Offset??

[RipperXX]

Sorry I have absolutely no real experiance with any suspention mods.

I'm going though the threads here wondering what exactly is the tire offset, and how do you adjust it???

I would like to know as in the distant future im going to want some nice brand name wheels and my car lowered with Eibach pro springs.


Also would you recomend I go with the KYB AGX gas shocks? I ask because i'm going to be doing all this for handeling, not looks.

I'm mainly intrested in a 17" wheel MAYBE 18, and just trying to figure out whats the widest and best wheel/tire size to go with for handeling. But not rubbing the fender wells or anything like that.





On a side note, I was just wondering. Could you make a AWD act more like a RWD in turns, if you put smaller wheels in the back? Like 16" in the back and 17" in the front?

 

[jtmcinder]

I'm going though the threads here wondering what exactly is the tire offset, and how do you adjust it????

Offset is the distance from the wheel's center (as in, half way between the rim-lips) to the mounting face. Positive offset means that the mounting face is farther to the outside, which makes the wheel tuck in under the car more. (There's some Kalifornian posting that positive used to mean the opposite, but he's just covering up for his errors, as this is total nonsense.)

Offset is not adjustable (barring reforging the wheel), but you can use spacers to lower the offset ... i.e., push the wheel out from under the car.

[snipped out questions that have been answered 15 times this week]

On a side note, I was just wondering. Could you make a AWD act more like a RWD in turns, if you put smaller wheels in the back? Like 16" in the back and 17" in the front?

You have it backwards. To move more torque to the rear, you'd put larger tires on the back. And it would probably work ... for about ten minutes. Then your center diff would seize and you'd get to see what it's like to have all four lock up with no way to stop it.

Luckily, Cusco makes a 35/65 center diff for our cars, if you really want to do it right.

- Jtoby

 

[RipperXX]

Luckily, Cusco makes a 35/65 center diff for our cars, if you really want to do it right.

- Jtoby

Cool,
Do you happen to know what the stock center splits the power too? I know it's not 50/50 and seems like if it was 40/60, 35/65 wouldn't be much of an imporvement, but I could be wrong there.


And the reasion I thought you would want the smaller wheel/tire in the rear is because smaller wheels are easier to turn, so I thought that would incress torq to the ground and make it easier to lose traction on demand.

 

[jtmcinder]

Cool,
Do you happen to know what the stock center splits the power too? I know it's not 50/50....

There are two kinds of "I know": one is that you have the truth in declarative memory and the other is just another way of saying "I think."

This is a good example of the second kind.

- Jtoby

ps. in case that was too obnoxious and abstract ... our center diff is a 50/50

 

[HALO1]

Why would you want to lose traction, unless you're drifting?

My school of thought on this: in general, if you're just getting involved with suspension work, you should focus on putting MORE traction on your front tires, rather than LESS on your rears. ..unless you're talking about some sort of advanced center diff, such as the cusco, but this is a hugely expensive option.

However, some oversteer may help you, but again, I wouldn't focus on this if you're just starting out.

 

[RipperXX]

There are two kinds of "I know": one is that you have the truth in declarative memory and the other is just another way of saying "I think."

This is a good example of the second kind.

- Jtoby

ps. in case that was too obnoxious and abstract ... our center diff is a 50/50

Wow, well I didn't know for a fact, I just assumed it since from what I know 50/50 makes cornering more difficult. I was under the asumption most all AWD cars sent more power to the rear than front, so they corner better.

Also is there anywhere I could send my tranny to be rebuilt and have this cusco center diff installed? Also what about a Kaaz center diff??? Because thats what I was going to go with but does it split the power any deferently?

 

[jtmcinder]

99% of all car-based AWDs are 50/50. The only exception that comes to mind is the STi, which is adjustable and can be as rear-biased as 35/65. I'm sure that there are some exotics with funky splits, but not the kind of cars we run (up) against.

A Kaaz is also a 50/50. A Quaife, on the other hand, can do front or rear, depending on which end of the car has more grip. It does this via helical gears, as opposed to a clutch pack or a "box of goo."

You should do a lot of reading before spending any money, although I'm sure that TRE will take your money and put whatever center diff you want in there. (Don't get me wrong, BTW; if I were to send my tranny out, it would probably go to them.)

- Jtoby

 

[RipperXX]

Think the Quaife type would be the over all best for actualy raceing? Thing is, seems like it would make it damn near impossible to drift then...

 

[jtmcinder]

Are we talking drag racing or autocrossing? If you want to go drifting, get rid of your DSM and get an S14 like everyone else.

Also, are we talking compromise car (i.e., one that is also driven on the street) or trailer queen?

- Jtoby

 

[Defiant]

Cool,
Do you happen to know what the stock center splits the power too? I know it's not 50/50

WHOA. Stop right there. DSMs are 50/50 torque split. And, it is rather unusual in the AWD world- Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Subaru and many others have a front bias.

But DSMs are and always have been 50/50, just the way God in His Heaven intended for Things To Be.

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/manualcd/gift/dsm/awd_flowchart.gif

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86527&highlight=torque

 

[RipperXX]

Are we talking drag racing or autocrossing? If you want to go drifting, get rid of your DSM and get an S14 like everyone else.

Also, are we talking compromise car (i.e., one that is also driven on the street) or trailer queen?

- Jtoby

It's my daily driver.

The reasion I dont sell it and get a 240sx is because well, I love both drag raceing and autocross (which I wouldn't class autocross and drifting togeather but thats me) anyway I pretty much love all 3.

So if I could figureout a way to get the rear to stay out there (I can get the rear to slide around, but it gets grip again rather quickly unless im on wet pavement or going insainely fast which im not going to do.)


Would love to have a 240sx and DSM though... maybe some day in the future.

 

[jtmcinder]

Find out if the Cusco 35/65 center diff will fit in your car. (I think it will.) That should make you happy. There's one guy on this list who seems to be enjoying his 35/65 a lot, but I'll let him speak for himself (since I can't do the accent).

- Jtoby

 

[RipperXX]

Could you pm me his screen name or some way to contact him?

 

[jtmcinder]

He reads this forum. If he wants to talk about it - which I'm starting to doubt, given the problems of getting a VC attached to the thing (it's an open diff) - he'll say something.

- Jtoby

 

[cait sith]

Charles (ACM) is the one with the Cusco diff. Keep in mind that those go regularly for around 1500+ dollars (Steep price!!!). He seems to like it a lot.

You (ripperXX) also don't seem to know a lot about drifting. You're going to have to spend 3x the amount of a RWD car for a car that's going to be breaking ALL THE TIME, nevermind colliding into a wall. Making an AWD dry-pavement drift car is like trying to make your pet cat ice skate.

 

[jtmcinder]

After a day of drifting his AWD DSM with Edward Gorey....

 

[insanewayne]

BAHAHAHAHAAHAH!!

 

[RipperXX]

Ok, well after alot of thinking, I guess im just going to wait and get a 240 whenever I can find a decent deal on one.

 

[insanewayne]

I hear yeh man, or just be like me and have balder then shit tires , thats fun around the corners .

But yeh an 240 or an rx-7 would be good fun

wayne

 

[insanewayne]

OH and hey ripper, i just finished readin your year old post on the the 2.4 hyrbrid..its the porject that im preparing for right now...and i was wondering if you went through with it and how it went, or if u had any advice or tips for me? I'm definately going long rod option .

thanks

wayne