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    Good ways to reduce the unsprung weight

    "Simplify, then add lightness" - Colin Chapman

    Looking for tips that you guys are using. I will update the list as the good ideas roll in. If you have weighed the parts, that would be incredible.

    So far this is what I have:

    -Lighter wheels (I have 16x7 SSR Type Cs = 11#)
    -E30 M3 Aluminum Control arms VS regular Steel Control Arms
    -Aluminum calipers( ie Wilwood) VS Steel calipers
    -Floating rotors or Drilled rotors
    -???

    Im sure a coilover setup would be lighter than a spring/ strut setup

    Another idea I have thought about lately is the early model struts VS the late model. Smaller strut = less weight?

    Anything else?
    Simon
    Current Cars:
    -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

    Make R3V Great Again -2020

    #2
    upside down rear shocks
    sigpic

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      #3
      I have e46 m3 PFC direct drive rotors on my e30, they are 4 lbs lighter than stock (e46 m3) rotors on each corner, which is pretty impressive. However, if you are still 4 lug with stock brakes its not gonna get much lighter than that. I work for a race team, and we were forced to switch away from the PFC DD rotors because of massive overheating. With the much heavier stock rotors back on the car it performs exactly the same, data is the same, drivers feel no difference.. And it can actually do an entire race and still have pads left at the end

      As for calipers, again you'll be getting bigger probably, so not really going to save any weight there.

      What is your goal here? I feel like your car is already light enough
      - '88 m54 coupe

      <3

      Comment


        #4
        Um...Titanium bolts? Not alot more weight to lose there. I personally wouldn't trade the rigidity of the later strut tubes for the tiny weight difference.
        Originally posted by LJ851
        kingston is the play by play announcer for this thread.
        ‘Tis by the grace of God that my cars run!

        Originally posted by unloadedak
        #teamross
        Siobhan's Build Thread - UPDATED!

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          #5
          inverted struts/shocks help unsprung as well.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by dsm2002 View Post
            upside down rear shocks
            Originally posted by Wh33lhop View Post
            inverted struts/shocks help unsprung as well.
            Tell me more about this. I am genuinely curious

            Originally posted by Jb325is View Post

            What is your goal here? I feel like your car is already light enough
            I am perfectly happy with the weight of my car, just curious if there is other things I can do to shed weight. Never know until you ask...

            Originally posted by kingston View Post
            Um...Titanium bolts? Not alot more weight to lose there. I personally wouldn't trade the rigidity of the later strut tubes for the tiny weight difference.
            Hmm good point, My car began life with the smaller ones, and it was just something I thought about. Again, just trying to think outside the box.

            I love the idea of adding Ti bolts everywhere haha but that is totally unnecessary and way out of any kind of budget.
            Simon
            Current Cars:
            -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

            Make R3V Great Again -2020

            Comment


              #7
              I can't think of anything else unsprung to hit (and you nailed it with those wheels) but I found an interesting write up from Lotus on the importance of it.

              Hub electric motors spark the question here- http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...y-matter-much/

              College style write up from article- http://www.proteanelectric.com/wp-co...-Services3.pdf

              Personally my eta has felt real nice since going from 32 lb bottlecaps to 39 lb borbets. More responsive steering and better burnouts although thats more the tire component.

              Comment


                #8
                Turner J stock rear bilsteins

                sigpic

                Comment


                  #9
                  Personally if I could loose the 25 pounds I'd like, it would help a lot.

                  Feff
                  MVP Track Time :mrgreen:

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by 2mAn View Post
                    Tell me more about this. I am genuinely curious
                    Basically a standard strut/shock attaches the shock body to the spindle and the shaft to the chassis, making the shaft sprung weight and the shock body unsprung weight.

                    Inverted struts attach the shock body to the chassis (sprung) and the shaft to the spindle (unsprung). Bilsteins are inverted, the AST 5xxx was inverted when they were available, some Stance coilovers are inverted and maybe some other brands I'm forgetting. Inverted struts are also stiffer and will flex less under hard cornering (you won't notice unless you have lots o grip), though I'd argue that the valving is more important than inverted vs. standard.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by dsm2002 View Post
                      Turner J stock rear bilsteins

                      Hey is that 2002 yours?!? I sent you a message on the FAQ asking for a side profile shot with the centras!

                      Get to it!

                      @Feff, Im with you on that! Though I just ate a packed of Trolli sour brite crawlers
                      Simon
                      Current Cars:
                      -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

                      Make R3V Great Again -2020

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Fortune Auto also makes inverted setup on special request.
                        sigpic

                        Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

                        1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

                        Instagram @rebellionforge

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                          #13
                          it's sprung, but ditch the current battery for a miata battery

                          honestly going any further than that is just wasting your time man. unless you go extreme with your reductions you might net you a loss of 25-50lbs or so. you might notice the difference, but that's only a reduction of roughly 2% (that's with a generous weight guesstimate of 2500lbs)

                          when it comes to "adding lightness" on a car in the 2400-2800lb range,

                          adding power > adding lightness

                          slap a turbo on that m50 and you won't care about weight reduction anymore :)

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by jalopi View Post
                            it's sprung, but ditch the current battery for a miata battery

                            honestly going any further than that is just wasting your time man. unless you go extreme with your reductions you might net you a loss of 25-50lbs or so. you might notice the difference, but that's only a reduction of roughly 2% (that's with a generous weight guesstimate of 2500lbs)

                            when it comes to "adding lightness" on a car in the 2400-2800lb range,

                            adding power > adding lightness

                            slap a turbo on that m50 and you won't care about weight reduction anymore :)
                            I guess Im done here then...

                            My car already has a miata battery because my car is a 84 318 and thats the only battery that fits.

                            Ive already weighed my car and it weighs 2450 with a full interior, 12" lukebox and a full tank.

                            I will never turbo my M52. I love it as is...

                            so like I said, I guess Im done Later plans include a CF hood and mirrors, but I might need to add A/C and that would offset what I just dropped, though if we were to get technical it would probably lower my center of gravity haha
                            Simon
                            Current Cars:
                            -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

                            Make R3V Great Again -2020

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Yeah from what I understand about your car you're already at the point of diminishing returns--it gets a lot pricier and/or less street friendly from here. If this is your only car, I'd spend the money on seat time.

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