What is trail braking??

[ESPER]

is it just mildly braking before a corner??

[themadscientist]

applying braking force late into a turn causing the rear to come out more.

[MikeS14240sx]

http://www.google.com/search?h...aking

If you want more detail.

[ESPER]

thanks guys

[Pennyfreak]

there is an article in i beleive either sport rider or cycle world last month on trail braking and how to use it and do it. u might see if u can't find one. i have the copy. i will see if i can find it to see what it says. u might be able to go to there website and they might have that article available online. http://www.sportrider.com http://www.cycleworld.com

[Nismo_Freak]

It helps to curb some understeer on the latter parts of a corner.

[reggiegsd]

Trail braking is lightly riding the brake as steer into the turn down to the apex. Some drivers use it to stabilize the car on a bumpy track. Normally its just used to go slow.

[ESPER]

well from the helpful article, it seems that trail braking is a far, far advanced technique that shaves seconds off yoru lap times........

[pylon_boy]

well from the helpful article, it seems that trail braking is a far, far advanced technique that shaves seconds off yoru lap times........

I wouldn't say it shaves seconds off lap times. Some good drivers choose to use it, some equally as good drivers choose not to use it. As stated above, it is mostly used to curb understeer in cars that do that alot. However, I will occasionally use it when I autocross as my car is only neutral when I am accelerating.

[themadscientist]

run pylon, RUN!!!!

[reggiegsd]

My Zcars always tended to be very neutral and any trail braking tended to overload the outside front tire resulting in some under steer. When I drove a friend’s Karman Ghia at a track event at Lime Rock, the only way I could get the outside front tire to contribute anything was with trail braking. I would think trail braking a front driver would be a disaster.

The stiffer the suspension, the less tolerant of trail braking the car will be.

For most tracks, in most cars, in most situations, trail braking won't work. There are always exceptions.

Most street cars have soft suspensions that have some allowance for trail braking built in. Most drivers, good and bad, instinctively use it.

[Bubba1]

Hey Reggie, Lime Rock is one of my favorite tracks. Big Bend is a great turn to trailbrake. I've done it countless times there. But I'm curious how that Karmen Ghia handled the uphill. I'm guessing it wasn't stock...

[reggiegsd]

This was the late '70s so you are right, the Ghias were pretty weak. Even a competative Ghia produced about 140 hp. Just not enough power to get into trouble on the uphill.