Hey guys had a question about rear spoilers/wings. At what speed do you actually need one? I really don't like any of the rear wings I have seen. So if I would really never need one the better. So I was going to go with no rear wing but did want a front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser/bumper(probally all FEED, FWIW). Do you guys think the FD will looked balanced without one? Thanks guys.



later Gun

 

The stock R1/R2 wing is for looks only. The newer spoilers on the 99+ Spec are adjustable, and functional.
The FD looks good with or without a wing.
I have a stock R1 wing for sale BTW.

 

But at what speeds do actually need a wing to make downforce to keep you planted? I think I read somewhere that a wing isn't used until you reach 150mph or something. Thanks

later Gun

 

It truly depends on the design of the wing, solid race cars make downforce at about 60 mph. For arguments sake lets say they start working around 100 mph (good design). But they don't make huge amounts of downforce, mostly stabilization in a street car. A rear wing will actually increase your drag was well, the touring w/out any spoilers is the slipperiest RX7. Unless you are taking hard corners at 150, which i hope to god you aren't you don't need it. (except for looks)

 

Thanks Engberg, that's what I thought. So most people just have them for looks, then.

What about the looks can a FD look good without a wing but all other body parts, in your opinion?

later Gun

 

For street cars both the front and rear wings are strictly for looks.

So, it's just a matter of what you like. Don't concern yourself with other people's opinions on looks. When you get in this car each day what do you want to see?

 

Just do what makes you happy. (even if it is tasteless, which I hope not) Isn't the base model smoother? (no sunroof)

 

I bought my 99 front lip for looks but after I installed it I could tell a big difference on the highway.

If you do a full bodykit and no wing, it should look fine. Several people have done it and their cars look good.

 

you dont really need a wing at hte speeds we normally drive at. in anycase, the C5R rear spoiler puts down about 1500lbs of downforce at 150mph and they can tune it to put down about 1800lbs at max.

 

at street speeds rear wings produce no measurable amount of downforce. The some wings will produce drag and will, therefore will reduce fuel economy.

A properly designed front splitter (the fashionable term) can be useful at street speeds. It can direct air around the car, through cooling ducts and can properly channel the air under the car. A sensible item if designed and executed properly.

A rear aerodynamic device on a street car is merely used to impress others in the mall parking lot.

 

http://www.hypersportsracing.com/html/projects.html

they're car doesnt have a rear wing, looks good to me

 

wow, thats a real clean looking FD. i wouldn't mind getting a bunch of free stuff from Apex'i.

 

Remember- wing=downforce and spoiler=better airflow

 

I -think- my front chin spoiler is effective. I don't notice the front end getting light at high speeds as others have posted. For a street car the rear wing is only good for looks and taxing the hatch supports (too large a wing and they will not hold it open). Rear diffuser is very useful if designed properly. Can increase downforce without added drag.

It seems to me there are two ways to go. All out wild body kit needs a large rear wing. Subtle body mods. call for minimal or no rear wing.

 

I'm staying away from a rear wing so I can see if there are any cops creeping up

 

I would be curious to see that statement in any book.

The terms are interchangable in the realm of automobile aerodynamics. Sure, a "wing" is a device designed to produce lift (or downforce if installed upsidedown), but a "spoiler" does the same thing on a car.

The term "spoiler" originated when designers added a lip to the rear of racecars to "spoil" the flow of air off the rear of the automobile. The act of spoiling the airflow in and of itself will create some downforce.

A "wing" is a further evolution of the theme wherein the engineers sought to harness and/or redirect calculated amounts of the airflow.

Many of you feel that you can discern a difference on the street with your aerodynamic devices. In actuality you are actually feeling yourself attempting to justify the cost of the part. Several University Engineering programs have performed double blind tests where people are put in cars with and without huge wings, splitters and even parachutes hanging off the back of the cars. It was pretty much proven that at highway speeds all these items are decoration. No more, no less.

Opinions do vary but most experts believe that one must reach between 85 and 110mph before the airflow loading is sufficient to make detectable differences in handling of a car. AND, this relies on the assumption that the aerodynamic devices were correctly designed.

 

i spoke to a guy that runs the 99spec. he drag races. he said with the wing on his mph trap is much lower!

 

If they work over 100 mph (or whatever), that is an acceptable gain. The car feels just fine under thoes speeds, a little more stability at 140+ would be awesome.

 

Do a favor for me and everyone else. Why don't you post a warning before you go out driving like this so the rest of us can get off the road for our own safety.

 

Sure thing

LOL, I dont go out and do 140 every day! The extra stablilty would be nice IF i wanted to go that high(not saying i have not been there before), and should help on the track.

 

I asked a reputable Mazda (rotary) mechanic about the FD's rear spoiler gains and he said pretty much what everyone here is saying here. They are for looks, he also said he had a friend racing his FD in the quarter mile and when they removed the rear spoiler off the car and raced it, they were shaving off 3/10 of a second on each pass.

 

I think of discussions like this when I see a ricemobile FWD weakass 4 banger, where the first mod is a huge *** spoiler in the rear.

 

Taking a look through a magazine featuring 10/sub-10 second 'drag' FDs, I note that many of them have 'wings' that are very low and extend back (cometimes significantly) past the rear lip.

Circuit FDs tend to use the monstrous T-wings. Now, I'd never put one on a car (purely due to aesthetics), but it was interesting to see option video (could have been best motoring, can't remember now...) test a variety of spoilers and find that the huge t-wing gave the best performance gains around a circuit.

 

The low, extended back spoilers are for decreasing drag, gives the air a sort of softer exit from the car. The large baskethandle wings give downforce, on a circuit downforce is your best friend.

 

whats really interesting, if you look at the new generation of ralley type cars, they have spoilers that are designed to create certain downforce while cornering at different angles and different speeds. They look goofy as hell, but the technology is really neat.

Just thought id share that.