Can some one point me to a link or an article that explains the benefits of a stiffer suspension?

It appears that the weight transfer is the same whether you have a stiff suspension or not, it just with the stiffer suspension you transfer faster and more abruptly. You also handle the inperfections on the road less well.

If all eles of the car being equal (including the ride height and suspension travel), why would some one wants a stiffer suspension?

Is it just the feel of being flatter in the corner? There must be more that I am missing.

 

Good question. The reason a stiffer suspension is good, is for
smooth surfaces. The benefits are:
1 - The lessening of the range of motion of the suspension
makes it easier to dial in the optimum alignment and have it
be there in the corner.
2 - the car doesn't reach maximum stick till the car settles in
the corner. This happens faster with stiffer suspension.
3 - In transitions from left-to-right or the other way, the big
sway from one side to the other takes less time. In a slalom,
a stiff suspension can keep up, where a soft one will make you
wait before you can turn back the other way.
Joe

 

One point #2, wouldn't a car that hasn't finished weight transfer have more grip than one that has finished ? E.g. assuming an extreme case where the weight of a car is completely transferred to the outside wheels once it's settle. Shouldn't it have more grip when it's still transitioning (say weight distributed at 25% inside and 75% outside) than fully transferred (say 0% inside and 100% outside)?

Since the softer suspension enables a car to stay in the half transferred state longer, wouldn't it provide more grip?

Also, does it mean with stiffer suspension, one need to handle the rumble strips with more caution?

 

No, the car in effect isn't fully turning until all of it is going
around the corner the same. Until the top part of the car has
stopped tipping over, it's not following the wheels.
Cornering force can be precisely measured by the weight
'transfer'. It is centrifugal force that causes it. Until transfer is
complete, you're not all cornering. Sure, the wheels can turn in
quicker initially with no shocks and soft springs, but unless you
want to leave the chassis behind, it'd better keep up, and it
does that quicker with stiff springs. Gokarts and F1 cars are
almost completely stiff.
Yes, absolutely, the stiffer you have the car, the more likely
the wheels are to go airborn on the backside of bumps. The
smoother the road, the stiffer you can use.

 

Joe, once my car is aligned you need to show me why stiffer suspension is better at the next auto-X I hear your ripping it up in the bay area. I've not made it out to one but plan on going. Never even tried it before. Just done the road courses...

 

I haven't read the replies, but here's my understanding of it.

Lower suspension, means less travel, means lower center of gravity, and a more equal geometry during the shorter travel ... which isn't what you asked for.

Some say it allows better cornering, particularly on race tracks ... but I actually believe in Colin Chapman theory, where it is better to have more travel and softer suspension, with no anti-sway bars to allow the wheels to stay in contact with the tarmac. Problem is that weight becomes your biggest enemy, and with today's heavier cars ... well, you get the idea.

I just won't be one to put supa-stiff springs and shocks ... active suspension will be enough, and not one of those half-*** systems MB and co. are pulling out.

 

Stiffer suspensions keep more weight on the inside wheels. The weight transfer is less because body roll is less. You are also less likely to bottom out on the spring bumpers (with equal ride heights).

 

The weight transfer is not affected by the stiffness of the suspension. It's determined by the center of gravity, the weight of the car, and the width of the car.

 

Correct. Stiffness affects the *speed* of the weight transfer.
(and other things too, as noted before)
Joe