the difference in track width- front v/s rear

playlife · 30th September 2006, 02:24

Hi,

In most cars, we see there is a difference in the track width between the front and the rear. Most cars have wider frontal track width wrt to its rear track.

Some cars, for eg. the swift has a wider rear track width wrt its front track width.

Any reasons technically? Please share.

vikram_d · 30th September 2006, 09:20

Interesting question. Even though I own a Swift I was not aware of this. Guru's help please.

Rtech · 30th September 2006, 10:05

The basic reason for having the front track wider than the rear is due to the weight distrubution when a car takes a corner.

Say you are taking a right hand bend. The weight of the car shifts to the front left corner. A wider front track helps reduce understeer as well as keep the car more stable. On front wheel drive cars, the added benefit of a wider front track means more space within the engine bay as well.

condor · 30th September 2006, 11:40

RT, how does one explain this, considering that the difference in tracks is very small - about 1 cm, approx? That translates to about half a cm per wheel, from the center of the car?

The other point was abt the Swift's rear track being wider than the front ..

playlife · 2nd October 2006, 01:17

here are some more examples

MODEL- FRONT- REAR
M-Alto- 1290---- 1290
M-Zen- 1495----1495
Safari- 1500---- 1470
Indica- 1400---- 1380
Gypsy- 1300---- 1310
M-800- 1215---- 1200
Versa- 1280---- 1290

Shan2nu · 2nd October 2006, 10:28

Firstly, are these differences intentional? What rtech said might make sense on a race car but i doubt manufacturers are really bothered about such detailing on normal family vehicles.

This diff could be due to the diff suspension setup used on the front and rear wheels.

Shan2nu

30th September 2006, 02:24	#1
playlife BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 27 Thanked: 0 Times	Hi, In most cars, we see there is a difference in the track width between the front and the rear. Most cars have wider frontal track width wrt to its rear track. Some cars, for eg. the swift has a wider rear track width wrt its front track width. Any reasons technically? Please share.
	() Thanks

30th September 2006, 09:20	#2
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,422 Thanked: 1,188 Times	Interesting question. Even though I own a Swift I was not aware of this. Guru's help please.
	() Thanks

30th September 2006, 10:05	#3
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,765 Thanked: 371 Times View My Garage	The basic reason for having the front track wider than the rear is due to the weight distrubution when a car takes a corner. Say you are taking a right hand bend. The weight of the car shifts to the front left corner. A wider front track helps reduce understeer as well as keep the car more stable. On front wheel drive cars, the added benefit of a wider front track means more space within the engine bay as well.
	(1) Thanks

30th September 2006, 11:40	#4
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 16,238 Thanked: 16,887 Times View My Garage	RT, how does one explain this, considering that the difference in tracks is very small - about 1 cm, approx? That translates to about half a cm per wheel, from the center of the car? The other point was abt the Swift's rear track being wider than the front ..
	() Thanks

2nd October 2006, 01:17	#5
playlife BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 27 Thanked: 0 Times	here are some more examples MODEL- FRONT- REAR M-Alto- 1290---- 1290 M-Zen- 1495----1495 Safari- 1500---- 1470 Indica- 1400---- 1380 Gypsy- 1300---- 1310 M-800- 1215---- 1200 Versa- 1280---- 1290
	() Thanks

2nd October 2006, 10:28	#6
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 127 Times View My Garage	Firstly, are these differences intentional? What rtech said might make sense on a race car but i doubt manufacturers are really bothered about such detailing on normal family vehicles. This diff could be due to the diff suspension setup used on the front and rear wheels. Shan2nu
	() Thanks

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