Just like how it says..

How do wings really help FWD cars?

I thought it push the rear end of the car down.. but that would make less traction up front.. correct?

Are there any advantages for a wing on a FWD car?

Thanks

~Tacoman

A wing no, a spoiler yes. The spoiler will cut wind down and make it more.......aerodynamic. A huge wing will do as you said, but also help looks (opiniontively,is that a word)

they dont help, they only help rwd or awd cars with downforce

>opiniontively,is that a word

nope :P


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Chris
96 ESI 5 spd
Milwaukee, WI

>>opiniontively,is that a word
>
>nope :P

hehehe you got the point;)

wings help. Is our wing designed to do that? I don't think so. Watch wrc for a week or two and you'll understand quite a bit about aerodynamics. They had a huge wing on the back of a ford focus RS to achieve 50/50 wheight ration fron to back under high speed cornering and such.

If you are doing some high speed runs it may help keep the rear more steady but not really much more than looks on a FWD.




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Yeah.. I think I know what you are talking about.. its that white Focus.. right?.. Yeah.. but thats a AWD car.. so.. a wing can be used..

I mean.. I'm talking about a spoiler.. that can't help FWD.. so why do people pay the extra money for it (besides looks)... so they can slow down their car? I don't see how it can help aerodynamically (for a FWD) because it is kinda blocking air.. and not letting it flow through...

~Tacoman

The general purpose of a wing in the rear is to generate downforce to increase traction (in RWD) or to improve stability at high speed (more than likely above 100mph). I think I heard somewhere that a vehicle that weighs 1T (a feather compared to our bulky beauties) at 100mph has a relative "weight" at each tire of about 3lbs. That is why, when you hit a pot hole at 100mph you are going to have one helluva fight to keep control of the car. A wing will help increase the force on each wheel keeping the car more stable. HOWEVER, as you can experiment on Gran Turismo, the more downforce you create, the more you limit your top speed. It has to be properly tuned like the pros in the WRC.
A spoiler, on the other hand, simply cuts the wind at the rear of the car, reducing turbulence and drag. Lower Coefficient of drag equals more efficient forward motion and therefor higher speed. That is why, I believe, a lot of reputable auto magazines will test the Coeficient of drag on a new car. Drag will mean you have to work harder to maintain/achieve speed.
NOTE- this post just furthers the above posts and, given the context of a daily driven 2GNT, is realy of little to no consequence. I just felt like being astute this evening. :P

Well you have to balance it out. Cant get a big wing for the rear without getting a chin spoiler for the front. Get the chin spoiler that gives 200lbs of downforce at 120mph, then get an equal or slightly better rear wing downforce and your set for better time on a road course, and I emphasize road course. No wing or chin addition will help in the 1/4 mi. unless you are breaking your tires loose after 90mph, if you even hit that. lol

Wings don't do anything for FWD cars. Spoilers, however, do. The point of a wing is to create downforce. The point of a spoiler is to reduce or eliminate lift.

Think of an airplane wing. Now, look at it from the side. Kinda looks like a 2G, from the side. The reason that airplane wings generate lift is because the air moves faster along the top then it does along the bottom. Pressure is related to airflow velocity, by the Bournelli Effect. The faster that the air flows, the lower the pressure. On an airplane, the air has a longer path to flow along the top of the wing, so, to go the same distance over a less direct route, the air must move faster. The pressure on top decreases to the point that the plane can lift. Well, the 2G (most cars, actually) have a longer (and smoother) path over the hood, roof, and hatch. To eliminate lift, one must smooth the airflow along the bottom, make a longer path for the air to flow, or slow down the airflow over the top of the car. That is what the spoiler does. It doesn't create any downforce, but it slows and disrupts the air that passes over the car. This reduces the effect of aerodynamic lift on the car, and keeps it more planted to the ground, at speed.
-=B-=

Thank you Bill, damn sure couldnt have said it better myself. At speed FWD, AWD, RWD, one wheel drive, doesnt matter a car will benifit from a spoiler not based on which wheels get power to the ground but the actual design of the cars body, etc.

I'm going to put a wing onto my car and put flaps on it controlled by a cable to a little yoke in the front so if I'm in rush hour I can just fly over the car(s) in front of me.

Just buy a huge wing and mount it on your hood....

Some wings add 10hp, youd be surprised......

I have a wing in my yard. They make great benches.

I would say that our hoods probably provides a good amount of downforce since it slopes at a good angle, but the rear is probably something different. Downforce in the rear would also help at high speeds to make the car squat despite our FWD configuration, is it a waste? I don't think so, I'd like to think that traction is good for all the wheels.

Actually, our hood is too aerodynamically slippery to really do much. that's why we have such a low coeffecient of drag. :P Unfortunately, though, it does not provide downforce, because it is smooth. In order to create downforce, you must provide a place for the air to go underneith, as is the case with a wing. It needs to slice the air to create downforce, otherwise, Bournelli takes effect, and generates lift like an airplane wing.
-=B-=

Umm.. ok.. I'm stupid.. whats the difference between a wing and spoiler?.. I thought they were the same..

Unless you say a wing is like this..


And the spoiler is what we already have..

But what about the stock 1 piece one? Is that a wing or spoiler?

~Tacoman

wings are found on airplanes. they make stuff go up. spoilers are for cars, they make things go down.

well that's not quite true. some airplanes have spoilers which help the plane either slow down very quickly or eliminate lift right after touchdown.

a real wing that has downforce not those pretty wings that are for looks will put force down onto the rear of the car at HIGH speeds it will keep the back end stable and more planted. The last thing I'd want is for my rear end to kick out at 150 MPH never know it may happen. Wings also add weight to the rear giving better rear wheel traction and promotoing understeer I guess.

now something that might be more useful is a front chin spoiler many aftermarket front bumpers have these built in and it pushes down on the front at high speed giving your front more traction. At kragen I see these APC Winglets they're like little spoilers you attach to the side of your front bumpers looks like they might actually work but I have a sinsei bumper waiting to be fixed so I dont' really need em :P