Hello to all. I've just recently joined the forum.

I've had this idea rumbling though my head for a while. I'll put it out and see what everyone thinks.

The idea is a modification to the pushrod and inboard spring/shock suspension setup.

I have some diagrams and a quick and dirty write up of the idea on http://nanosleep.dyndns.org/shock

The benefits are (or at least I think it'll work):
1) progressive rate spring using a simple spring
2) ability to adjust the effective spring rate (you don't need to buy a hard spring for the track and a soft spring for daily driving)
3) easy construction (same diffculty as the typicaly setup)

If the link above is confusing or needs more info, let me know. I didn't invest much time in the web design department.

-Andy

I went through all this as well. I'm in DFW too. U2U me to stop by and see the project and discuss this stuff.

--Chris

You're a looney, but it might work aswell

I work under the idea that if something obvious hasn't been done yet, theres probably an obvious reason why it hasnt been done that I'm missing. Have you seen anything else using this method. I'm not saying it won't work, as I dont understand suspension at all (which is why im reading Racing Car Suspension by Alan Staniforth).

Adam

All been done before

Yep, been done before (as has virtualy everything automotive related!). Linkages simmilar to this are used on the rear mono-shock systems on bikes to give a rising rate system.

We used a similar though not 90 degree bell crank setup when building our Fourmula SAE car. Go to http://www.louisville.edu/speed/rso/sae/fsae/index3.html for a shot of what we did. It gave reasonably good results though the dampening from all of the pivots made it a bit sketcy on rough ground.

The push/pull rod suspension design is a proven race winner, don't you just hate it when you come up with a great idea and somebody has already done it.

Eric B

I agree bell cranks for push/pull rod suspension is well established but this man's idea is slightly different, being effectively a bellcrank with 2 holes in it instead of 3! So it's made from a bar instead of a plate (easier construction) and should be particularly handy when the shock is at less than 90degrees from the push/pull rod. So good plan mr. nanosleep, one to keep in the inventory of daft systems at the back of the skull just in case........
cheers
Bob C
PS keep 'em coming!

I see, I didn't look at the document far enough. I think it is a perfectly servicable idea, probably not widely used due to packaging issues.

I like it.

Eric B

Locosts are 'rising rate' as they are. Just not a lot of movement so not a lot of rise!

Why overcomplicate something as simplistic as a 7? Just because you can I s'pose. But completely unnecessary, even with all those cheap v8's available.

[Edited on 3/8/05 by Syd Bridge]