Traction

One thing I was always disappointed with in the blue bunny was VERY POOR uphill traction. There are still a ton of things I need to learn to drive better, but I would like to figure out how to set the car up for more traction.

How can we achieve better traction in two wheel drive cars?

Is it strictly a tire/$$$ thing, or can we do things suspension wise to get better traction without disturbing the car's cornering/sliding abilities?

do wider or taller tires help?

Does throttle modulation during low traction help at all?

More weight over the drive wheels?

Buy AWD and never have enough money to rally?!?

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-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
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Add us on Facebook | Next Event: 2013 Olympus Rally June 22-23 Olympia, WA

Go up the hill in reverse? Do what I did in the Omni and make up for it on the other side by kicking ass downhill. Oh wait, you already do that. Seriously, uphill traction can be a problem in a FWD car. It's all about weight transfer. Seems to me you ran the Rabbit low in the back, almost a reverse rake, (which I think is a good idea, Rabbits can be a bit tippy and unstable otherwise). That may have been accentuating the weight transfer off the front wheels on uphills, though probably an improvement everywhere else. You can run a Golf more level which might make it less of an issue on that car. Running a stiffer rear spring or more compression stiffness in the rear shocks may help the uphills but would make the car too loose. A FWD car is always going to be at a bit of a disadvantage to a RWD car on uphills but rest easy they more than make up for it everywhere else, especially downhill. Just keep this in mind, Tom, John Lane will never beat you on downhill stage!

Like Dave said, you are dealing with the drive wheels at the wrong end of the car for uphill; the weight transfer will always be an issue for FWD to some degree.

Tires can make a big difference; we once observed a big traction difference going from Kuhmo's to Michelin Z asymmetric rally tires on one uphill start (RWD). The car starting behind us noted the differnce too.

And the obvious question: do you have an LSD, or welded diff?

Of course, throttle modulation helps; a certain degree of limited spin usually gives the best start traction.

Put the navvie seat on sliders and tell him/her to move forward on the uphill starts......

Regards,
Mark B.

paddle tires?

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Monika Hawkinson
Seattle, WA

all wheel drive? I can hear the cries now...HERETIC!!!! Burn him burn him

next car will have a diff as well, so it won't be a diff thing.

The weight transfer thing makes complete sense, we ran a stock rear spring on the bunny and lowered the perch in the back to get the car to handle "right" everywhere else, but I was always pissed on the moderate hills, sitting there spinning tires all the way up, then trying to make the time back up on the way back down.

I know it's a multiple variable question,...just wondering if anyone has found a trick or setup that works so we can build it into the next car.

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-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
Spitfire EFI | Product Apparel | JVAB Imports | NLS | AP Tuning | USRT

Add us on Facebook | Next Event: 2013 Olympus Rally June 22-23 Olympia, WA

Tim Taylor Wrote:
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> all wheel drive? I can hear the cries
> now...HERETIC!!!! Burn him burn him

But does he float?

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Matt Smith

Racing in glorious black and red

My daily life is a Saab story (sold!)

Tom B Wrote:
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>> I know it's a multiple variable question,...just
> wondering if anyone has found a trick or setup
> that works so we can build it into the next car.
>
>
I already mentioned it... You can run a Golf nice and level. A LSD will help tons. Then it's just up to optimizing shock and spring setup for the best all around.

I think about 75 WHP would solve the issue.

I never found any traction on up hill turns, I just worked on not being the total animal I can be and tried to drive up hill turns kinda gental like, what is the saying in like a lamb out like a big cat on oiled hardwood floors?

Doivi recomended the only thing I found to work - go fater else where on the stage. Crain Creek is good Hope they never run it the wrong way.

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In the long run reality always wins.

get a different VW, like one with the motor over the other wheels

BUG!

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"I put the hurt on dirt" - adam crane
http://CraneRallyCrew.com
corolla gt-s "Patches"
Op: S.S.