You were right the first time.
Front Wider = More inside rear lift
Rear Wider = more inside rear lift.
However, you are not counting the lateral G-forces. The wider you move the
wheels out the wider your stance. When the kart enters the turn all the
weight shifts to the outside bringing up the inside. The wider the kart the
less it can bring up the inside, sometimes also creating hopping if you get
too wide because it tries to lift it up but then breaks the outsides loose.
> ***! I made a typo!!!!
> Front: Wider = LESS lift. Narrower = MORE lift.
> Rear: Wider = more lift. Narrower = less lift.
> Sorry about that. I've corrected it below, so you can read it in context
if
> you like.
in
> > x-no-archive: yes
> > Guys,
> > As you know I'm now looking at kart handling, and trying to get my head
> > around that.
> > I think I've come up with a _really_ simple theory. So simple it's
scary.
> It
> > _must_ be wrong! :-D
> > Basics:
> > When you turn the front wheels on a kart, the effect is to cause the
> inside
> > rear wheel to lift. You can ONLY adjust the front toe angle, and the
front
> > and rear track widths. I am going to leave the toe angle at parallel.
> > Simple geometry says that the closer together the front wheels are, the
> > greater the angle caused, which lifts the rear wheels, and the further
> apart
> > the rear wheels are, the more one will lift. I.e.
> > Front: Wider = LESS lift. Narrower = MORE lift
> > Rear: Wider = more lift. Narrower = less lift.
> > This can also be observed, so it must be right.
> > The next statement I'm going to make is this: (Forgetting about the
> > peculiarities of solid rear axles.)
> > A wider track is better. I can't state exactly why, but ferraris are
wider
> > than my golf, F1 teams make the cars as wide as the regs allow, etc. I'm
> > confident this is right, even though I can't prove it ;-)
> > Now, if the inside rear doesn't lift enough, then the kart is going to
get
> > understeer. This is because the outside rear won't be turning fast
enough,
> > (braking it) and the inside rear will be too fast (accelerating it). The
> > effect will be to pust the front out.
> > If, on the other hand, the inside rear lifts too much, then the outside
> rear
> > will reach a point where it can't grip any more, so it will slide out,
> > causing skipping, and oversteer.
> > So, when trying to setup my kart, surely I should set the front and rear
> > track as wide as possible, then go and drive it. I will get one of 3
> things
> > as a result.
> > 1. The track record!!
> > 2. Understeer.
> > 3. Oversteer.
> > If, then...
> > 1. Leave everything alone! :-D
> > 2. Not enough inside rear lift. Can't widen the rear any more, so narrow
> the
> > front to compensate.
> > 3. Too much rear lift. Can't widen the front, so narrow the rear to
> > compensate.
> > See what I mean? There _must_ be some trade offs or something that I'm
> > missing!
> > Any help will make me very grapefruit!
> > R.