Weight Distribution

rebirthauto · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: Weight Distribution

Anyone know what the weight distribution is on se wonderful cars? I'm having a bit of a time finding that info. Thanks

HerrrKafer · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:09 am Post subject:

This has been asked a few times without any real solid answers. A good ballpark is probably something around 60/40 rearward. You can figure it out for your car exactly by jacking it up in the middle of the pan forward of the front transaxle mount. Eventually you'll find a spot where the whole car wants to lift up at once. That's the center of mass, and you can easily determine the weight distribution from knowing that point.
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Evan H.

EverettB · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:12 am Post subject:

The VIN plate has the axle weights, right? You could calculate it from there.
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HerrrKafer · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

Those are load limits, not static weights. But yes, that's what I used for the 60/40 as a rough estimate.
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rebirthauto · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the help. I'll soon take the matter into my own hands and buy a four wheel scale to get to the bottom of this. I'll post the results.

Thanks,

Sebastien
rebirthauto.com

KTPhil · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject:

Elfrink says the early (circa 1960) Bugs had a 43/57 F/R weight distribution. Load the front trunk and it is not all that tail heavy.

Some other Porsche cars are listed for comparison. Pretty good handling cars if you ask me, especially given their greater rear weight bias (greater than the Bug in most cases!).

Front/Rear
917: 36.5/63.5 (12 cyl mid-engine)
908: 38.5/61.5 (8 cyl mid-engine)
904: 42/58 (4 cyl mid-engine)
911: 42/58 (6 cyl rear-engine)
914-6: 44/56 (6 cyl mid-engine)

Elfrink also says the Bug oversteers, not because of rear weight bias as is commonly believed, but due to the rear's narrow track, positive camber, high roll center, and stiff rear springs. The '67 Bug, with its rear's wider track, softer springs and negative camber, was much better handling, and the IRS cars even better than that. This is also one reason why shimming up the overload spring, though making the car handle flatter, increases oversteer, making the car less stable.

GA_Boy · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Purple Martin · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:11 am Post subject: Re: Weight Distribution

I just measured the weight distribution on my '59 beetle with the help of a couple of bathroom scales with a plank resting across them. I put them under a front wheel (with the other three wheels on blocks of the same height to keep the car level) and added up the readings to get a total. Then I did the same with a rear wheel. The weight distribution on my car is 42:58 front:rear.
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1975 2L bay camper

Busstom · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 10:54 am Post subject:


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