Re: [DML] Forgot to Mention

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Myself and others who are interested in this project do not drive LeMans. We do not push our tires' contact path to their limit on a regular basis. Rather, we GT cruise over what is left of America's highway infrastructure. Speaking only for myself: I do not want to feel washboard pavement, tractor tire ruts, potholes, patchwork repairs, etc transmitted through my steering wheel. In the current state of our highway system, a little numbness would be appreciated. Even my F150's with rudimentary I beam suspensions are smoother to steer over bad pavement than my DeLorean.

Bill Robertson
#5939


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Michael Griese <mike.griese@...> wrote:
>
> Lotus didn't use rag joints in the steering on any of their cars except for 
> maybe the Evora - I haven't looked at that model in sufficient detail to know 
> but I would be surprised if they did. Rag joints numb the steering response and 
> feel.
> 
> A properly maintained steering system (which includes the front suspension) 
> should not have regular vibrations.  If it does, fix that problem first before 
> deciding if additional dampening is desired.  What the Lotus design provides is 
> very tactile >vibration free< feedback from the contact patch of the front 
> wheels to the drivers hands.  That is very important for drivers who like to 
> track their cars, and a significant number of Lotus owners do just that.  
> Knowing when the tire is going over bumps, seams, uneven or loose pavement is 
> good to know when you are pushing the contact patch to its limit.  Rag joints 
> also make it impossible to feel the tire tread moving around, which makes it 
> hard to know when the contact patch is at the limit.
> 
> Personally I prefer manual steering cars with no rag joints.  Cars like our BMW 
> 3 series or even the Boxster feel numb and disconnected from the road compared 
> to my Elise, Esprit and DeLorean.  Most of that is due to the power steering 
> systems.  Our pickup is just hopeless.
> 
>  --
> Mike
> 




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