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Author Topic: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars  (Read 49776 times)

Offline fuscobal

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Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« on: February 21, 2011, 09:22:49 am »
Since I haven't seen a topic dedicated to this, I would like to start one and ask for everyone who has weight data of different components (OEM or aftermarket) to share them here. Loosing weight on our cars is beneficial for both straight line and circuit performance. Until now, some data can be found scattered on the forums about brakes and wheels but what about chairs, rear bench, body panels, exhaust, battery...? The data I have until now (measured by me or by others) :

- GTI front brake system > aprox 15Kg/corner
- R32/S3/Cupra front brake system > aprox 21.5Kg/corner
- Aftermarket 4&6 pot brake systems > 10-13Kg/corner
- Carbotech RP2 brake pads for R32 calipers > 1.126Kg/set (0.563Kg/pc)
- GTI rear bench > 27.5Kg
- GTI rear seat board > 1-2Kg (estimated)
- OEM 17" Denvers > 10.5Kg/pc
- OEM 18" Detroit > 12.5Kg/pc
- OEM 17" + 225/45/17 winter tires > 23Kg/pc
- BBS RS-GT 19" + 235/35/19 summer tires > 21Kg/pc
- OEM DMF flywheel > 11Kg
- Sachs SRS SMF flywheel > 7.2Kg
« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 09:24:37 am by fuscobal »
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Offline RedRobin

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2011, 10:16:03 am »
.
This needs checking but IIRC approx 10kg is saved by replacing the oem steel bonnet with a double-skin carbonfibre one.

Chucking away the bonnet liner also saves a little weight.

Monza 17's weigh 11kg, Monza 18's weigh 12kg, and the lightest 18's are 8kg - All without tyres.

The oem engine cover weighs a ton but you have to take into account the weight of an aftermarket intake, but the Forge Twintake for example is very light.


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Offline danishmkvgti

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2011, 10:22:45 am »
VW Racing Carbon Bonnet 4,5kg  :happy2:

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Offline RedRobin

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2011, 11:06:08 am »

VW Racing Carbon Bonnet 4,5kg  :happy2:


....I'm pretty sure that's a single skin carbon bonnet and also I don't think that VWR don't offer them any longer. Availability would need checking.


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Offline danishmkvgti

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2011, 11:23:58 am »
Single skin referring to a dual part bonnet. As this (VWR) doesn't use glassfiber as used in your OSIR product, the VWR is a real  Carbon bonnet and not single or dual CF bonnet.
A single skin CF bonnet is only CF on the outside and you can see the glassfiber on the inside, whereas a dual skin is 3 layer, CF on top then Glassfiber core and the CF on the inside for show  :happy2:
 :wink:  :drinking:

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Offline rex

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2011, 12:43:39 pm »
VWR bonnet is discontinued.

Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2011, 07:44:51 am »
Removed engine cover a long time ago  :smiley: I would also be curious to see if there's also any difference in weight between the OEM exhaust and the Milltek non-res TBE ! Front chairs are extremely heavy also (I would guestimate about 30kg each) !
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Offline laurent.d

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2011, 09:08:17 am »
GTI rear seat board is more about 5kg

OZ Ultraleggera 8x18 ET 45 are 8.4kg
OEM battery is 17kg
Braille lightweight battery B2015 is 6.8kg
OEM front whishbones are 3.9kg each
TT alloy wishbones are 2.8kg each
Recaro Sporter CS are (clamed) 17kg each
Oem seats are 25/30kg estimated each
A3 2.0 tfsi DSG S-Line/VWR K04 Turbo kit/Engine Revo Stg 3/Milltek Exhaust/DSG Revo Stg 2/Quaife LSD/Bilstein PSS10/H&R sway bars/Power Grip Morego/VWR Suspension Bushes/VF Engineering Engine Mounts/VWR Lower Mount/OZ Ultraleggera 8x18 ET45/Brembo 328x28 2pcs 4 pot ''A'' caliper/Braille Battery

Offline RedRobin

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2011, 09:51:03 am »

GTI rear seat board is more about 5kg

OZ Ultraleggera 8x18 ET 45 are 8.4kg


....What are you calling a "seat board"?

OZ Alleggerita 8x18 are 8.035kg  :P  :grin:


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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2011, 09:54:46 am »
My battery ( Power cell 3000 deep cycle ) weighs no less than 27.1 Kg  :jumping: !
OEM piston > 460g
OEM rod > 567g
IE rod > 581g

Both rods were with bolts and bearings !
« Last Edit: February 25, 2011, 05:41:49 pm by fuscobal »
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2011, 08:29:59 pm »
OEM right engine mount > 1875g for the old one that came with the car (2006 model) and 1911g for the updated one that looks much more robust
OEM pulley > 1639g
Fluidampr pulley > 2738g
OEM upper strut mount > 1051g
Bilstein B16 front spring > 1444g
Bilstein B16 front damper > 3831g
Mk5 GTI 6MT - Revo stage 3

Offline Coe

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2011, 08:46:10 pm »
I'm gonna get a bit technical here on weight saving. You could remove the spare wheel, jack and tools. There's a fair bit weight saved there. Job done get a brew on ;)

Just hope you don't have a puncture lol

Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2011, 05:51:23 am »
Spare wheel + tools have like 15Kg. What I'm afraid though is not having a too light rear after removing these and the rear seats !
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Offline Carrera2RS

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2011, 09:24:54 am »
I would look to the front of the car and focus on brakes and suspension to lose some unsprung mass. I am hoping brakes and bottom arms will save 5kg per corner, then adjust the suspension accordingly and add horsepower. That will be the most effective performance for your money. Battery is interesting though !

CF panels would be very nice but very expensive  :happy2:

I spent a lot of time lightening a semi track car before and it gets very expensive, with doors, wings etc in alloy or Carbon. Usually the big wins are :

Front Seats
rear seats & Trim (If you are prepared to lose rear seats etc)
Doors (may beed a cage to deal with side impact protection)
Bonnet, wings in CF
Wheels, brakes (win, win)
Exhaust (win, win) - suspect nothing much to be gained here
Flywheel (win, win)
Remove stuff you don't need !


Offline Snoopy

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2011, 12:12:43 pm »
You know the funny thing is alot of the people that go this route and strip the cars right down to save weight when you see them or a photo of them it often makes me PMSL.
Because they never look at themselfs and think, hey i could do with loosing quite a few KG myself that may help  :grin:
« Last Edit: April 02, 2011, 01:47:41 pm by Snoopy »
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