You can thank me later s:D :D s:D I shall be attempting this tomorrow. Need to make sure my car doesn't really weigh 1400KG like the MOT said.
Step 1
Get down to Tesco and buy yourself 2 x value bathroom scales. They were £4 each at the time and I doubt they are much more now.
Each scale weighed up to 150 kg giving us a max measurable weight of 300 kg per corner or 1200kg total.
If you are planning on doing a lot of corner weighting and adjustments I recommend you buy eight (still only £32). You will see why in a bit.
Step 2
Push the scales together and lie some wood over the top of both of them to spread the load. Most scales are 2" high and we used a 3" x 2" bit of timber to spread the load over them both. This meant we could use three bits of 4" x 4" to bring the car up to level while we measure one corner at a time. If you bought scales for all corners you would not need the wood and the whole process would be much quicker.
If buying 8 you can just slide them all under every wheel. which makes it a bit quicker!
Step 3.
Jack the car up, slide the 4x4 under three wheels, slide the two scales and wood under one wheel. Hey presto, corner weights.
You can also use this to measure a rough unsprung weight of the car.
Shamelessly stolen and slightly adapted from this source.
m http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=153066 (http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=153066) m
So, how much does it weigh then?!
Will do it tomorrow after I've bought the scales s:) :) s:)
If you've got a reasonable amount of fuel in the tank you may well exceed the 300kg limit of your scales on the back wheels.
Alternatively, just drive it over the weigh bridge at the local tip and ask them to tell you the numbers. It's not corner weighted, but then by the time you've jacked each corner, found level ground, faffed about etc etc I'm not sure that a one wheel at a time method is ever going to give you reliable enough numbers to properly 'corner weigh' a car.
There isn't a single tip in the hole of Croydon council that has a weighbridge. Spent most of yesterday ringing places up asking if they had a weighbridge. +how reliable are those weighbridges that are used to measure trucks filled with scrap?
+ some people's cars may not be road legal or drivable so its handy home trick.
There must be a tip in the area with a weighbridge. All waste is sold/charged for by the tonne. Whether they are willing to let a car onto one is a different matter "Elf and safety innit?". Although most councils do have facility to pay to have your vehicle weighed, I've never tried taking a car over one...
Weighbridges are usually good to about 10 kilos.
I've called the local council and through to trading standards who stated all tips in the area do not have weighbridges available for the public. They did say there used to be but they have closed. s:( :( s:(
There is one in Guildford which the internet said was closest. but that's still a fair drive away s:( :( s:(
Scrap metal places will have them. I've blagged the use of one a few times before.
Whats wrong with just accepting toyotas figures?
Well I'm sure a few of us have modified their cars to an extent where it becomes a distinct advantage. Therefore its good to know things like weight and bhp for the essential calculations and pub talk. Corner weights are good for setting up suspension, I used to use 4 scales for my single seater but it was only 320kg.
I'd be interested in this so that I knew how many clicks to turn the left suspension when there's a passenger.
This because of the very noticeable change in handling when someone is next to you. Maybe biasing the damping helps
Quote from: "StuC"Whats wrong with just accepting toyotas figures?
My recent MOT said my car weighed 1,400kg. If that's correct, I think I have a problem that needs to be looked at s:) :) s:)
Scrap metal in purely way said they will charge a fiver. Yay! On the to do list the weekend.
I need to weigh mine too s:) :) s:)
Quote from: "Jrichards20"Quote from: "StuC"Whats wrong with just accepting toyotas figures?
My recent MOT said my car weighed 1,400kg. If that's correct, I think I have a problem that needs to be looked at s:) :) s:)
Were you sitting in the car when they weighed it?
Just wondering if it is an 'eating all the pies' problem like some of us on here? s;-) ;-) s;-)
Granted I've put on some weight, but not 300kgs worth! s:) :) s:) and yes, I do have a pie problem s;) ;) s;)
My name is Patrick, and I'm a pizzaholic
Hi, my name is Stu and I last ate a custard cream (or 3) yesterday. I feel so ashamed. s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
I've just eaten two croissants and two large sugary cupcakes with a large latte to wash it all down. Well there goes over half my daily calorie intake in an half an hour.
Good work! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
4 croissants, 4 muffins, 2 iced buns, 2 large lattes and soon a bag of sweets. Driving all day does not help, but fitting a turbo did make up the difference I just now need a bigger turbo s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
And I thought I was bad Richard, you'll need a V8 soon s:) :) s:) it wont just be our cars needing industrial scales at this rate s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Well I'm happy to be bucking the Trend - I've lost 20kg this year (since jan) so my car should be faster than ever when I finally get to use it s:D :D s:D
Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Well I'm happy to be bucking the Trend - I've lost 20kg this year (since jan) so my car should be faster than ever when I finally get to use it s:D :D s:D
What's your secret, every mr2 needs to know.
Quote from: "rbuckingham"Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Well I'm happy to be bucking the Trend - I've lost 20kg this year (since jan) so my car should be faster than ever when I finally get to use it s:D :D s:D
What's your secret, every mr2 needs to know.
He's spend so much money on the car he can't afford to eat??
That or its the stress of the transplant.
Either way, good result Mark. s:-D :-D s:-D
3 peanut butter kitkats worked away in a few hours s:( :( s:( the shame. Oh the shame.
Not going to be corner weighting my car in the next few weeks
Quote from: "mr-ed_smt"Quote from: "rbuckingham"Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Well I'm happy to be bucking the Trend - I've lost 20kg this year (since jan) so my car should be faster than ever when I finally get to use it s:D :D s:D
What's your secret, every mr2 needs to know.
He's spend so much money on the car he can't afford to eat??
Yes! Hahaha
Quote from: "StuC"That or its the stress of the transplant.
Either way, good result Mark. s:-D :-D s:-D
The stress was enough to turn any man back to a bag of Harribo or 5 s:D :D s:D
s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "mr-ed_smt"Quote from: "rbuckingham"Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Well I'm happy to be bucking the Trend - I've lost 20kg this year (since jan) so my car should be faster than ever when I finally get to use it s:D :D s:D
What's your secret, every mr2 needs to know.
He's spend so much money on the car he can't afford to eat??
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
the money that you would have spent to reduce the weight of the 2 may have cost more than what it's cost you to loose a few pounds. Silver lining and all s;) ;) s;)
This is very true
I had my car weighed today, it was 958kg with a full tank of fuel.
Woh that's light, mine came in at 980 with half a tank.
I've not got anything to compare it against so wasn't sure if it was light or not. That is with no driver though?
That's pretty good Tim, did you get it corner weight set up or was it just a weigh?
Yep mine was without driver as well.
That's with all that additional bracing and a half cage? I suppose you've made a fair amount of weight loss with the engine compartment and soft top removal.
Yes it was corner weighted yesterday at Blink Motorsport.
Removal of all interior trim and carpets, sound deadening, hood, OEM battery, frunk, tool kit and spare has obviously helped. Also a lot of weight came out of the engine bay, the exhaust and cats were very heavy compared to the new setup, even things like the EVAP and induction bits were quite heavy. Even little things like removing most of the rear bumper will have contributed I suppose.
(http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p704/tjobrien72/C4CA2E2D-E5A1-45CE-B192-0AAC15B40BB7_zpssmhfvyip.jpg) (http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/tjobrien72/media/C4CA2E2D-E5A1-45CE-B192-0AAC15B40BB7_zpssmhfvyip.jpg.html)
Nice one, looking pretty serious Tim s:) :) s:)
Quote from: "Jrichards20"Woh that's light, mine came in at 980 with half a tank.
How did you find the weight distribution between the wheels?
Front 43.4%
Rear 56.6%
Full tank of fuel I expect was also making it a bit heavier at the rear.
I have just been reading the Top Gear hot hatch test and they weighed all the cars on 4 sets of scales, the least accurate was the clio 220, supposed to weigh 1204kg and they weighed their one at 1277kg so a massive 73kg out!
Very interesting I thought in view of the VW situation.
Yep, the big manufacturers have been getting away with all sorts for years, it's the same with the mpg claims that you can't even get close to!
Quote from: "TiM3"Front 43.4%
Rear 56.6%
Full tank of fuel I expect was also making it a bit heavier at the rear.
That's interesting. Have you got a track day booked to try it all out?
I need to find somewhere to set mine up too.
Having read this post I thought I would give it a go as we know the race car weight with me in it from the circuits which is
race car , me and quarter of a tank of fuel 1008kilos (Regulation minimum weight 1000 kilos )
two sets of scales under each wheel with me in the car and a quarter of a tank of fuel they all added up
to 1017 kilos of which I thought that was very close to what we know
So we altered the coil overs to get the best results we could with me in the car and came out at this
Front left 201 kilos front right 257 kilos
rear left 280 kilos rear right 279 kilos
left side front to rear 42% -58% right side front to rear 48% - 52%
those figures are best we could get so the next job is to shift weight around
So it does work for under £40
The only thing I noticed was with two scales and a bit of would between them for the wheel to split the load I was expecting both scales
to read the same but they did not but the figures added up ok
Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Quote from: "TiM3"Front 43.4%
Rear 56.6%
Full tank of fuel I expect was also making it a bit heavier at the rear.
That's interesting. Have you got a track day booked to try it all out?
I need to find somewhere to set mine up too.
Oulton Park tomorrow Mark, thought it'd be better to go to a track I know well whilst I get used to the car again! Looks like I might get a dry day too..
Quote from: "HUTTY"Having read this post I thought I would give it a go as we know the race car weight with me in it from the circuits which is
race car , me and quarter of a tank of fuel 1008kilos (Regulation minimum weight 1000 kilos )
two sets of scales under each wheel with me in the car and a quarter of a tank of fuel they all added up
to 1017 kilos of which I thought that was very close to what we know
So we altered the coil overs to get the best results we could with me in the car and came out at this
Front left 201 kilos front right 257 kilos
rear left 280 kilos rear right 279 kilos
left side front to rear 42% -58% right side front to rear 48% - 52%
those figures are best we could get so the next job is to shift weight around
So it does work for under £40
The only thing I noticed was with two scales and a bit of would between them for the wheel to split the load I was expecting both scales
to read the same but they did not but the figures added up ok
That's pretty cool thanks for testing it out for us!
Quote from: "TiM3"Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Quote from: "TiM3"Front 43.4%
Rear 56.6%
Full tank of fuel I expect was also making it a bit heavier at the rear.
That's interesting. Have you got a track day booked to try it all out?
I need to find somewhere to set mine up too.
Oulton Park tomorrow Mark, thought it'd be better to go to a track I know well whilst I get used to the car again! Looks like I might get a dry day too..
Yes weather is looking good, I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes. Best of luck
Tim that's not bad accuracy, all things considered. If you can get corner weights off a proper set of scales and compare that'd be good to know if it is an over reading of 1.3kg per scale, or if there is a bigger variance.
Any plans to optimize the weight balance using the individual spring heights? My motorsport lecturer said get the diagonals balanced in preference to the L/R. It'd be good to see if you can move e.g. 20kg over the front left, and see if you can notice this in your laptimes..