the truth to all about rear spoilers

[Senshi]

alrigh these past couple day's i've been going around the bbs looking at random topics and SOMEHOW the rear spoiler always comes into play, now i know there are osme ppl out there that know when and when not to use them, and know their true purpose. as well as there are some ppl out there that DONT" know their purpose, well here it is, now remember these statements are for in speeds over i'd say around 50+ b/c thats when the spoiler takes into effect more so then before those speeds

Rear Aerodynamic Components
Rear wings, spoilers and diffusers are all components that can be utilized to product downforce in rear of the vehicle. These components are especially useful to the following vehicles.


http://img24.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Senshi/thmb_btccctr02.jpg
Action shot of BTCC Civic Type R.

http://img24.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Senshi/thmb_btccctr01.jpg
BTCC Civic Type R using rear carbon fiber wing to increase traction on the rear tires.



Front-Engine/Front-Wheel Drive (FF):
Because FF vehicles are lighter in the rear, it is important to add more downforce in the rear to achieve more balance. Rear wings and spoilers can do both of these effects.


Front-Engine/Rear-Wheel Drive (FR):
The engine output from FR cars comes from the rear two wheels. To help delivery the output from the rear wheels, aerodynamic components such as rear wings can help create downforce giving the rear wheels traction.

there it is also here is the websites url just so you guys can take a look at it

http://www.aprperformance.com/tech_detail.asp?TechArticleID=14

i know i may sound like a dick in this post, but hey i'm just trying to futher the education of some of the members of this bbs

[Jessy]

hope you don't mind if i comment here...

what I want to know is how many people with giant spoilers on their front wheel drive car do enough competitive driving with which to warrant use of a spoiler. from what i've heard (correct me if i'm wrong), a spoiler isn't going to help 'balance' you going 30mph on city streets or 75mph on a freeway. in fact, it would create more drag than anything.
now if you're going 60 on a road course and trying to make sharp turns, that may be one thing. on the drag strip i believe they actually hold you back.

[ICUDOUCME]

75mph on a freeway. in fact, it would create more drag than anything.

Not true. The reason that this is wrong is when driving on a freeway you have crosswinds that will affect the balance of the vehicle no matter if its a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive. The idea of the spoiler in this case is to help balance the whole car out. Allowing the car to glide through the air current. Best way to look at this is to look at how much faster you are able to go when you are drafting behind another car. The spoiler in this case allows the rear wheels to stay attached to the pavement. In turn allowing you to go at higher speeds on a highway and maintain balance as well as to help conserve on gas. All about aerodynamics.

[Jessy]

how does a wing on the back help with a wind from the side? i'm not trying to be a bitch, just curious. the reason you can drift nicely behind another car is because that car is blocking the wind from the front...not from the side.

well i did some more reading about this and what i came up with is that it's all about compromise. what i took from it...a wing can allow you to balance better, even on a straight away at high speeds, but it does also create more drag. that's why they say it's a compromise. it looks as if the only way a wing would work is if you find a good compromise between drag and downforce. also, it looks as if before buying a wing you have to decide what you're going to use it for and know what angle to set it at.

check this site out, see what you think:
http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/Racecar/rearwing.html

they said what i wanted to say, but far more eloquently:
"A high downforce setup appropriate for street and road courses would not be competitive on a speedway. "
this is what i'm trying to get across to people who show at the drag strip with 3ft. wings on their cars.

[Senshi]

well lets just put it at this, big huge rear spoilers are useless

[Jessy]

well....yeah, that's kinda what i was going for.
i see so many people with giant spoilers as a "performance mod" for their drag racing.

um...not so much.
what's almost as funny is when they come out to the autox course. there's this one CRX whose wing is actually taller than the car. and it's not the one that sits on the top of a hatchie, either. the car has a trunk and it goes from the trunk, OVER the top of the car. it's great. someone knows the guy and apparently he got pulled over and the cop was making fun of him for it. poor guy. i mean, they're CLOSER to actually utilizing the wing...but on an auto x course, you still don't go fast enough to put it to use.

[AzCivic]

take your car to 120 on a slightly bumpy road and ask yourself what a proper wing is for, people do reach speeds in which a wing would be useful all the time. whether or not the one they have is doing anything useful is another story.