How can you reduce body roll during cornering without sacrificing ride comfort?

Body roll is the tendency of a car to lean to one side when cornering, which can affect handling, stability, and comfort. While some body roll is inevitable, too much can make the car feel unstable and unresponsive, and reduce the driver's confidence and enjoyment. In this article, you will learn how you can reduce body roll during cornering without sacrificing ride comfort, by understanding the factors that influence it and the solutions that can balance it.

1 Factors of body roll

Body roll is caused by the lateral forces that act on the car's center of gravity (CG) when it changes direction. These forces create a torque that tries to rotate the car around its longitudinal axis, which is resisted by the suspension system. The suspension system consists of springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, and other components that connect the wheels to the chassis and control the car's vertical and lateral movements. The stiffness, geometry, and alignment of these components affect how much body roll occurs and how the car reacts to it.

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Waqas Hussain

Quality Control Manager
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To reduce body roll without sacrificing ride comfort: 1. Upgrade to stiffer anti-roll bars. 2. Install performance shocks and struts. 3. Use performance tires. 4. Maintain proper tire pressure. 5. Consider a sport-tuned suspension. 6. Balance suspension components. 7. Adjust alignment settings. 8. Reduce overall vehicle weight.

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2 Solutions for body roll

There are several ways to reduce body roll during cornering, but they often involve trade-offs with ride comfort, cost, or complexity. Increasing the spring rate can make the suspension stiffer and more resistant to body roll, but it also makes the ride harsher and less compliant over bumps and uneven roads. Anti-roll bars, which connect the left and right wheels of the same axle to limit their relative movement, can reduce body roll by transferring some of the load from the outer wheel to the inner wheel. Lowering the center of gravity reduces the leverage of lateral forces on the car and makes it more stable and agile, but it also reduces ground clearance. Widening the track width increases stability and reduces body roll, but it also increases weight, drag, and turning radius. Adjusting the camber angle can increase contact patch and grip of the outer wheel during cornering, but it also increases tire wear and rolling resistance.

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Johnson udoeka

Operations Manager/Advert Consultant/Brand Consultant.
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To reduce body roll without sacrificing ride comfort: 1. Electronic Stability control { ESC}: It is paramount for the vehicle to come with an ESC system that can be adjusted to your preferences. 2. Weight Reduction 3. Progressive Rate Springs 4. Alignment and Camber settings 5. Upgraded suspensions 6. Performance Tires 7. Anti-Roll Bars: Reduced weight when cornering 8. Maintain proper Tire pressure. 9. Analysis The Road structure 10. The Vehicle specification needs to be tailored to the terrain of the environment or location. For example, the Western World has a better roadmap than 90 percent of African countries or the developed world.

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3 Balancing body roll and ride comfort

Finding the optimal solution for reducing body roll without sacrificing ride comfort varies depending on the car's design, purpose, and preferences. Generally speaking, it's best to start with the simplest and cheapest solution first, such as adjusting the tire pressure, alignment, or sway bar settings. Drastic changes to the suspension system should be avoided unless you have a clear goal and a reliable way to measure and tune the results. Adaptive or active suspension systems, such as air springs, magnetic dampers, or hydraulic anti-roll bars can be considered as they can adjust the stiffness and damping according to the driving conditions and modes. Testing the car in different scenarios and environments is also recommended to get an idea of how it performs and feels in each situation. Lastly, seeking feedback from other drivers or experts can offer different perspectives and insights on the car's handling and comfort.

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4 Benefits of reducing body roll

Reducing body roll during cornering can have several advantages for the car and driver, such as improved handling and stability, enhanced comfort and safety, and increased performance and efficiency. By making the car more responsive and predictable, it reduces the risk of losing control or skidding. Additionally, it minimizes the lateral forces and motions that can cause discomfort, fatigue, or nausea, as well as maintaining a better view of the road and surroundings. Furthermore, it optimizes the distribution of the load and grip among the wheels, while reducing drag and weight.

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5 Challenges of reducing body roll

Reducing body roll during cornering can have its challenges, such as compromising ride comfort, increasing cost or complexity, and altering the character of the car. Making the suspension too stiff or rigid can transmit more vibrations or noises to the cabin, while adding or modifying components and requiring more maintenance or calibration can up the cost. Additionally, it could make the car too dull or artificial, and lose some of the fun or excitement of driving.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Lawrence Jorge R.

Industrial Designer - Futurist - Innovation in Mobility - Sci-fi Writer - Sustainable Societies - Games - Arts
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We must consider that the industry is developing continuously systems that were conceived decades, or more than one century back in some cases. This philosophy is already limiting the design of more sustainable transportation as nobody is developing new systems that take full advantage of electrified powertrains, composite materials and AI. Some advantages of the new techs that could be mentioned are less weight, moving parts and better aerodynamic performance.

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How can you reduce body roll during cornering without sacrificing ride comfort?

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1 Factors of body roll

2 Solutions for body roll

3 Balancing body roll and ride comfort

4 Benefits of reducing body roll

5 Challenges of reducing body roll

6 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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How can you reduce body roll during cornering without sacrificing ride comfort?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Factors of body roll

2 Solutions for body roll

3 Balancing body roll and ride comfort

4 Benefits of reducing body roll

5 Challenges of reducing body roll

6 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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