There are several mean-spirited, over-achieving speed bumps on a section of my drive home (ie., they are excessively high and wide and provide no relief to the right or left). Every time i speed over them, the bowling ball in my trunk pounds on the other things in my trunk…and god knows what those things are and how damaged they are getting. How can i go over a speed bump without all the items in my car realizing they are going over a speed bump? Is there a trick to getting over them and not feeling them? Can you teach me?
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August 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
This is a great question, and one that is easily answered.
The issue stems from most drivers reacting to a speed bump as something dangerous they are about to hit, like a tree. So as soon as they notice their fate, they… stand on the brakes.
This has the effect of shifting the weight forward, dropping the nose and compressing the springs and shocks of the car. Unlike off-road motorcycles, cars only have about 5 inches of “travel” in their suspension. Hitting the brakes can use up more than half of that.
The result is the speedbump, when reached takes up the remaining 2 1/2″ inches, and “WHAM”, you bottom out the system, providing the jolt of a lifetime.
Now the driver has developed a flinch reflex, and they will probably think of the speed bump as *even more* dangerous, hitting the brakes harder next time. The resulting jolt will be even bigger than the last.
The tactic here is to go over bumps the way a motocross rider goes over “whoop-de-dos”, which are ten times taller than any speed bump.
First, see the bump in time. Then, prior to reaching the bump , say 50 feet out, slow down with some moderate brake application. Finally, as you arrive at the bump, roll on some throttle (keeping the posted speeds in mind) as you contact the bump.
Applying gas at that moment will, like the motocross rider, raise the nose of the car and provide all of the suspension travel for the absorption of the bump. So long as you’ve shed the right amount of speed before contact, and don’t goose the gas too much going over, you’ll have a great speed bump experience.
Try this out and let us know if your fear or speed bumps is eliminated!