Author Topic: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car  (Read 1774 times)

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Offline garrell patterson

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Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« on: January 31, 2022, 06:37:02 PM »
Silly question as high tech as most of you have become but I am going to be running a front wheel drive car capable of over 150MPH, is there going to be any great difference in handling at speed. I have ran 1/8 mile drag strip a few times, different but no problem just need to turn off traction control. Faster speed on county roads and still no change but not 150 MPH. Anyone with experience with FWD?
Garrell
garrell patterson

Offline deepindebt

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2022, 09:32:45 AM »
Our roadster started life as a four wheel drive,handled like it was on rails, has since been outlawed. There are much smarter guys than me on here but i think front wheel drive would be the way to go if you can keep the parts together
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Offline Seldom Seen Slim

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2022, 10:52:36 AM »
I'm pretty sure that a front wheel drive car can go fast at Bonneville.  Take a look at Kieth's car:

https://www.blacksaltracing.com/home.html
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Offline edinlr

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2022, 12:22:17 PM »
I remember the spill someone had with a Honda Insight a few years back.  There seemed to be some issues with going from full power to full stopping mode and the theory was that they needed to pull the chute as soon as they let off the power with a fwd car.  Good luck
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Offline will6er

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2022, 09:46:45 PM »
I've watched that video a number of times. It seemed to me that the car was getting out of shape before it went over. (might just be the angle of the video). Also, I was taught to "drive through" the chute, which should negate any effects of deceleration.

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Offline manta22

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2022, 11:44:27 AM »
Ask Rex Svoboda, he has experience driving fast front wheel drive cars at Bonneville.
Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

Offline John Burk

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2022, 01:30:52 PM »
Use front wheels that give zero scrub . A little toe in . Decelerating in gear could be unstable so slow in neutral .

Offline RansomT

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Re: Handling at Speed with Front Wheel Drive Car
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2022, 01:43:05 PM »
I would recommend a parachute for any speeds at or over 150 mph with a fwd car.  A lot of fwd cars have bigger issues because they are so short than a typical rwd.