How can we reduce weight to achieve better weight distribution...

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Nov 15, 1999 | 07:26 PM

John

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How can we reduce weight to achieve better weight distribution...

Hi all,

I would like have your recommendations about reducing the weight of our S4's in order to get a better distribution. I know for a fact that there are fiber hoods available at european tuner sites. I would like t read your recommendations and experiences. The car has great power, but a distribution closer to 50/50 would help for better handling & performance & 0-60 times. Any recommendations about overall weight reduction is also welcome. Could everyone please post their experience with A4's and recommendations?

Nov 15, 1999 | 07:43 PM

Cameron

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Vortrag carbon fiber vented hood, decrease temps, lose weight (more)

This is probably the best first upgrade, it's a carbon fiber hood that weighs 4 lbs to replace the 45 lb. stock hood. There's also a fiberglass version weighing in a 14lbs and a carbon fiber version with a core that weighs 8lbs or so. I did this upgrade, in conjunction with Recaro SPG/SPA's (35lbs saved per seat)... other upgrades like going to carbon fiber fenders, going to composite body panels (bumpers, skirts, hood, quarters, etc.), going with an aluminum/carbon fiber wing like I did instead of a steel/aluminum wing, removing the A/C compressor and related ducting, removing the wiring in the center console, removing the mount points for the interior trim, all of these things save weight and move the natural balance point forward...

Cameron

Nov 15, 1999 | 07:48 PM

LCP

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Re: How can we reduce weight to achieve better weight distribution...

Moving the battery to the back or using a gel-cell would be another place to start. I assume that the limit on reducing weight would be that there could not be a loss of a functional component of the car (e.g., there's no way air conditioning is coming out, etc.). Emptying your fluid wash reservoir would save another 8 lbs. Ultra-lightweight wheels such as Fikse's might also save another 8-10 lbs. per wheel. Maybe even some carbon-fibre seats or something. Of course, I wish Audi would do us all a big weight favor and make the engine block aluminum (I figure that would save at least 75 lbs. right over the front axle). Minor items we could probably lose would include fog lights, auto-leveling xenon's, pop-up washer jets, spare tire (albeit in the rear of the car), floor mats, not ordering the sunroof, and maybe even lighter-weight front fenders.

Nov 15, 1999 | 08:59 PM

Eric

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Yeah but PRAY that you don't hit anybody.. You have NO Crush strength

Nov 15, 1999 | 10:37 PM

Cameron

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There's a reason my car had a roll cage, Eric

Nov 16, 1999 | 04:19 AM

Todd C

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Actually Eric, I did.

I ran into the back of another car with one of our A4's that uses our vented hood.
The little "leg" that drops down around the grill broke free from the rest of the hood and there was a good
size crack in the fiberglass on the top side of the hood as well. There was no intrusion into the AC
condenser or radiator, etc.
Both easily repairable, but the biggest thing is that fiberglass will crush and break apart rather than bending
into other shapes. Fiberglass will dissipate energy in a collision, just not the same way as sheet metal.
Take a look some of the composite cars out there. Lots of 'vettes, newer f-bodies, vipers, saturns' etc get
into accidents everyday. just because they have composite body panels doesn't automatically make the car
a write off in an accident.
Besides, fiberglass is a lot easier to repair than steel...

Todd Candey
Vortrag Motorsports inc.