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Fred Puhn
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How to Make Your Car Handle Paperback – January 1, 1976

by Fred Puhn (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 163 ratings
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To make your car handle, design a suspension system, or just learn about chassis, you’ll find what you need here. Basic suspension theory is thoroughly covered: roll center, roll axis, camber change, bump steer, anti-dive, ride rate, ride balance and more.

How to choose, install and modify suspensions and suspension hardware for best handling: springs, sway bars, shock absorbers, bushings, tired and wheels. Regardless of the basic layout of your car—front engine/rear drive, front engine/front drive, or rear engine/rear drive—it is covered here.

Aerodynamic hardware and body modifications for reduced drag, high-speed stability and increased cornering power: spoilers, air dams, wings and ground-effects devices. How to modify and set up brakes for maximum stopping power and handling.

The most complete source of handling information available. “Suspension secrets” explained in plain, understandable language so you can be the expert.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    200 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HP Books
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1976
  5. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.41 x 11 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0912656468
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0912656465
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Fred Puhn is the author of How to Make Your Car Handle and The Brake Handbook.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HP Books; Illustrated edition (January 1, 1976)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0912656468
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0912656465
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.26 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.41 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 163 ratings

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Fred Puhn

Fred Puhn

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
163 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Heather Walton
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2002
Verified Purchase
I was recommended this book from a friend at the i-club. I love to drive and am looking to modify my car for better handling. This book is an excellent source for that! A major part of the fun in driving is a good handling car. This book covers all the basics in detail. It is easy to read, yet, has a Physics/Engineer depth to it as well. It is not just a matter of buying better suspension parts and installing them, this book goes into depth about understanding the nature of a good handling car and exactly what that entails from good tires, alignment, lowering the ride height, springs, anti-roll bars, shocks, brakes, etc. It emphasizes balance and that there is no magical part for better handling, but all the parts must work together in harmony and how making one change effects others parts in the car. Once you gain an understanding for the reasons of poor and good handling, you will then be able to truly understand what will work and what will not to achieve your goals. Changing one part of the design often has far reaching effects and it is rare that one part will do you any good. Just as I thought adding a stiffer anti-roll bar to the rear of my car alone would work! Tires are the source of contact and are vital to good handling, so an entire chapter is dedicated to tires and exactly what they do. This information is relevant to the everyday driver with no mechanical knowledge (like me) who simply wants to increase the fun factor in the driving experience, and also to rear gear heads with chapters on chassis modifications and designing your own parts as well! An excellent source for anyone who values good handling characteristics in their car as I do.
29 people found this helpful
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miles allison
5.0 out of 5 stars Exccellent book
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
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I bought this book over 30 years ago. I was a beginning mechanic then. I am still a mechanic, and I bought this book again for reference. This book gives you clear information on theory and practical application of that theory. Regardless of your level of education or experience this book has information you can use, immediately and over the long haul. Tune your suspension or design your own chassis/suspension combo this book will give you the information and step-by-step directions to help you get the job done. This book should be on the shelf of every car builder or tuner.
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MamangSorbetero
4.0 out of 5 stars Timeless data.
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020
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Very good tuning advice and data- encompassing different motorsport categories. However, like others have said, some of the data is dated- focusing more on 60's-80's machines and mechanical dynamics. The book is so old, it was just beginning to talk about the advantages of using new tire technology (wow).

But some of the data is indeed timeless; suspension balance, handling characteristics and tuning advice is lost in today's textbooks and is laid bare and clear in this book. It even uses analytical geometry to describe some of the concepts in visual form which is great.
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soundblasterjm
5.0 out of 5 stars This book just rocks
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2010
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I am a Mechanical Engineering student and avid racing fan and car nut. I bought this book to help me with my senior design project. All I can say is WOW. A lot of people bash this book saying the information is outdated, yadi yadi yadda and yes some of the methods for calculating roll centers for example are dated (the book was written before computer programs like Ansys, solid works and PRO/E were created) but its still a very very good book to get.

I was incharge of the vehicle dynamics subteam (designing the suspension, wheel and tires and braking system)for my project. I bought several books to help me with that project about 10 if i remember correctly. and this one and the race and Rally car source book by Allan Staniforth ended up being the two books I used the most.

Thanks to the information from these two books I was able to design the suspension and braking system for my senior design project. My team not only got an A on the project but the car it self went on to win an award for best senior design project of 2008. The car would have done well at competition but had a gearbox issue and couldnt compete.

If you are serious about understanding Handling, this is the book you need!!! I have also read the other Vehicle Dynamics book that everyone swears by and it is well BORING! Get this book and the rally car source book and you'll know everything you need to know.
11 people found this helpful
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Steven First
5.0 out of 5 stars Great re-print book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2010
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This book is a re-print; the original was copyrighted in 1982 I think. Now you may think that because it is a little old that it may be a little lacking in newer technology but I am pleased to report that everything you need to know is there. Suspension has not been changed much in the last few years from a technological stand point thus the book covers all the relevant topics you would expect to find.

The book takes a almost textbook style approach to teaching you the in's and out's of car suspension. Don't expect this to be a "for dummies" book because while it is easy reading there is a need for understanding mathematical formulas, lots of mechanical aptitude, and a good set of tools if you want to actually implement any thing outlined in this book.

I highly recommend this book to those who autoX, rally, do track days, or just want to be able to go around a corner a little quicker!
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KurtAKX
5.0 out of 5 stars A good addition to a gearhead's library
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018
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This is an oldie, but a solid text and a happy middle ground between the SAE RCVD text (which launches the reader into hundreds of pages of calculus-based derivations of models and systems of PDEs) and something like the Herb Adams book (that largely avoids math and just dispenses advice like 'it is bad to have springs that are too stiff')
9 people found this helpful
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Jorge Romero Guerrero
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro con temas muy bien cubiertos para hacer un auto manejable.
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2021
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Excelente libro, cubre muy bien todos los temas que abarca el libro con conocimientos básicos, sin ser tan complejo. Es una guía básica que te ayudará a modificar tu auto para las pistas y la calle.
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Axel Rietschin
3.0 out of 5 stars Very old.
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2018
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Fair rating but the content is very dated and sometimes frankly out of date. For example the graph showing grip vs slip angle for race vs. road tires maybe was correct at the time, showing that road tires tolerate more slip angle and that race compounds grip level falls abruptly but nowadays a race compound works best at higher slip angles than road tires, and the grip falls much more gently as the slip angle increases. It’s really an old book talking about old cars even if some of the basics are still current today.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Neil
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative for those who are interested in the subject.
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2020
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I bought my copy used, for the price I’d say it’s a worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in the subject matter. Really interesting book, pretty good at getting its point across to a layman like myself.
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Jorge Sánchez Fdez
5.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro para entender suspension y chasis
Reviewed in Mexico on November 5, 2017
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Muy buena referencia para conocer el funcionamiento de la suspensión, chasis y cada uno de los elementos que intervienen en el buen manejo del vehículo
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Spyder
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2015
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This book gave us a few ideas when we were circuit racing various Triumph TR's in the 80's and 90's. It deals more with live axle ideas rather than IRS. Should be up there with Staniforth etc. Recommended read.
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Christian Marx
5.0 out of 5 stars 1st Class information
Reviewed in Germany on February 9, 2014
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This book explains suspension work and the theory very well with many examples to learn from.
This book is written in the 70/80ies and ideal for understanding vintage race cars.
Great book.
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Louise
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2018
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Brought as a gift. It helps give my boyfriend tips with his racing.
One person found this helpful
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