Turning circles on cars!!

[richy22]

MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SILLY QUESTION BUT ITS ALWAYS BUGGED ME............

Why is the turning circle in a car different when reversing and going 4ward???!!! i can reverse out of my drive with FULL LOCK but if i try and drive stright back in on FULL LOCK, i have to reverse slightly to avoid hitting the tree?!!! Why is this???

 

[JAY172]

when your going forward the back end has to follow the front around and follows a different path to the front wheels,so reducing how sharper corner you can go around(an obvious example to show you what i mean would be a long lorry,the trailer/back end drags behind and so it has to take a wider line around the corner to be able to get the back end round).in reverse when you steer you are really steering from the back(the front is now the back because your are reversing).this enables you to point the back of the car(which is now the front due to you reversing)where you want and the back no longer follows you around due to it now steering around the corner and not dragging behind hence now being able to go around sharp corners(this is why fork lift trucks etc steer from the rear).That probably sounds like jibberish but its hard to explain,ah well at least i tried.

 

[Tom_16v]

good answer.....saves me having to write an essay to explain it!

 

[VoRN-182]

Why is the turning circle on a 16v so bad? My mates cavalier turns better than my Clio!!!

 

[Tom_16v]

Quote: Originally posted by VoRN-182 on 13 November 2003

Why is the turning circle on a 16v so bad? My mates cavalier turns better than my Clio!!!

Think most clios are.....

The V6 is pretty awful iirc.

Guess its just the way Renault made them!

 

[JAY172]

Quote: Originally posted by VoRN-182 on 13 November 2003

Why is the turning circle on a 16v so bad? My mates cavalier turns better than my Clio!!!

mainly because the suspension/steering is more of a sporty set up.the amount you have to move the steering wheel is reduced to make the vehicle more controllable at high speed but this will affect your parking manuveability(not sure how to spell that,can you tell!)

 

[VoRN-182]

so is it just the 16v/williams/172 that are like that?

 

[Tim172]

My MK 2 1.2 has a massive turning circle compared to the Micra I used to own (which was 12 years older). Must be something common to Clios. The turning on a forklift truck is stuning however, so maybe Im just spoilt lol

 

[GR7]

It amazes me how motorbikes get round corners without actually turning their handlebars, just by leaning and getting the knee down!

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1068763082__Hizzy07C.jpg

 

[JAY172]

Quote: Originally posted by Timmy! on 13 November 2003

My MK 2 1.2 has a massive turning circle compared to the Micra I used to own (which was 12 years older). Must be something common to Clios. The turning on a forklift truck is stuning however, so maybe Im just spoilt lol

if its a new clio then its because it has electric power steering instead of the oil type power steering.the ratios on the electric steering are limited due to the design.

 

[JAY172]

Quote: Originally posted by VoRN-182 on 13 November 2003

so is it just the 16v/williams/172 that are like that?

it also depends on the design of the steering system as well.but yes you will find sportier models are most likely to have poorer turning circles.

 

[Tim172]

Yeah, its power steering, thought it would be something to do with that, the Micra (K10) had no power assisted anything however, but I dont think Id trade back just for a smaller turning circle lol

 

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my 1.2 16v had a much better turnig circle than my 172, the 172 has the worst turining circle that I can remeber.