Corner Weight Scales
Discussion
Looking into getting a corner weighing setup (scales / levelling pads / ramps)
Are there any generally accepted brands to go for as prices seem fairly astronomical, bordering on taking the pee. £800 for some box section platforms with adjustable feet and £1000 for some small aluminium ramps are a bitter pill to swallow. The scales themselves seem like great value in comparision!
Any recommendations or is it a case of sucking up the prices or continue taking the cars to specialists with the setup already?
Are there any generally accepted brands to go for as prices seem fairly astronomical, bordering on taking the pee. £800 for some box section platforms with adjustable feet and £1000 for some small aluminium ramps are a bitter pill to swallow. The scales themselves seem like great value in comparision!
Any recommendations or is it a case of sucking up the prices or continue taking the cars to specialists with the setup already?
Bought some secondhand scales. Tested them for accuracy. Then made adjustable feet for them and used DIY style laser leveller and a long builders spirit level to ensure they were level. Never bothered with aluminium ramps - maybe if your doing lots regularly its useful but for one car prior to each weekend it was comforting to think of the money saved whilst jacking the car manually and slide them in.
These are pretty good and easy to use https://www.tegiwaimports.com/motorsport/pit-paddo... , not a cheap bit of kit unfortunately for how often you get to use them 
Steve H said:
These are pretty good and easy to use https://www.tegiwaimports.com/motorsport/pit-paddo... , not a cheap bit of kit unfortunately for how often you get to use them
These look very nice, especially if you already have a level surface to put them onAceOfHearts said:
Looking into getting a corner weighing setup (scales / levelling pads / ramps)
Are there any generally accepted brands to go for as prices seem fairly astronomical, bordering on taking the pee. £800 for some box section platforms with adjustable feet and £1000 for some small aluminium ramps are a bitter pill to swallow. The scales themselves seem like great value in comparision!
Any recommendations or is it a case of sucking up the prices or continue taking the cars to specialists with the setup already?
I know ehere there is a second hand set for sale. Or at least they were available about 2 weeks ago.Are there any generally accepted brands to go for as prices seem fairly astronomical, bordering on taking the pee. £800 for some box section platforms with adjustable feet and £1000 for some small aluminium ramps are a bitter pill to swallow. The scales themselves seem like great value in comparision!
Any recommendations or is it a case of sucking up the prices or continue taking the cars to specialists with the setup already?
PM me
Zoobeef said:
I got 4 x 300kg parcel scales. Adjustable feet and accurate.
Same here, think these are the ones I've got (no connection to the seller, it may have been another user I bought them from) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Digital-Post...
Dunc.
Edited by dunc_sx on Thursday 2nd May 12:41
dunc_sx said:
Zoobeef said:
I got 4 x 300kg parcel scales. Adjustable feet and accurate.
Same here, think these are the ones I've got (no connection to the seller, it may have been another user I bought them from) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Digital-Post...
Dunc.
Edited by dunc_sx on Thursday 2nd May 12:41
BertBert said:
Very interesting. Silly question, do the feet stand up to the job?
I've got some of these too and they seem to cope fine with a car sitting on them. The only issue I've found if you have to get the tyres contact patch as close to the middle of the plate as you can or the weight reading can drift a little.Good question this.
If you are doing this a lot and or have a fairly heavy race car, then it is worth the investment in a decent set of scales.
On the other hand, if you have a car that is not so heavy, and are only setting up occasionally (like once a meeting) then the post office style scales are really good value.
Things to consider / work around if you go the cheaper route:
Getting car on and off scales:
- I built some wooden step style ramps. Think 2x planks of wood, wide enough for my tyre, sanded smooth, glued together one on top of the other but with the top one shorter. This meant I can push the car up to the right height in two small steps (and by myself.) It also enables me to roll the car on/off the scales and on/off the ramps. I do all adjustment, necessary bounces, etc on ramps, and then roll back onto scales (might be easier to post pic if you are interested? - let me know)
- The scales are less robust but can hold the weight. Just make sure your floor is solid and you are very careful (slow) rolling the car on and off them. TBH the ruggedness of the dedicated scales is a lot of what you are paying for.
Display:
- The first set I bought had the display built into the scales. This is fine if you have someone to help you. Even then it was a pain as the display often turned off before my beautiful assistant (aka wife!) had been able to run round the car to get the readings.
- I then bought a set with the separate display, like in the link above, and that works really well as you can position the displays on jerry cans (or whatever) so you can see them from the cockpit. This then meant I could do the corner weights by myself, and take my time ...
Calculations:
- What the parcel scales don't do is any calculations of cross weight % or front to back %. They also don't have an app, nor automatically store the values. However, for the cost saving, a quick hand calculation for these figures is probably ok - as long as you (keep) getting it right ...
Accuracy:
- As mentioned previously, I've found the accuracy to be good. For the overall weight, of course the only scales that matter are the official ones for the track you are racing so it is always best to double check. However, I have found the cheaper postal style scales to be very close. That therefore gives me confidence in the corner weights too.
Consideration:
- Before you go and by these cheaper scales, just double check the maximum weight you are likely to have in each corner of your car i.e. this might well be close to 300 kg in one corner for example.
- Try to plan out how you are going to adjust the car before you start doing it. When I started out I remember it was easy to get lost chasing your tail on this!
Let me know if you want the pictures of the ramps.
If you are doing this a lot and or have a fairly heavy race car, then it is worth the investment in a decent set of scales.
On the other hand, if you have a car that is not so heavy, and are only setting up occasionally (like once a meeting) then the post office style scales are really good value.
Things to consider / work around if you go the cheaper route:
Getting car on and off scales:
- I built some wooden step style ramps. Think 2x planks of wood, wide enough for my tyre, sanded smooth, glued together one on top of the other but with the top one shorter. This meant I can push the car up to the right height in two small steps (and by myself.) It also enables me to roll the car on/off the scales and on/off the ramps. I do all adjustment, necessary bounces, etc on ramps, and then roll back onto scales (might be easier to post pic if you are interested? - let me know)
- The scales are less robust but can hold the weight. Just make sure your floor is solid and you are very careful (slow) rolling the car on and off them. TBH the ruggedness of the dedicated scales is a lot of what you are paying for.
Display:
- The first set I bought had the display built into the scales. This is fine if you have someone to help you. Even then it was a pain as the display often turned off before my beautiful assistant (aka wife!) had been able to run round the car to get the readings.
- I then bought a set with the separate display, like in the link above, and that works really well as you can position the displays on jerry cans (or whatever) so you can see them from the cockpit. This then meant I could do the corner weights by myself, and take my time ...
Calculations:
- What the parcel scales don't do is any calculations of cross weight % or front to back %. They also don't have an app, nor automatically store the values. However, for the cost saving, a quick hand calculation for these figures is probably ok - as long as you (keep) getting it right ...
Accuracy:
- As mentioned previously, I've found the accuracy to be good. For the overall weight, of course the only scales that matter are the official ones for the track you are racing so it is always best to double check. However, I have found the cheaper postal style scales to be very close. That therefore gives me confidence in the corner weights too.
Consideration:
- Before you go and by these cheaper scales, just double check the maximum weight you are likely to have in each corner of your car i.e. this might well be close to 300 kg in one corner for example.
- Try to plan out how you are going to adjust the car before you start doing it. When I started out I remember it was easy to get lost chasing your tail on this!
Let me know if you want the pictures of the ramps.
Glyn84 said:
BertBert said:
Very interesting. Silly question, do the feet stand up to the job?
I've got some of these too and they seem to cope fine with a car sitting on them. The only issue I've found if you have to get the tyres contact patch as close to the middle of the plate as you can or the weight reading can drift a little.Bert
BertBert said:
I was wondering as when you lower a wheel onto them and the droop gets taken up, it produces a sideways force that the feet might not be up to.
Bert
You shouldn't be lowering the car onto them though. If you can, the car should already be on all four wheels at the height of the scales (see my ramps post above). You should then just be rolling it onto the scales at the same level.Bert
sabid said:
Good question this.
If you are doing this a lot and or have a fairly heavy race car, then it is worth the investment in a decent set of scales.
On the other hand, if you have a car that is not so heavy, and are only setting up occasionally (like once a meeting) then the post office style scales are really good value.
Things to consider / work around if you go the cheaper route:
Getting car on and off scales:
- I built some wooden step style ramps. Think 2x planks of wood, wide enough for my tyre, sanded smooth, glued together one on top of the other but with the top one shorter. This meant I can push the car up to the right height in two small steps (and by myself.) It also enables me to roll the car on/off the scales and on/off the ramps. I do all adjustment, necessary bounces, etc on ramps, and then roll back onto scales (might be easier to post pic if you are interested? - let me know)
- The scales are less robust but can hold the weight. Just make sure your floor is solid and you are very careful (slow) rolling the car on and off them. TBH the ruggedness of the dedicated scales is a lot of what you are paying for.
Display:
- The first set I bought had the display built into the scales. This is fine if you have someone to help you. Even then it was a pain as the display often turned off before my beautiful assistant (aka wife!) had been able to run round the car to get the readings.
- I then bought a set with the separate display, like in the link above, and that works really well as you can position the displays on jerry cans (or whatever) so you can see them from the cockpit. This then meant I could do the corner weights by myself, and take my time ...
Calculations:
- What the parcel scales don't do is any calculations of cross weight % or front to back %. They also don't have an app, nor automatically store the values. However, for the cost saving, a quick hand calculation for these figures is probably ok - as long as you (keep) getting it right ...
Accuracy:
- As mentioned previously, I've found the accuracy to be good. For the overall weight, of course the only scales that matter are the official ones for the track you are racing so it is always best to double check. However, I have found the cheaper postal style scales to be very close. That therefore gives me confidence in the corner weights too.
Consideration:
- Before you go and by these cheaper scales, just double check the maximum weight you are likely to have in each corner of your car i.e. this might well be close to 300 kg in one corner for example.
- Try to plan out how you are going to adjust the car before you start doing it. When I started out I remember it was easy to get lost chasing your tail on this!
Let me know if you want the pictures of the ramps.
There's spreadsheets available online with all calculations already entered so all you do is type in your 4 corner weights and it works everything out for you. Very handy.If you are doing this a lot and or have a fairly heavy race car, then it is worth the investment in a decent set of scales.
On the other hand, if you have a car that is not so heavy, and are only setting up occasionally (like once a meeting) then the post office style scales are really good value.
Things to consider / work around if you go the cheaper route:
Getting car on and off scales:
- I built some wooden step style ramps. Think 2x planks of wood, wide enough for my tyre, sanded smooth, glued together one on top of the other but with the top one shorter. This meant I can push the car up to the right height in two small steps (and by myself.) It also enables me to roll the car on/off the scales and on/off the ramps. I do all adjustment, necessary bounces, etc on ramps, and then roll back onto scales (might be easier to post pic if you are interested? - let me know)
- The scales are less robust but can hold the weight. Just make sure your floor is solid and you are very careful (slow) rolling the car on and off them. TBH the ruggedness of the dedicated scales is a lot of what you are paying for.
Display:
- The first set I bought had the display built into the scales. This is fine if you have someone to help you. Even then it was a pain as the display often turned off before my beautiful assistant (aka wife!) had been able to run round the car to get the readings.
- I then bought a set with the separate display, like in the link above, and that works really well as you can position the displays on jerry cans (or whatever) so you can see them from the cockpit. This then meant I could do the corner weights by myself, and take my time ...
Calculations:
- What the parcel scales don't do is any calculations of cross weight % or front to back %. They also don't have an app, nor automatically store the values. However, for the cost saving, a quick hand calculation for these figures is probably ok - as long as you (keep) getting it right ...
Accuracy:
- As mentioned previously, I've found the accuracy to be good. For the overall weight, of course the only scales that matter are the official ones for the track you are racing so it is always best to double check. However, I have found the cheaper postal style scales to be very close. That therefore gives me confidence in the corner weights too.
Consideration:
- Before you go and by these cheaper scales, just double check the maximum weight you are likely to have in each corner of your car i.e. this might well be close to 300 kg in one corner for example.
- Try to plan out how you are going to adjust the car before you start doing it. When I started out I remember it was easy to get lost chasing your tail on this!
Let me know if you want the pictures of the ramps.
Zoobeef said:
Thanks - will take a look.AceOfHearts said:
Thanks for all the great information guys, its very much appreciated! The parcel scales are a great idea but unfortunately a few of the cars I am looking after will be too heavy (f430 and Mustang). I might have to get some in the future for my TVR though!
I've seen some people cantilever some solutions but it gets a bit "engineering challenge for the sake of it" and not sure of accuracy ...At least if you do buy some pricy scales, they tend to hold their value really well.
Best of luck
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