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From: seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (D.A. Seifert)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Suspension systems
Message-ID: <1063@ihuxl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Apr-84 09:29:25 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxl.1063
Posted: Thu Apr 26 09:29:25 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Apr-84 04:13:23 EST
References: <7368@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 38

The trick to having good handling is (a) good suspension geometry,
(b) good sprung to unsprung mass ratio, (c) sticky tires, (d) low
overall mass, (e) low center of gravity, (f) soft springs (surprise!)
(g) misc like good shocks

A good ride requires not (a1) large overall mass, but (a2) good
sprung to unsprung mass ratio,(b) soft springs, (c) misc like good
shocks

Problem is that good suspension geometry is HARD TO GET! Even
Formula 1 race cars have suspensions that are a comprimise(sp)!
Also, a good sprung-to-unsprung mass ratio is a lot cheaper to
get by increasing the sprung mass than it is by decreasing the
unsprung mass (alloy wheels and suspension pieces cost BUCKS)
Independant suspension helps a lot, but requires four additional
constant-velocity joints.

You may be wondering about the soft springs?  These help keep
the tires in contact with the road, for better traction.
A tire floating around in mid-air due to stiff spring isn't doing
you any good.  Rallye cars sometimes actually have springs *softer*
than stock!!  The next question is "don't soft springs allow
lots of body roll?" The answer is yes, but that's what fat anti-roll
bars are for! and these don't hurt the ride like stiff springs do!

So what cars both ride well *and* handle well? Try something from
Europe.  The best riding car I've ridden in was a Mercedes 300 Diesel.
(Infinitely better than Caddys or Lincolns!) I've received many
favorable comments on both the ride and handling of my BMW 320i.

A good book with info on both handling and ride is _H_o_w _t_o _M_a_k_e _Y_o_u_r
_C_a_r _H_a_n_d_l_e, I think the author's name is "Puhn".
-- 
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