Importance of Rear Wing Support

[C J R]

Thought I\'d share my latest experience.

I designed new uprights for my carbon Mazdaspeed rear wing. This required new mounting holes on the wing inboard by about 150mm each side towards the centre of the FD.

Mounting was solid and only the wing ends could be seen to flex whilst driving.
However some spirited high speed driving this weekend resulted in the carbon wing snapping in the centre and folding like a banana.

Therefore the designers and manufacturer\'s of these parts have placed location/mounting points in an optimum location for their products.
I didn\'t realise how critical these locating points were until now !!

Couple of pictures showing the wing. It did not fold fully as per the picture, I had to fold it in half to get it in the FD boot.

[clive]

Arrrrrrrrggggggggggg,

All I can suggest for the next one is to make a plinth, bolt it to the uprights then use the existing bolt holes where the strength is to then bolt to the plinth

Yes it will mean more weight but it should be strong

Hope this makes sense

[shaunwil]

Wow, bet that made you jump, where the original mounts closer to the middle ?

Wonder if it broke because of downward forces in the middle or upward forces from the sides ?

Shaun

[Laeeq]

How can Carbon bend ad break like that...:2Rolleyes flex yes but not snap in half.  That wing does not look 100% carbon.

[Arnie_O]

Sorry to see this Chris... This things are not cheap so as a carbon whore I feel your pain.

[Grant Monkhouse]

Wow!!!! Only true way to see if a wing is strong enough is to stand on top of it and see if its breaks;) that way you know it will cope with your body weights worth of down force:)

Or alternatively do as you have done and use wind to break it!

[grinder]

thats rather impressive mate

[re japi]

That is weird. I have to agree with Laeeq, I think that carbon shouldnt snap like that...?

[C J R]

It is a carbon wing. It has layers of carbon making up its shape.
 
The wing snapped on the underside but the gel coat was holding the top face together.
It was a weired sight in the rear mirror to see the end plates bent in almost touching the FD rear wings, but when we stopped the wing straightened itself so just the cracks were visible.
(Rememeber I said I had to fully bend it in half to get it in the FD boot.)
 
The wing was originally designed to have mounting holes about 150mm further outwards from where I had located the new mounts.
The wing does not have extra carbon in the original mouting points.

[boosted]

Your in good company as this happened to Colin Chapmans F1Lotus back when downforce was in its infancy and F1 was putting hugh wings on.
I just had my rear diffuser do a similar thing...was scary.

[roborangefd3s]

sorry to see this, pleased you are Ok.

Your wing mount looks awesome but that wing as you found out is more a styling mod than a proper functional wing.

I have a proper wing for sale if you are interested, it came off an Ascari GT3 car and it is made in prepreg (dry carbon) it is 1750 mm in length and double layer so wont snap, tested up to 180mph by Ascari.

You would need a serious front end to balance this however or the front of your car will go very light at speed.

Let me know if you are interested, this is a £2k wing, im looking for 1k.

thanks

http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/orangefd3s/media/WINGBIG_zps15cf7550.jpg.html?filters[user]=129133026&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

[Mr Froggy]

Sorry to see you had problems with the wing.
Hope you get it sorted.

[JayDee]

I thought carbon breaks, does it not? Plus Chris didnt lift ;-)

How can Carbon bend ad break like that...:2Rolleyes flex yes but not snap in half.  That wing does not look 100% carbon.

[steve garbutt]

If carbon is layered in different directions as it should be in a quality product that is manufactured for strength not weight, then it wont completely snap, it will bend, as some of the fibers will remain connected.
Single layer carbon will just snap but thats usually reserved for either cheap products or very light products.

[Laeeq]

I thought carbon breaks, does it not? Plus Chris didnt lift ;-)

haha...:flamed:burnout