I think my miata ruined me.

[nando]

if you don't have an ix it's probably not worth it. lol.

[JinormusJ]

Rawb

[stonea]

So Nando when are you going to write a 325ix book? I'm sure r3v will help get it published.

[TobyB]

The stock caster wasn't done by accident - it was done to optimize everything for the most traction & braking.
...
the reason for the near vertical front struts is because the ix is optimized for reduced squat under acceleration, and reduced dive under braking.

At the risk of poking (gently) at a very well- thought out argument-

anti- dive costs you some traction, as you're using just a tiny bit of your retarding
force to hold the car up, and a more- significant amount of your front grip is lost
by the resultant stiffening of the front suspension rate. (anti- squat's done by the rear design)

Yes, a tiny bit of anti- dive nets you more overall braking
traction as you reduce load transfer, IF you let the rear brakes work hard.
However, more is not a good thing, as that gain
is then swamped by suspension stiffness as you increase anti- dive, and how fast
the tradeoff happens is very dependent on tire and road surface.

Plus, when a strut is stood up, doesn't it LOSE anti- dive, all other things being equal?

I always thought (Jenn's E46 xi is very much the second generation of the E30 ix)
that the strut and caster reduction was done in large part to minimize torque effects
on the steering- the car reacts very minimally to significant amounts of front torque,
which I always took as a good thing. It balances traction grip better against cornering
grip, and results in a more- drivable, more capable car in all conditions, at the expense
of ultimate dry- pavement handling (where the AWD is of little value, anyway)

I completely agree that the AWD BMW is built for a different purpose than the RWD car,
and the design of each is optimized for its purpose.

just semantics,
t

[kronus]

tell the class what you did, Julien.

[nando]

At the risk of poking (gently) at a very well- thought out argument-

anti- dive costs you some traction, as you're using just a tiny bit of your retarding
force to hold the car up, and a more- significant amount of your front grip is lost
by the resultant stiffening of the front suspension rate. (anti- squat's done by the rear design)

Yes, a tiny bit of anti- dive nets you more overall braking
traction as you reduce load transfer, IF you let the rear brakes work hard.
However, more is not a good thing, as that gain
is then swamped by suspension stiffness as you increase anti- dive, and how fast
the tradeoff happens is very dependent on tire and road surface.

Plus, when a strut is stood up, doesn't it LOSE anti- dive, all other things being equal?

I always thought (Jenn's E46 xi is very much the second generation of the E30 ix)
that the strut and caster reduction was done in large part to minimize torque effects
on the steering- the car reacts very minimally to significant amounts of front torque,
which I always took as a good thing. It balances traction grip better against cornering
grip, and results in a more- drivable, more capable car in all conditions, at the expense
of ultimate dry- pavement handling (where the AWD is of little value, anyway)

I completely agree that the AWD BMW is built for a different purpose than the RWD car,
and the design of each is optimized for its purpose.

just semantics,
t

thanks for poking holes in my theory :p

perhaps (likely) you are correct. Either way, they didn't do it because it was a last minute decision to shoehorn AWD into a RWD platform - it was engineered that way with a specific purpose. I had thought the more vertical struts wouldn't compress as much under braking.

Speaking of lacking torque steer - yeah, you won't see it in an ix. The half shafts are actually of equal length, just part of the benefit from the design of the front diff/oil pan configuration. I'm not really sure how the upright struts would affect it.

This design is also why the front/rear weight balance isn't much affected - the added weight is all behind the front wheels (unlike say, an Audi or any FWD based platform).

[matthugie]

tell the class what you did, Julien.

[Julien]

tell the class what you did, Julien.

*ahem*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jxSjt3wU3s&t=2m31s

[mr2peak]

Now to to Flyin Miata and lighten your wallet. Their Butterfly brace is a great pieces, wish someone made one for the E30

[Julien]

Now to to Flyin Miata and lighten your wallet. Their Butterfly brace is a great pieces, wish someone made one for the E30

Previous owner has already done a good bit of that on this car. I was thinking hard dog roll and door bars.



Nando:
Thanks for the great reply. I always thought the different caster on the 325ix was to reduce stress on the cv and give full turning radius like the rwd (which is rare)

[markseven]

yeah i'm not a fan of ixs either. I mean i get it - they have all-whee-drive capability. But really, if you want that you could just buy a jeep - which are probably way more capable than an ix anyway, and not have to live with a clown car as a dd. :p

ftfy ;)

[Kershaw]

give full turning radius like the rwd (which is rare)

It's definitely not. My ix has a larger turning radius than rwd e30s.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Bump: I'm now tied between number of E30's vs Miata's owned.



Rolling fenders, swapping suspension and wheels from the black car, and replacing the top this weekend.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Bump: I'm now tied between number of E30's vs Miata's owned.







Rolling fenders, swapping suspension and wheels from the black car, and replacing the top this weekend.

So when you gonna break that tie and buy another e30.

[Exodus_2pt0]

I dunno man, this thing only has 34k and is 100% rust free. If I found a good trade it would be a possibility, but would be a hard decision to make.