FWD Chassis Set Up

B

bfiesta85

Member
I'm looking for any reference material on FWD chassis design and set up. Does anyone have favorite books or websites they like to refer to that can be helpful?
 
Start with Race Car Vehicle Dynamics. There isn't a ton of info on FWD specific race cars, that is where you have to do the leg work. Read everything you can get your hands on and be prepared to be confused.

What exactly are you doing or wanting to do?
 
Google FWD race car set up books

One of the first subjects up is by Mike Ogren a racer/user of the Prod car site.

Mike Ogren/Protech Racing, http://www.FWDracingguide.com http://www.ogren-engineering.com/ 352.428-8983 mogren@tampabay.rr.com
 
Brett W":2iah3n91 said:
What exactly are you doing or wanting to do?
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I've been running the car a long time mostly with a good IT suspension under it and thoughts its time to make a change. Without anyone really making performance parts for a Fiesta I'm looking into the possibilities of building my own, and was hoping to find some guidance on how to start. I've done some internet research and found a couple Fiesta web site to get a good reference from but it's mostly guys with street cars. I was hoping to find something more towards the racing side. I am running it as a full-prep car and willing to give anything proper consideration, just didn't want to jump in blind and end up with a slower car that is evil handling.
 
Brian,
Reach out to Bill Davidson. He's an ex GTL Fiesta driver who lives near Detroit. I think he still has his car. He's a top shelf guy and I'm sure he'd be willing to share some "go fast" ideas. Email me off line (hdf3.wtr80@gmail.com) and I'll share his contact info.

Dayle
 
I can help with some info and provide some pictures.

I do have some pictures of full prep front suspension mods, in full prep you are allowed to move connection points and do a few other things.

What have you done for front hubs and bearings? The stock ones are not up the loads of running slicks, the billet hubs based on the OEM design are fine for IT tires but not strong enough for running slicks.
 
bfiesta85":3bmkhfie said:
Brett W":3bmkhfie said:
What exactly are you doing or wanting to do?
Click to expand...

I've been running the car a long time mostly with a good IT suspension under it and thoughts its time to make a change. Without anyone really making performance parts for a Fiesta I'm looking into the possibilities of building my own, and was hoping to find some guidance on how to start. I've done some internet research and found a couple Fiesta web site to get a good reference from but it's mostly guys with street cars. I was hoping to find something more towards the racing side. I am running it as a full-prep car and willing to give anything proper consideration, just didn't want to jump in blind and end up with a slower car that is evil handling.
Click to expand...


Being as how I am a Honda guy, I am not familiar with the Fiesta, what year? I assume it has front struts and solid rear axle? Is the rear axle a beam type or a twist axle like a VW?

If you are running a full prep setup, I would definitely look at a away to beef up the front knuckles, lower controls arms, tie rods, pickup points. etc. Knowing what I know about Ford back in the day, they under built everything. They definitely didn't have the Japanese mentality. So the wheel bearings will be TINY and the hubs and CV axles correspondingly undersized. If its like the 02-04 Focus SVT the front wheel bearings will be smaller than the rear wheel bearings on my Civics and CRXs. Anything you can do to increase the size of the hubs and bearing will help your camber compliance issues, plus you won't have as much issue with brake pad knockback. (too bad you can't put real race car brakes on it in Prod).

Koni has some pretty nice race strut inserts that you could build a tube to fit attach that to the uprights. Bilstein Motorsports also has a new universal race strut that is really nice. Big thing would be seeing what could work on your chassis. I assume you want to run 13in wheels? Camber plates up front? Cage tied into the suspension points properly?

Do you have spherical bearings in all the suspension points now? What kind of shocks and struts?

The rear I would need a bit more info.
 
Thanks, David.
Yes, I have thousands of happy customers all over the world. The book wont keep your wheels on the car but will help solving the dynamics issues of racing FWD cars. You will go faster ..
MM
 
Dumb question by me, how can you run a Fiesta (or Festiva) in full prep? I only see the Fiesta as prep level 2.

Do I have an old GCR (Feb 2015)?
 
Dug89":3rfifnhs said:
Dumb question by me, how can you run a Fiesta (or Festiva) in full prep? I only see the Fiesta as prep level 2.

Do I have an old GCR (Feb 2015)?
Click to expand...

Stepping out on a limb. Are preparation Level 1 and Level 2 cars identified by transmission types. Weight penalty under spec line "weight" added to Level 2 and no weight penalty added for Level 1 preparation. If this info is correct the 78-80 Fiesta would be F prod preparation Level 1.

More HELP on the Level 1, Level 2 identification please.
 
Not sure about the Festiva but the Ford Fiesta is listed as F and H prod.

Not sure how well it would work in F as full prep, but that does allow additional suspension mods. For example you could raise the front connection points, not room to move them very far, but it could be done.

Either way you really need to get rid of the OEM front hubs and bearings. For about $30 you can get a Tempo front hub and bearing and it is a lot stronger. Of course the spindle has to be modified to make it all fit. This is allowed in both limited and full prep, in limited prep, the mode can't change the suspension geometry, the new bearing needs to be centered on spindle the same as the old one.

Limited prep limits some engine mods, OEM head (no porting), limited cam lift and limited compression. None of that is limited in F prod. Also the allowed suspension mods are different in limited prep, you can change springs, shocks and sway bars, but you can't change the OEM connection points.
 
David Dewhurst":tqq05602 said:
More HELP on the Level 1, Level 2 identification please.
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Other than the second column in the specs, labeled "Prep Level"?

Prep Level 1 = Full Prep
Prep Level 2 = Limited Prep

Not sure how to make it more clear than that.
 
Yep the spec line states level 1 or 2. Then there is separate text detailing the rules for level 1 or 2.

Is there a specific question about a particular car or particular rule?
 
kruck":c4nvnfic said:
David Dewhurst":c4nvnfic said:
More HELP on the Level 1, Level 2 identification please.
Click to expand...
Other than the second column in the specs, labeled "Prep Level"?

Prep Level 1 = Full Prep
Prep Level 2 = Limited Prep

Not sure how to make it more clear than that.
Click to expand...

Very clear, read the columns and didn't read the columns. :doh:
 
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