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Author Topic: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars  (Read 50063 times)

Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #30 on: April 29, 2011, 10:17:04 pm »
Just finished installing the A3 reinforcement bar and let me tell you Bruce, your weight difference estimation is waaay off :))) The difference between the 2 of them is only 1.5Kg (7.1 for the steel one and 5.6 for the aluminium). After removing one of the ''lips'' of the S3 bar, because it was touching my Forge twintercooler, I gained anothe 0.3Kg so that made a total saving of 1.8Kg (far less than the 10Kg you estimated). The shape difference of the 2 bars is also quite difference and you need to add the bracket on the middle and you need to fabricate some others at the 2 ends of the bar. I improvised all these for the moment because the shops were closed and I didn't find any universal iron to finish the job properly. I said I should finish it once started but wouldn't recommend anyone to do it because the weight saving is too small !



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« Last Edit: April 29, 2011, 10:23:55 pm by fuscobal »
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Offline the bruce

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #31 on: April 29, 2011, 11:57:18 pm »
 :surprised:

Pardon me, I really thought there would be more difference !!

 :ashamed: :ashamed: :ashamed:

Gladly you did a great job. I guess it must have been a hard one as well.

 :confused:
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #32 on: April 30, 2011, 11:45:18 am »
Replacing the bars takes like 2 hours including trimming the A3 one but you need another 1-2 hours to fabricate new brackets in order to reinforce the whole assembly comprising the radiators and the FMIC. As it is now, the assembly is a little loose if you grab it with your hand and shake it. I will buy some universal iron and custom make the brackets ! Next on the list is the battery : Odyssey or Braille wich should save me like 15Kg !
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Offline the bruce

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #33 on: April 30, 2011, 01:21:07 pm »
Now having the bar is on your GTI you might like to drill it with
large holes on all four sides to save quite a bit more weight?

I still worry about my self being mistaken so much.   :ashamed:
« Last Edit: April 30, 2011, 07:02:03 pm by the bruce »
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Offline Carrera2RS

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #34 on: April 30, 2011, 04:10:22 pm »
Great write up. Thanks heaps for doing this exercise, shame the saving is minimal  :ashamed:

I think I will concentrate on settings to dial out understeer and improve turn in and balance. tbh given the weight over the front axle I should be very pleased !
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #35 on: April 30, 2011, 09:28:16 pm »
After the battery I will concentrate on seats + wheels + brakes and I will probably stop here. The savings made until now would be :

- subwoofer + enclosure > 34.5Kg
- spare wheel + tools > 17.5Kg
- MDF sheet over the amplifiers > 8.2Kg
- Rear seats > 27.5Kg
- Reinforcement bar > 1.8Kg

TOTAL until now : 89.5Kg

Next :

- Battery > 15Kg
- S3 hubs (on the way) > 4Kg
- Recaro Poleposition > 28Kg (OEM seats are 26Kg/piece with leather and heating)
- Brakes > 18Kg
- Wheels > 12Kg

TOTAL : 77Kg
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Offline berg

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #36 on: May 07, 2011, 05:11:23 pm »
if you save a lot of weight and then increase torque/bhp, is there anywhere where you could have a "weigh in" and work out the bhp/ton of your car after carrying out the above? weight watchers for cars?

would be interesting to compare with the factory figure
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #37 on: May 07, 2011, 07:16:06 pm »
Ok, just installed the S3 hubs. See the whole stoy here :

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136174&page=2

- subwoofer + enclosure > 34.5Kg
- spare wheel + tools > 17.5Kg
- MDF sheet over the amplifiers > 8.2Kg
- Rear seats > 27.5Kg
- Reinforcement bar > 1.8Kg
- S3 hubs (on the way) > 3Kg

TOTAL until now : 92.5Kg

Next :

- Battery > 15Kg
- Recaro Poleposition > 28Kg (OEM seats are 26Kg/piece with leather and heating)
- Brakes > 18Kg
- Wheels > 12Kg

TOTAL : 73Kg
« Last Edit: May 07, 2011, 07:26:07 pm by fuscobal »
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Offline Hurdy

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #38 on: May 08, 2011, 10:29:31 am »
165kg out of the car is no mean achievement.

I also went with the Autotech lightweight anti-roll bars which claim to save weight too. Not cheap though!

http://www.jbsautodesigns.co.uk/product/371/lightweight-anti-roll-bar-front-25mm
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #39 on: May 08, 2011, 11:01:32 am »
What exactly do you mean by "no mean achievement" ? How much time do you think this weight reduction could shave of a 2'18'' time on Hungaroring ?
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Offline Hedge

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #40 on: May 08, 2011, 11:04:50 am »
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Offline Hurdy

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #41 on: May 08, 2011, 06:27:12 pm »
Quote from: Hedge on May 08, 2011, 11:04:50 am
Quote from: fuscobal on May 08, 2011, 11:01:32 am
What exactly do you mean by "no mean achievement" ?

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/no-mean-achievement-feat

 :happy2:

If you had full weight when the 2'18" was done and have the same power now (and the weather conditions,tyres are similar). Then I'd reckon losing 165kg would save you at least 5 seconds.

This is based on me digging deep with technical equations, geometry calculations, power to weight and weight distribution analysis i.e. realistically spending the last 2hrs on Gran Turismo 5 trying different cars on different tracks to see what lightening the cars would do on there :laugh:
The things I do for you guys just to answer a post eh! :drinking:
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Offline Poppa Dom

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #42 on: May 08, 2011, 06:28:51 pm »
All in the name of Science and support forumites eh John  :happy2:
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Offline Hurdy

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #43 on: May 08, 2011, 06:30:05 pm »
Quote from: DomT on May 08, 2011, 06:28:51 pm
All in the name of Science and support forumites eh John  :happy2:

Too right :signLOL:
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Offline fuscobal

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Re: Ways of reducing the weight of our cars
« Reply #44 on: May 08, 2011, 06:48:28 pm »
Thanks for clarifying Hedge, english is not my native language :) Hurdy, If so at 2'13'' the car would be really fast as the fastest I've seen on that track from track only cars with 400HP and 1200kg + slicks is about 2'05''-2'08'' !
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