Team-BHP - power v/s chassis and the importance of handling

One area which I seem to notice is always overlooked when it comes to modding cars here in India is the brakes.

we always read long stories about what ppl have done to their engines, added TC's, intakes, headers, the works. Even the suspension gets mentioned often, but I rarely find any word on upgrades to the brakes.

Good brakes instantly make the car go "FASTER"! Why? 'coz you have the confidence to brake late into a corner! infact, considering road conditions in India, I think brakes are the third most important performance modifcation you can do to your car, the first 2 being wheels/tyres and suspension. *

If I were to do up a car in stages, it would be in this order:-
1. Wheels/Tyres
2. Suspension
3. Brakes
4. Engine modds.

Do it this way, and you will have the quickest car around!

there is a lot of truth in the old Pirelli saying: Power is nothing without control.

Very good point Rtech!

Tyres are the link between you and the road, and no matter how much power ur engine puts out, how well your suspension is designed or how good your brakes are its all useless if your tyres cant cash that in.

Personally i would do
1. Tyres (/wheels)
2. Brakes
3. Suspension
4. Engine mods

for driving in our conditions, ie mostsly short ~90* turns and not so many long sweeping turns IMO

Whereas if it was for the track (or similar situation) i would go with rtech's order.

cya
R

ps - and about the topic...i would say that there is non concrete answer, obviously the more power your engine is putting our the more rapidly your chasis is going to take the beating. Its not like there is an exact limit which once crossed is too much. Also it depends on the car, and its quality of chasis build. However as a rough guide id agree with Sanket, 20% is do-able.

Beside a revv-happy engine, one of the most deciding factors for an enthusiast is the way a car handles.

This is a list that I had compiled a while back....of what constitutes a great handling car.

1. Weight
2. Lower Center of gravity
3. 50:50 weight distribution
4. Taut and Rigid Chassis
5. Aerodynamics
6. Tyres
7. Brakes
8. Tight Suspension (Multi-Link, Active, Double wishbone...)
9. Traction Control + Electronics
10. ABS (e.g. how a car behaves in a corner while hard braking)
11. Gearing (the ability to stay in the same gear while taking a corner)
12. Rear-Wheel/AWD
13. Quick + Responsive Power Steering
14. Minimum Body cuts (coupes)
15. No Convertibles
16. Alloy Wheels / Unsprung weight
17. External conditions
18. Differentials (Limited Slip...)
19. Dimensions (Track, wheel base...)
20. Most Imp - The Driver!!!

GTO

It's really hard to be specific about what makes a car handle better. But yeah some general factors like track, wheelbase, aerodynamics, tyres, driver etc do make a difference.

The weight of the car isn't always good for handling. You can have a very light car like the XTR with a balanced downforce treatment and make it handle better than a Pagani Zonda which is more than 4 times the weight and power.

The gear ratios, again depend on the track design. F1 cars use different gear ratios for each track. *

A lower COD doesn't mean the car handles better. It's just a measure of how easily the car cuts through air. A lower COD will improve top speed but not necessarily handling and stability.

F1 cars are said to be the fastest machines to lap a track. But they don't run on a low COD. While cars like the Enzo and the Mclaren F1 have COD of around 0.30-0.32, the F1 cars can go all the way to 1.00 or even more.

Just remember that drag can be produced in more than 1 way. "Drag due to resistance" and "drag due to downforce".

On the whole, a good handling car will have all the factors mentioned in the opening post, in the best possible proportions.

Regards...
Shan2nu

Retro week Bump!

Not much has changed since this topic last surfaced. Tuners still mainly concentrate on the engine, leaving other, less glamourous, aspects ignored.

A good example was the last track day in Chennai which highlighed the fact that even a stock engine has too much power for the OE wheels/tyres and suspension to handle.

Something to think about before you spend on trickin' up your car next.

Well said Rtech

However critical mods to the car other than the engine typically include (depending on the limit of mods) braces (strut and lower) sway bars, modded suspensions, better engine mounts, better suspension bushes (have been using teflon in extreme cases, trying to get down the full bush kits soon), Upgraded brakes ( boosters, discs / drums where required), modding the brake bias. They play a critical aspect in keeping the car together and performing to its best in every condition.

Hi,

After reading the whole thread i m 2 curious 2 knw more in details.
May be someone cud help.
Let me know when is it required 2 upgrade the braking system of the car.
Also what brand/type of braking upgrade is available in India.
Also some more details abt the chasis (When/WHY/How) to upgrade.

Thanx in Advance.
Happy Revving...

The regular Indian Lancers have the same chassis that the Evos have.

So, the Indian lancer can withstand 300bhp at ease. From stock,Thats over 200% :Shockked:

Rollcages, strut bars help in increase chassis rigidity and resist flexing :)