FWD Launch VS RWD Launch

[XXpl0Sive]

What do you think is easier to launch, given both cars have similar power outputs.

Arguments for and against, with reasons 8)

EDIT: 'easier' meaning which will give a better/faster launch

[Xenon]

In theory, a rear wheel drive car would be easier to launch...

The reason being that when accelarting, more weight is shifted to the rear of the car. Hence being in a RWD car, more contact is maintained with the tyres and the road leading to more traction and better launches.

With a front wheel drive car, once the weight shifts to the rear, the front driving wheels lift off leading to more wheelspin and crappy launches.

[cheebye]

rwd for sure is the easier to launch. both cars would get u lot of wheelspin, depending on how much power is put to the wheels but notice on fwd cars.. u tend to get plenty of torque steer, esp on uneven surfaces or a hard launch.

assuming the clutch is dumped on both cars, for a rwd platform, u will get wheelspin, the car would probably steer to one side until the wheels get grip then it takes off.

fwd cars, would wheelspin a bit easier dues to less power being loss thru the drivetrain but then again, watch out for torque steer which could catch a few ppl off guard.

imho ^^ :D

[EG_2_TEG]

hey ben

finally got your s14??

not that i've driven a rwd, but i reckon high rpm launches can be done better on a fwd
you go sideways big time with a high launch in a rwd ;)

[bennjamin]

not that i've driven a rwd, but i reckon high rpm launches can be done better on a fwd
you go sideways big time with a high launch in a rwd ;)

Another thing that everyone here has overlooked -

the ideal launch equation has the addition of a LSD too - whether locked or whatever ratio it is -a RWD car will go "sideways" as launching as one well is gripping slighlty more than the other (as the LSD ratio is 1:2 etc etc) - similar in a FWD too .

But , in a car with a open wheeler diff , one wheel simply soaks up the revs in wheelspin - and the other just sits there doing nothing(well, getting pulled forward) - applies both to RWD and FWD cars.

Not that ive explained what is better - more some fuel for this fire -

[Kit]

In theory, a rear wheel drive car would be easier to launch...

The reason being that when accelarting, more weight is shifted to the rear of the car. Hence being in a RWD car, more contact is maintained with the tyres and the road leading to more traction and better launches.

With a front wheel drive car, once the weight shifts to the rear, the front driving wheels lift off leading to more wheelspin and crappy launches.

Xenon, you're right, but only for acceleration, launching is something else.

hmmm I reckon FWD is easier to launch cos I found it easier to get the right balance of wheelspin and revs.
with a RWD its a fine line between too much wheelspin and too little revs.

Chris

[McChook]

Basically, XENON was correct. Principles of a good launch rely on Traction. Weight down on the wheels that drive creates better traction - hense why RWD cars need soft rear springs to lauch hard well. This is whya lot of Hondas can drag off a lot of more powerful RWD cars - for a little while. Look at almost every skyline with non-stock suspension. They ALL have too stiffer rear springs, and suffer from wheelspin, pour launches and lack of grip.... But they don't fare too badly on corners and power oversteer... It is a compromise....

Weight also plays a bit part in lauching. As does the clutch and driver....

[XXpl0Sive]

McChook: Same weight, same clutch, same driver :)

[wynode]

But , in a car with a open wheeler diff , one wheel simply soaks up the revs in wheelspin - and the other just sits there doing nothing(well, getting pulled forward) - applies both to RWD and FWD cars.


Actually with an open diff, power get transferred to the wheel with the least grip.

Hence what happens when you dial full lock (or thereabouts) in a FWD, put your foot down and the inside wheel just spins and your tacho rises. Same story for RWD. Similar thing to when trying to power out of a corner with no LSD. Open diffs were initially designed to allow the inside wheel to spin at a different rate to the outside wheel while cornering. but they are not capable of detecting which wheel is gripping and transfer power to that wheel.

The basic argument with launching FWD vs RWD is what Xenon said and that is that in FWD cars, weight gets transferred to the rear and the fronts loose traction.

[fueltank]

easier I would say FWD.

faster is RWD IF you get a good launch happening.

As for swinging sideways, better tyres and a good suspension setup can minimise this. :)

[Kit]

easier I would say FWD.

faster is RWD IF you get a good launch happening.

As for swinging sideways, better tyres and a good suspension setup can minimise this. :)

yes, thats exactly right.
Everyone else is answering which type of drive train is better or faster to launch, but the original question was which is EASIER to launch.
:)

[fueltank]

I wonder how many of the comments are based on speculation and theory and how many are based on first hand experience ;)

[VTEChnique]

hmm it's definately EASIER to get WHEELSPIN at launch in Front-Drives

:D

[wynode]

hmm it's definately EASIER to get WHEELSPIN at launch in Front-Drives

:DTrue that

I would say RWD is easier (speaking from experience!)

[Civic Type R]

enter water into the equation and there nothing better than hitting redline in 4th and you've moved 10m into the intersection.

[fozee]

I would have thought a RWD would be better for launching as when it initially accelerates and takes off all the weight is transferred to the rear of the car, hence the rear wheels.
So they would be pushed on to the ground more and be dealing with more traction. Better traction better take off, right?
LSD is deffinately an issue.

Ive found the FWD cars ive owned spin easier than any of my RWD cars.
I cant say im really certain, which is faster....