How Much Body Roll Do Street Cars Have?

Body roll is a term used to describe the side-to-side movement of a car’s body when it is cornering. It is caused by the car’s suspension system not being able to completely control the car’s body movement, which allows the body to lean or “roll” to one side.

The amount of body roll that a street car has depends on a number of factors, including the car’s suspension design, the stiffness of its springs and shocks, and the weight of the car. Cars with softer suspensions and springs will have more body roll than cars with stiffer suspensions and springs. Heavier cars will also have more body roll than lighter cars.

Factors Affecting Body Roll

There are several factors that can affect the amount of body roll that a street car has, including:

Suspension design: The design of a car’s suspension system has a significant impact on the amount of body roll that it has. Suspensions that are designed to be more comfortable will typically allow for more body roll than suspensions that are designed to be more sporty.
Spring rates: The stiffness of a car’s springs determines how much the car’s body will move up and down when it is cornering. Stiffer springs will reduce body roll, while softer springs will allow for more body roll.
Shock absorber damping: The damping of a car’s shock absorbers controls the rebound and compression of the car’s springs. Stiffer shock absorbers will reduce body roll, while softer shock absorbers will allow for more body roll.
Weight: The weight of a car has a significant impact on the amount of body roll that it has. Heavier cars will have more body roll than lighter cars.
Tires: The type of tires that a car has can also affect the amount of body roll that it has. Tires with a wider tread will provide more grip and reduce body roll, while tires with a narrower tread will provide less grip and allow for more body roll.

How to Reduce Body Roll

There are a few things that you can do to reduce body roll in your street car, including:

Upgrade your suspension: Upgrading your car’s suspension with stiffer springs and shock absorbers will reduce body roll. You can also install a sway bar or anti-roll bar, which will help to keep the car’s body flat when cornering.
Lower your car: Lowering your car will reduce the amount of leverage that the body has to roll, which will also reduce body roll. However, lowering your car too much can make it more difficult to drive over bumps and obstacles.
Add weight to the car: Adding weight to your car will help to reduce body roll. You can do this by adding a subwoofer, amplifier, or other heavy items to the trunk of your car.
Switch to tires with a wider tread: Tires with a wider tread will provide more grip and reduce body roll. However, tires with a wider tread can also be more expensive and can decrease fuel economy.

Conclusion

Body roll is a common problem in street cars, but it can be reduced by upgrading the suspension, lowering the car, adding weight to the car, or switching to tires with a wider tread. By reducing body roll, you can improve the handling and performance of your street car.