If to much rear stagger the kart will be loose ( quick snap ) middle to off if that's happening it's a disadvantage, If that's not happening and you have good crisp rotation you don't have to much rear stagger just because it's more than most, So NO disadvantage. With that being said the least you can run BUT still maintain good crisp rotation the faster you'll be !!So last year a guy got me on to trying 2 inch stagger for a short bullring type track with tight corners. Is there any disadvantage to too much stagger if the kart is turning good in the corner?
Is there a difference as to why you want the front less then the rear?If to much rear stagger the kart will be loose ( quick snap ) middle to off if that's happening it's a disadvantage, If that's not happening and you have good crisp rotation you don't have to much rear stagger just because it's more than most, So NO disadvantage. With that being said the least you can run BUT still maintain good crisp rotation the faster you'll be !!
The front you set 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" and pretty much let it alone, If the rear ends up more than front so be it, So NO reasoning in front being less than the rear other than that.Is there a difference as to why you want the front less then the rear?
Not to highjack the thread but...I have a spreadsheet that will calculate your stagger's, not perfect, but it will get you close. It takes a little work, you need to know the width of the track and the width of the infield.
It's true, (I think) that when you have the "wrong" stagger, handley is impaired. Too much and you have problems, too little and you have problems. The track, as described, probably needs a lot of stagger, but that's just a guess, based on your description, which is,..... a little vague.
It's my belief, when the kart is not handling right, changing the stagger is just a Band-Aid to cover up the real problem. Of course that's assuming that the stagger is perfect. It's my belief that every track has "the perfect" stagger measurement. And I believe it can be calculated, the stagger, with-in a small margin of error.
My contention is that; every track has an ideal (very hard to find) stagger. If your kart is traveling a perfect arc, and few do, then you can calculate the ideal stagger. "Ideal stagger" means, both tires are rolling, neither is sliding. Very hard to achieve, simply because, seldom is the arc perfect. I think it can be shown that the line most karts follow is a combination of an arc and a parabola. With a parabola, (a constantly changing radius line) any stagger you use will only be corrected at one point of the parabola. Wikipedia has a listing for parabola. "Parabola" is not one particular arc, but a name for a type of arc, who's measurements are (most probably) infinite.Not to highjack the thread but...
In my mind, stagger has less to do with a specific track, and more to do with a specific kart. If your setup is different from the "perfect" setup, then your stagger would have to be different as well.
on a bull ring you are never going straight, you are constantly traveling in an arcIf that stagger is working, go for it.
My suspicion is being higher than you need to be could scrub speed on the straights. But on a small bullring that would be less of a consideration.
Personally I dont take much stock in front stagger. Like Kania said, it is more of an indirect measure of other things than a primary adjustment
Maybe in your experience, but I could imagine where that might not be true, it would all depend on the radius of the turns. Tighter radius turns would mean longer straights. I always find it interesting that people describe tracks as bullring's, or 1/10, maybe shorter, but they seldom, if ever, mentioned the radius of the turns.on a bull ring you are never going straight, you are constantly traveling in an arc
Big difference my EXPERIENCE vs your IMAGINATIONMaybe in your experience, but I could imagine where that might not be true, it would all depend on the radius of the turns. Tighter radius turns would mean longer straights. I always find it interesting that people describe tracks as bullring's, or 1/10, maybe shorter, but they seldom, if ever, mentioned the radius of the turns.