If AWD is quicker than RWD in a drag race, then why do most drag-built cars like mustangs have RWD
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This is one of those times you should google. Literally hundreds of simple explanations with citations.
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Four reasons:
1.Tires- Drag prepped cars can use super grippy super wide drag tires, which means that compared to even the best road tires, traction is greatly increased
2. Weight transfer- As a side effect to those tires, a lot of weight is being brought up in the front, resulting in lower traction from the front end, reducing the effectiveness of any power being sent there.
3. Weight- AWD systems are heavy, and in a drag car where lightness is important, an extra few hundred pounds makes a big difference.
4. Surface prep- Drag strips are often prepared with a surface that’s physically sticky to gain traction.
All of this means that on a drag strip where a car can be designed with the most traction in mind, rear drive is better. But on a road, where traction is limited, AWD helps to create more grip to accelerate a car.
If two cars have the same power band, the same engine, transmission, and tire size, the rear wheel drive will be faster until traction becomes an issue. This is because the rear wheel drive has a more efficient drivetrain. With a simple tire swap to some drag slicks, and slimmer front tires, the rear wheel drive will have the advantage again.
A lot of vehicles don’t handle modifications very well and it effects reliability. You continually move the weakest link until you go full circle and then you start over. Rear wheel drive simply has less parts to break.
You often end up modifying the differential by adding some kind of locker or spool and you often install lower gearing (numerically higher) to accelerate faster. It costs costs about $1,500 per diff around here for parts and labor, last time I checked. Add a second diff and that doubles your costs.
CV joints are more expensive and aren’t as reliable as a solid axle vehicles. You can get stronger axles for each style, but the solid axle will have less moving parts, and the rotating parts are lighter.
The rear wheel drive will weight less, due to not having a second set of axles, a second diff, and a transfer case of some type.
Basically, the rear wheel drive is lighter, cheaper to mod, easier to mod, and has less moving parts. A good set of tires fixes everything the AWD does for a fraction of the cost and complexity.
Simple answer,
1.awd is heavier=slower
2.weight shifts to rear wheels when accelerating hard=less traction in front wheels
3. Big special tires in the back for traction and small in front for less friction
When drag racing regular cars u get the advantage of 4wd because you usually use normal tires so you can get better traction that way than just regular 2wd. But when building a real drag car it’s better and easier to use rwd
It depends on the power of the engine.
If the engine is powerful enough to lift of the front wheels then it is wasted weight and grip to put front axles and good tires upfront as having all the weight on the rear wheels is maximum grip and power
If the car is still far from lifting off front wheels then it is worth it to have the front axle help during launch, after launch it is not as useful.
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