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Anonymous Poster #1

Steering

04/29/2014 12:07 PM

what is the significance of wheel base for steering , if it is longer or smaller

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#1

Re: Steering

04/29/2014 12:47 PM

Longer wheel base larger turning radius.

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Steering

04/29/2014 5:30 PM

And better ride comfort.

Shorter wheelbase is less comfortable, but better for performance driving/racing.

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#2

Re: Steering

04/29/2014 12:55 PM


where is the approximate radius, is the wheelbase, is the steer angle, and is the caster angle of the steering axis.
http://www.racingaspirations.com/apps/suspension-geometry-calculator

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#4

Re: Steering

04/30/2014 5:26 AM

If you mean "Can I change the wheelbase? What will happen?" That is a different question with different answers.

Jim

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#5

Re: Steering

04/30/2014 7:41 AM

If you have ever owned a Jeep CJ5 you would know. The common term is " the CJ jitters". A high center of gravity with a short wheel base combined makes for total attention needed at highway speeds. First time i drove one i nearly flipped it on its side at around 35 mph.

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Steering

04/30/2014 9:16 AM

Exactly, there's a reason the old Jeep ads from the 70's or thereabouts featured a man riding a buffalo, bareback, over hilly country, at a gallop.

It also explains the tag line from back then; "There's a feeeeeeeling you can get .. only .. in a Jeep."

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#7

Re: Steering

04/30/2014 2:56 PM

The longer wheelbase has a "slower" turn (larger radius) and softer ride also applies to bicycles as well as autos. That's why cruisers are long since quick turns aren't an issue where they are ridden typically and have a soft ride (relative term as a full suspension bike tops a rigid bike no matter what the wheelbase is)while road racing bikes have short wheel bases and are very stiff no mater what material the frame is made from, as your typical roadie geek wants the lower parts of his torso beaten into numbness just so he can sail down twisting Alpine passes at 60mph plus on average. (and believe me, the numbness does occur in some very sensitive parts)

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#8

Re: Steering

04/30/2014 6:31 PM

If a cars wheel base is altered the "Ackermann" angle will be wrong causing the front wheels so skid when cornering, causing more wear on the front tyres and losing some grip while cornering.

Google Ackerman angle at wikipedia!

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Steering

05/01/2014 5:33 AM

It is for this reason I asked the OP if this is what he meant. See #4.

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#10

Re: Steering

05/04/2014 6:52 AM

Smaller Base can negotiate a short curve or turning, with short radius. This will be very much experienced or seen while travelling or driving on a hiily track or mountain.

DHAYANANDHAN.S

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