MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 12:08

Title: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 12:08
Hello!
Have just managed to get the 2 on some corner scales, and there is a little bit of a difference across the front (14kg, 6 across the rear).  I'm guessing purely down to the steering system, ABS unit etc.  Has anybody evened it out?  Or should I just start thinking about a subwoofer in the passenger footwell? ;D
Ta, Joe.
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 1979scotte on January 23, 2021, 12:21
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 12:08Hello!
Have just managed to get the 2 on some corner scales, and there is a little bit of a difference across the front (14kg, 6 across the rear).  I'm guessing purely down to the steering system, ABS unit etc.  Has anybody evened it out?  Or should I just start thinking about a subwoofer in the passenger footwell? ;D
Ta, Joe.

Usually if you want to even it out you fit coilovers and have it corner weighted.
I can't say I noticed a world of difference when I had my silver done.
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 12:27
Thanks.  Not sure the roads around me are coilover compatible ::) , maybe I just shouldn't worry about it too much.  Probably a fair amount of effort to go to for not much noticeable difference?
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 12:53
Evening it out only makes sense if you weighed with driver.

Even then it is a moot point on the road, but yes, ´you´ (meaning me) do notice the different betwen cornering one way of the other. Pushing it to the limit, only my driver side front júst rubs. The other not. Add a passenger and both corners rub the same.

Also I would not know hów to even it out apart from losing some more myself. Ádding weight is worse than a bit of difference.
I´d agree with the comment that unless you have coil overs which must be load adjusted it is not info you can do something with.


p.s. what was the weight of you car??
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 14:01
Definitely no intention of adding any weight!  Other than for what I would consider useful things anyway.  And unfortunately it's my side that was heavier anyway, without me, so that won't help.

Total weight was 1058kg.  full tank of fuel, spare wheel, tool kit etc still in the frunk.  I took it very much as a baseline, not that I plan on doing too much to it, but always nice to know where you started. :)
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 14:21
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 14:01Definitely no intention of adding any weight!  Other than for what I would consider useful things anyway.  And unfortunately it's my side that was heavier anyway, without me, so that won't help.

It´s the way it is.

QuoteTotal weight was 1058kg.  full tank of fuel, spare wheel, tool kit etc still in the frunk.  I took it very much as a baseline, not that I plan on doing too much to it, but always nice to know where you started. :)

Good thinking.
Mine was 1060 that way.
Did not plan too much either but slid quite far down that rabbit hole...
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 14:25
Yeah, I'll probably try to resist the temptation for now.  And stick to fixing the niggles it currently has. :))
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 14:55
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 14:25Yeah, I'll probably try to resist the temptation for now.  And stick to fixing the niggles it currently has. :))

Deleting things occasionally ´solves´ malfunctions ;-)

Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 15:05
Very true.  If I just remove the plastics from the frunk, I won't have to buy a new latch for the lid. ;)  :))
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 15:27
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 15:05Very true.  If I just remove the plastics from the frunk, I won't have to buy a new latch for the lid. ;)  :))

And changing a light bulb or doing anything else up there ois made a lot simpler too.

The wisdom of a spare tyre & jack versus can of spray foam can be discussed too.
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 15:56
Also true, though I have just been to the trouble of replacing all the plastic rivet things. ;)

I had been considering ditching them.  While it's obviously more reassuring to have the spare, and it doesn't matter if you completely destroy a tyre.  I've had one puncture (found a pothole) in the last ~14 years.  And have had a couple of newer cars that only had slime and a pump anyway.

The last sporty car I had was a Cayman.  Which had a spacesaver with it when I got it, which the last owner had purchased at some point.  Slime and a pump as standard.  After doing a little bit of research it turned out that if you had to change a rear wheel you had the choice of leaving either the wheel or your passenger behind, as the only place one would fit in the car was on the passenger seat. :)) At the point I took the spare out and just decided if the slime (I did get a new bottle that was in date) didn't fix it I'd phone a big yellow taxi. ;D
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 16:09
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 15:56While it's obviously more reassuring to have the spare, and it doesn't matter if you completely destroy a tyre.

It is very very rare that you can swap a wheel in a safe place.
That is not mentioning the lost locknut or a stuck lug and indeed the wheel storage.
The foam can will get you on your way in minutes. Ok so it is limited speed/distance but in a way that is safe too as it forces you to get it sorted immediately.

Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: AdamR28 on January 23, 2021, 16:32
14kg and 6kg difference across an axle isn't much at all, you wouldn't notice if it was evened up.

You would get more variation than that from a couple of psi tyre pressure variation, or less than 1mm mis-alignment in height of the scales.
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Joesson on January 23, 2021, 17:01
Quote from: 11891952 on January 23, 2021, 15:56Also true, though I have just been to the trouble of replacing all the plastic rivet things. ;)

I had been considering ditching them.  While it's obviously more reassuring to have the spare, and it doesn't matter if you completely destroy a tyre.  I've had one puncture (found a pothole) in the last ~14 years.  And have had a couple of newer cars that only had slime and a pump anyway.

The last sporty car I had was a Cayman.  Which had a spacesaver with it when I got it, which the last owner had purchased at some point.  Slime and a pump as standard.  After doing a little bit of research it turned out that if you had to change a rear wheel you had the choice of leaving either the wheel or your passenger behind, as the only place one would fit in the car was on the passenger seat. :)) At the point I took the spare out and just decided if the slime (I did get a new bottle that was in date) didn't fix it I'd phone a big yellow taxi. ;D


At least one break down Company has a clause in their terms and conditions that a spare, if included when the car was new, must be available in the event of their services being required.
Title: Re: Weight Distribution
Post by: Petrus on January 23, 2021, 18:11
Quote from: Joesson on January 23, 2021, 17:01At least one break down Company has a clause in their terms and conditions that a spare, if included when the car was new, must be available in the event of their services being required.

...and yet anóther example of insurance rules running our lives.