Front Wheel Deflectors - FT-86 SpeedFactory by Verus Engineering

[VerusEric]

This thread is being started to discuss any questions, concerns, or comments about the front wheel deflectors we designed. It will also be used to show the diagrams, information, pictures and videos regarding the CFD analysis on the front wheel deflector kit for the ZN6 chassis. These units will be available in the next few weeks, and will be distributed by @FT-86 SpeedFactory like we have done in the past.



WARNING: This unit is between 0.64” and 0.84” taller towards the ground than the OEM unit and sticks outwards further as well. These are made from thin sheet aluminum which does not bend as readily as thick rubber like the OEM unit. This means they may rub when they did not before. We want this to be known upfront.

What is included?


What does it look like when it is installed?

OEM bumper add on installed


Splitter add on installed



What does it do?
The front wheel deflectors were designed to improve the vehicles handling at high rates of speed. By reducing the airflow which makes it into the wheel wells and directly hits the front wheels, we are able to reduce drag. By persuading the airflow to go to the underbody, we are able to increase the downforce of the vehicle as well. We then took this a step further, and created a design purpose built for the splitter we produce, as well as an OEM front bumper, each of which ship with the front wheel deflector kit.



The front wheel deflectors reduced drag of the vehicle slightly with very little numerical change in downforce. While we believe our CFD analysis to be accurate, these analysis do have a hard time picking up small changes like these on the underbody of a somewhat accurate model. These changes are not terrible considering the size and location of these components though.

How did we come up with this?
Like all of our analysis before, each analysis was done using a half-car analysis since no yaw testing was completed. This is done using symmetry down the centerline of the car. Significantly less computational processing power is necessary when using a half-car model and was the reason behind this analysis approach. The meshing of the car is done using first a surface mesh and then volume mesh. To find a suitable mesh size for the analysis, a grid convergence study was done. A volume mesh count of 10 million cells was considered within the room of accuracy using mesh sensitivity analysis.


Model in the virtual windtunnel


Close up of mesh on the surface

The CFD post-processing offers both visualization of the flow and numerical data. Using both of these we can make educated guesses as to the changes it makes to the vehicles overall performance.


Pressure plot

Streamlines are another powerful tool to find where the air appears to be moving and if any vortices exist where we intend them to be.



Finally, we use vector arrows to visualize where the air is flowing and at what magnitude as well a video to view flow.



And finally some video:

Concluding thoughts:

The big thing to remember with a component like this is that the theory and science, as well as nearly every OE manufacturer, backs its function. Just because the CFD analysis does not show a large numerical change in downforce does not mean that real world results will not show more benefit. We do believe real world downforce will be more than what CFD showed but this is an educated guess. At 70 MPH, our test vehicle saw a consistent increase of 0.3 MPG from the addition of this component.

Real world benefits may differ as this is a computational analysis. Something as simple as ride height or wheel choice can vary results, as well as various other aspects. Real world results could be better or worse than what has been shown.

Please let us know if you have any questions for us. Thank you for your interest!

[Kodename47]

I know it's not directly related but does have to do with underbody airflow, can you guys design some brake ducting like the Porsche guys use ("Spatula mod")?

[VerusEric]

Originally Posted by Kodename47

I know it's not directly related but does have to do with underbody airflow, can you guys design some brake ducting like the Porsche guys use ("Spatula mod")?

We're working on something. Will start a thread when the development is far enough to do so . Thanks for the idea, we always appreciate ideas!

[ryoma]

is there a ballpark pricing on these so far?

[VerusEric]

Originally Posted by ryoma

is there a ballpark pricing on these so far?

Per forum rules we cannot discuss pricing but once they are loaded in @FT-86 SpeedFactory 's website, we will announce that.

[cslntuee]

I saw one similar product before, but at different location.

https://www.facebook.com/43498732986...type=3&theater

http://www.plotonline.com/car/dcuatro/lineup01.html

Any comment (compare) for this (or for different location)?

Thanks.

[VerusEric]

Originally Posted by cslntuee

I saw one similar product before, but at different location.

https://www.facebook.com/43498732986...type=3&theater

http://www.plotonline.com/car/dcuatro/lineup01.html

Any comment (compare) for this (or for different location)?

Thanks.

These are utilized for guiding what we would call dirty air, away from the rest of the under body. The air coming off the front of the wheel is very turbulent (dirty) and keeping this out from the under body helps reduce drag. We are working on something similar in another one of our kits.

Thanks,
Eric

[OkieSnuffBox]

Spats that connect from your splitter into the wheel well to get air moving around the front tire? Those anywhere on your radar?

[VerusEric]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Spats that connect from your splitter into the wheel well to get air moving around the front tire? Those anywhere on your radar?

Yessir, nearly finished with the design, just tweaking aesthetics. We want to test these thoroughly first as they will see quite a bit of load.

[VerusEric]

It is on there site: http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/ft-8...l#.Vd-f7vlVhBc

I am shipping them tomorrow or Monday at the latest to FT-86 SpeedFactory.

[zerodark]

Loving what you guys are doing.. excited to see future developments as well!

[VerusEric]

Originally Posted by zerodark

Loving what you guys are doing.. excited to see future developments as well!

Thank you! We appreciate the kind words.

[rlpaul]

Oh man, more Velox stuff to put on my long list.

[markitect]

Those look awesome!

How do they mount to the car? All I see is the plastic rivets, and I'm concerned about it coming off, or bending the plastic bottom tray when they get dragged through snow.