Influence of stiffer springs on braking balance

[MvM]

Hi,
I have a question which might be a little dumb but here it is.
At the moment, my car is a bit lowered with standard shocks. Spring rate is about the same as stock. Brake pads are Axxis Ultimate.
Under heavy braking I experience quite a bit of nose-dive. Locking up the front wheels is not a problem and braking is not what I would like it to be.
I am going to install much stiffer shocks and springs (TEIN-RE).
How are these shocks & springs going to affect my brake-balance?
If the car will dive less under braking does that mean the rear-brakes get more work to do?
Will the front wheels have a less tendency to lock up quickly or will the lock-up more quickly because the weight on them will be less?
How will the new setup affect my total braking distance if at all?

 

[NSX-Racer]

Hi Maarten,

to answer your questions point by point:

How are these shocks & springs going to affect my brake-balance?

It will affect chassis movement not brake balance in the original meaning - but
the car dives less

If the car will dive less under braking does that mean the rear-brakes get more work to do?

Yes because the rears will have more contact to the ground

Will the front wheels have a less tendency to lock up quickly or will the lock-up more quickly because the weight on them will be less?

Twice No - OTOH the rear tires will lock less quickly. But: On a very bumpy road you may lock the front tires earlier when the new setup is so hard that the tires can't "follow" the bumps (less ground contact than with stock setup).

How will the new setup affect my total braking distance if at all?

Depends on the tires and your skills. With street tires you may have the same distance than before but you'll experience a more stable feeling at the rear (less tail shaking). That's also the reason why you may have a shorter brake distance with race slicks (way more load transfer!). When the car feels more stable and dives less under heavy braking you may dare to brake later and harder than before especialy as a track rookie.

An experienced driver may have the same brake distances either with stock setup or aftermarket shocks/springs.

 

[DanO]

To reduce weight transfer there are only two things we can do, lower the car’s center of gravity and/or decelerate more slowly. Stiffer or looser springs cannot affect weight transfer. If the new setup lowers the car (lowers cg), then it will reduce weight transfer, but it probably will not be noticeable. New/different shocks/springs may help CONTROL weight transfer for better or worse, but it cannot physically change the transfer itself.

DanO