Wing. How to make a wing for your car

Functional purpose of the wing

The wing is a device that increases downforce on the car body, and thereby enhances traction with the road surface. The first wing was created by a Swiss student in 1956. The guy installed it on his Porsche 550, which created a career for himself in the design bureau of this company.

The Ferrari team gave the way to motorsport for wings. It all started in Formula 1 in 1968. In those days, the design of the wings was still somewhat crude: they often broke, came off and provoked many accidents. Due to the increase in the number of accidents, they decided to temporarily ban the new design element.

Time passed and the wing gradually evolved. They began to be firmly fixed to the body and the shapes were honed to the modern look we are familiar with.

The wing works based on the basic laws of aerodynamics: the physical body flows unevenly around the external environment, and if you adjust the contours of the body with the help of the wing, additional force will appear, which will provide better grip on the road.

Thanks to the additional external influence, the friction of the tires on the asphalt increases, and as a result, the car accelerates faster and becomes less prone to skidding.

In the absence of a wing, acceleration characteristics are determined by the road surface and tires, which at the limit of their capabilities are capable of providing acceleration of 1G. For comparison, with the use of aerodynamic “gadgets” the acceleration force increases 5 times.

The wing, like everything in our world, has its drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the increase in fuel consumption. This happens due to an increase in the force of resistance to the oncoming air flow of the car.

In most cases, sports cars are equipped with wings. Often this is no longer a stationary structure, but a smart device that changes the angle of inclination when turning and braking, moves out and hides depending on the speed of the vehicle.

Advantages and disadvantages of the wing

In addition to its direct responsibility, the wing also performs another function - it improves the appearance of the car, making it more sporty. This combination quickly sets the car apart from others. In addition, the wing provides such pressure on the car that protects it from the oncoming flow of trucks. Many have noticed that when passing oncoming heavy vehicles, a passenger car is slightly thrown to the side. Because of this, you can easily lose control. The wing very quickly solves this problem by evenly distributing the air flow. Thus, the wing provides not only good aerodynamics, but also increases the safety of driving the car.

Any system has its drawbacks. Perhaps the main one is that the wing is too large and is only suitable for sports cars. Using it on simple sedans, you can easily make the trunk heavier and then opening it will become a big problem. In addition, the large wing makes it difficult to park the car in a low garage. Naturally, it clings to the roof and breaks off.

That's all you need to know about wings. If you decide to install this part on your own car, it is best to entrust this work to specialists in this field. Installing a wing yourself can only cause harm.

Distinctive features of the wing and spoiler

Many people are accustomed to equate the functions of a spoiler and a wing. Is it really? Let's once and for all understand the differences between two similar-looking devices.

Wing and spoiler difference

Firstly, the spoiler has only one working surface, it does not have strict rules for placement on the body “back, front, roof”; outwardly it is not noticeable and creates the impression of a single whole with the body. The wing is installed only at the rear, as high as possible above the car body. It has special racks and consists of two functional parts. The brackets have a reserve of mobility, which makes the wing movable.

Spoiler and wing as elements of aerodynamic body kit

Not every car owner knows the difference between a spoiler and a wing, but not those who want to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of their four-wheeled friend at high speeds.

Initially, these body kit elements were used exclusively on racing cars in professional sports, where the importance of aerodynamics was equated with engine power. Now they are installed by many manufacturers in serial production or by car owners themselves, improving the maneuverability of their iron horse.

Before moving directly to what a wing and spoiler are, how they operate and are classified, let’s turn a little to the theory.

Aerodynamics of the car

A mass-produced car can reach a speed of about 400 km/h, and airplanes take off at 200 km/h. The question arises: why don’t cars fly? A section of mechanics called aerodynamics will help you understand this. In addition to gravity, friction, adhesion to the road surface and rolling resistance, a moving car is exposed to the lifting and downforce of air and air flow resistance. These factors affect the maneuverability, stability of the car and fuel consumption.

The air flow goes around the body in two directions - under the bottom and above the roof, and when accelerating, the air flow resistance increases in proportion to the square of the speed.

At the end of the 18th century, the Swiss Bernoulli discovered that the flow from below is denser, and therefore the car rises. In addition, the air, colliding with the roof or hood, swirls and forms an unsafe vacuum. The more right angles the body elements, such as the windshield, are located, the higher the lift value. These points are taken into account when designers develop machines. Car enthusiasts themselves can influence aerodynamics by adhering to the following recommendations:

keep windows and hatches closed while driving;
get rid of unnecessary decorative elements and overlays, and acquire a streamlined shape for the necessary ones, for example, an antenna;
polish the body;
take care of securing protruding parts under the bottom (cables, hoses, etc.);
install body kits that reduce the vacuum zone and increase downforce.

To implement the last recommendation, it is better to use the services of an auto tuning workshop or consult with an experienced specialist, since an incorrectly installed body kit (spoiler or wing) will not only not improve the aerodynamic characteristics, but may lead to loss of control of the car.

Important! Often the spoiler and wing are confused with each other or mistakenly taken for the same element. The wing, due to its shape, increases downforce, has two working surfaces and is mounted on special racks. The spoiler acts on the car in the longitudinal direction, increasing its stability, and outwardly looks like a continuation of the body, and not a separate element.

Spoiler

Among all kinds of body kits used by manufacturers and car owners, the most popular is the spoiler - a design that converts laminar air flow into turbulent one. The part performs several main functions:

improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the car;
decorates the exterior of the car, being an element of modern tuning,
improves handling when driving at high speeds;
increases vehicle stability while driving;
minimizes the likelihood of skidding;
saves fuel when driving at high speeds;
reduces glass contamination.

What are spoilers?

At the location of attachment

These body kit elements are classified according to various criteria. Firstly, they can be installed on different body elements. At the front it is located under the bumper. They direct the air flow upward, creating increased pressure, and a vacuum is formed under the bottom. A so-called ground effect occurs, which increases the downforce of the front axle, so it is advisable to install such structures on front-wheel drive vehicles. Sometimes spoilers are made in such a way as to direct air flow to the brake discs and radiator. The car seems to “suck” air into the ventilation holes and presses against the road surface.

It makes no sense to use the spoiler on the rear bumper separately, but in combination with other body kit elements it has a significant impact on the aerodynamic characteristics of the car, increasing resistance to lift. Elements installed in the sill area, otherwise called sill extenders, increase the overall resistance to air flow. Regardless of the type of machine drive, they improve the braking process.

A rear spoiler is located on the rear of the roof or on the trunk. It prevents the formation of turbulence in air flows behind the car, thereby reducing drag. Places load on the rear axle of the vehicle at high speeds. This element is suitable for use on trucks. In this case, it is equipped with a handle that allows you to adjust the height in proportion to the height of the trailer.

To effectively attach spoilers to supports, they most often resort to self-tapping screws, less often bolts. There are also so-called sticky spoilers. They are fixed using double-sided tape or glass glue.

What to rely on when choosing a wing

Today it is very easy to get confused among the hundreds of possible configurations of wings on the market.

First you need to answer the question: “Why do I need this: for beauty or to refine the characteristics of the car.” If it’s just a matter of design, then you don’t have to delve into the subtleties and opt for the device that you visually like. Those drivers who have decided to modify their car should increase their knowledge on this issue a little.

A competent approach to choosing a wing should be based on the following aspects:

How the device will be mounted on the car. An incorrectly installed wing will lead to deformation of the trunk lid, which has never brought any pleasure to anyone. Fastening with mounting brackets will help protect yourself from such an unpleasant surprise.
What is the wing made of? The material must first of all have maximum lightness and a high level of strength. Most often they are made from silicone, carbon fiber and fiberglass, but ABS plastic is considered the leader among materials.
Device tilt angle. It would be great if the device has the ability to adjust the working angle - this will allow you to “catch” the optimal angle for your car and driving style.
Install a spoiler or diffuser on the front bumper to prevent air from lifting the front of the car while driving. This action will prevent the air from stealing your power and downforce, and therefore the car’s handling will not suffer.

How is a spoiler different from a wing? (lots of photos)

Good day. In today’s article I want to tell you how a spoiler differs from a wing and show the amusing confusion in names that arose only in Russian and related languages.

In your opinion, which picture shows a spoiler and which one shows a wing?

I'm willing to bet that 2/3 have now decided that the spoiler is on the left and the wing on the right. Well, let's figure it out...

Let's start with the origin of the word spoiler. Obviously, the word spoiler is not native to the Russian language; it is borrowed from English.

In English, the correct spelling of the word spoiler is spoiler, and it is translated into Russian as a rear wing!

Thus, from a phonetic point of view, spoiler and wing are synonyms!

I suggest turning to Wikipedia.

Spoiler - in a car, this is a special element (or set of elements) that changes the aerodynamic properties of the car body, redirecting air flows in order to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the car, increase downforce, and combat pollution of the car body.

A wing is a device located on the car body that has a gap between its plane and the surface to which the element is attached. Designed to increase the vehicle's adhesion force to the road surface.

Yeah, it turns out there is a difference in the Russian language, and the whole problem is the poverty and limitations of the English language!

If you still don’t understand from the official definitions, the difference between a spoiler and a wing is as follows:

The spoiler is surrounded by air only on one side, and the wing on both sides, I don’t know how to explain the difference even more simply.

The spoiler serves to increase the downforce of the car, reduce its drag or prevent body contamination (the fly swatter on the hood is also a spoiler).

How to make your own wing for your car

As already mentioned, a wing is not only a device for increasing the stability of a car on the track. It certainly catches the eye, because it becomes an integral part of the car’s exterior. Eyes will be drawn to your wing, and you simply must make it a piece of automotive art so that it can only cause admiration.

Wing

In its appearance and shape, the wing resembles an airplane wing in an inverted position. This element serves to press the car to the road when driving. Accordingly, the higher the speed, the more pronounced the effect.

Proper installation of the aerodynamic body kit element will have a positive effect on driving performance and will ensure good control. An important point is the correct selection of size and installation location. A very close location to the car body, a small or too large size will not bring the desired effect and will serve as a decorative element.

Cons of wings

When driving at higher speeds, the load on the tires will double. Mechanical friction will also increase.
An incorrectly selected wing size will create aerodynamic drag.
An incorrectly selected shape of the aerodynamic body kit element will only slow down the car. Accordingly, fuel consumption will increase.

How to install a wing on a car

The importance of this aspect is directly proportional to the speed at which you will drive your car with the update. For quiet city driving, the wing will not cause a traffic accident or discomfort to the driver. The worst that can happen here is a slight increase in fuel consumption. If you still like to “sink”, then you need to carry out the installation correctly, because jokes with controllability can be very expensive. Do not hesitate to consult with an intelligent specialist.

Installation rules

It must be installed in the “eclipse zone” - the area where the force of air exposure will be maximum;
The fastening must be designed to withstand significant loads. The further apart the attachment points are located, the stronger the attachment mechanism must be designed;
As mentioned above, purely design mounting of a wing is not recommended, due to the fact that deterioration in aerodynamics will inevitably lead to an increase in fuel consumption.

For direct installation you will need: safety glasses, drill, wrench, marker, sanding machine “paper”, paint, vacuum cleaner.

Installation steps

We put on glasses;
We make sure that the connection between the wing and the mount is secure; “tighten all the bolts”;
We find and mark with a marker the installation location on the trunk;
We drill holes of the required diameter with a drill;
Remove metal shavings with a vacuum cleaner;
By grinding we smooth out all the irregularities that were formed after drilling;
Tighten all mounting bolts securely and evenly.

You can also mount the wing with special brackets and glue. The most unreliable way is to secure it with double-sided tape. Such fastening can fail at any time and lead to an accident.

Purpose of the spoiler

The main function of this part of the body kit is to redirect the air flow when traveling at high speeds. Handling becomes better and fuel consumption decreases. A spoiler on a car reduces contamination of the rear window.

Spoilers on modern cars

The creators of modern sports cars do not use “duck tails” due to the fact that due to such a large element, aerodynamic drag will increase significantly. The exception is the nostalgic version of the 911, assembled in limited edition.

By the way, the spoiler also made it possible to make cooling of the engine compartment more efficient. The spoiler surface slowed down the air flow and at the same time created a vacuum zone behind. The shortest path to this area ran through the ventilation grille in front of the spoiler and the engine compartment - it was there that the air rushed, which, in the absence of an aerodynamic element, would have rushed along the surface of the hood without even noticing the presence of an air duct in it.

Author: Denis Kirsanov - Auto Redemption Specialist with 10 years of experience!

Why do you need a spoiler?

The principle of its operation is simple, as is the design. Every car that moves is blown with air. The higher the speed, the greater the air resistance. And this flow needs to be regulated. The spoiler forwards this very flow.

They are most often used not by racers, but by ordinary cars. Everyone has different goals. However, the design itself worsens aerodynamics. It looks like a small protruding part of a vehicle body. In conventional hatchbacks, it is used to ensure that when driving, the swamp does not fall on the trunk door, which is located at the rear. This keeps the license plates, headlights and rear window clean.

In general, this design eliminates vacuum, which creates low pressure, sucking swamps, dust, small stones, and dirt back. Consequently, after a short drive you will have to wipe the license plates, headlights, and trunk.

Does the car need a spoiler and wings?

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All cars, from sports models to simple sedans, are distinguished by aerodynamic elements located in the rear. Typically, such products that are mounted on the trunk lid, roof edge or rear door are called spoilers. But it is not so. There are two different devices that differ from each other. To understand all these features, you need to understand what a spoiler is. The information will help you decide whether it is needed on the car at all.

Goals and objectives

Both chips primarily perform different functions: spoilers improve the aerodynamics of the body and optimize oncoming air flows, while the wing has a rather negative effect on these factors, but improves car handling. Spoilers, roughly speaking, cut the air, forcing it to blow over the car with smaller jets (by the way, their another name is splitters).

At the same time, in this process, different spoilers press different parts of the car to the road surface. Along the way, these parts take on the functions of protection, repelling dirt, clods and dust flying out from under the wheels (their own and those of their comrades on the road) from the body.

The wing, as already mentioned, is intended mainly to improve the car’s handling tractability. The principle of its operation is already indicated in the name: if the wing must provide lift, then its opposite is precisely downforce. And this force acts exclusively on the rear axle, pressing the hood from the rear to the road surface. As a second function

The rear wing can be mentioned to increase the stability of the car at high speeds. However, this is a consequence of the same pressing effect.

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