty good discussion...

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=102536&highlight=track+width

[boodlefoof]

Adding wheel spacers up front will increase your tire scrub, which will increase steering effort. It will not change your camber (assuming the spacer doesn't flex!).

[johnc]

Track width is a prime component in lateral load transfer, chassis roll, and also, to a small degree, affects roll center. Track width changes via wheel spacers is a common way to move load transfer to the front or rear without resorting to bigger ARBs. Asymetric track widths (wider front) also reduce diagonal load transfer and help power application from the inside rear wheel.

[cygnusx1]

So a widening the front track will transfer load to the rear? I think I get it. But not totally sure.

 

I guess widening the track is like softening the swaybar on that end. No?

 

Also, scrub radius can be felt when locking up one front tire. The steering wheel will pull one way or the other. With positive scrub, it will pull away from the locked up tire.

[260DET]

Basically, wider front track gives better turn in, wider rear track gives better power down.

[JMortensen]

If you've corner weighted a car you know that if the outside tire gains weight, the inside rear loses weight. So if you can minimize the weight transfer the inside rear won't get as light, giving better traction. Wider rear track also gives better grip because it will transfer less weight to the outside tire, but wider front track will help traction to the inside rear as well.

 

Basically, as low, wide and light as you can practically get the car the better.

[johnc]

BTW... a wider front track is one way to get a Quaife diff to work well.