Unsprung Weight
by Racing Aspirations on June 19, 2018

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Simply put:
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Remember: Removing unsprung weight doesn't mean you have to re-calculate your CPM, but moving weight from unsprung to sprung (for example, changing to pushrod suspension) will, as you will be changing the sprung weight.
Reactions from the Internet
"If the wheels (and other unsprung bits) have less inertia, the suspension reacts faster to bumps meaning the wheels stay in contact with the road better. " - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=591832 "By reducing this, you can reduce the damping forces needed, making the shocks more sensitive, and reduce the need for such tight seals, which reduced friction/stiction. " - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=591832 "In general, it’s best to have a high ratio of sprung-to-unsprung weight. A higher proportion of sprung weight can then push down on the wheels and tires with more force, keeping them in contact with the pavement or whatever surface they are traveling across. Maintaining contact with the roadway improves handling and traction, and this becomes more of an issue for off-roading and traveling over rough roads." - http://www.machinedesign.com/springs/what-are-differences-between-sprung-and-unsprung-weight "Reducing unsprung weight is the key to improving handling. The lower the unsprung weight, the less work the shocks and springs have to do to keep the tires in contact with the road over bumpy surfaces. Lot of problems, if not all of them is caused by inertia. Bigger weight means higher inertia. Higher inertia means more workload for shocks and springs to keep tiers on the ground. If unsprung components have a high mass they are harder to accelerate/decelerate and thus it is more difficult for the suspension to maintain a consistent tire load. " - http://www.formula1-dictionary.net/unsprung_weight.htmlSubscribe
You may find the wheel frequency calculator and weight distribution calculator useful during your pursuit of less unsprung weight.![]() |
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