I've started the top bone jig today but after looking at it a couple of things came to mind.
1 Is there any difference in strength between a Vee shaped bone as per the book or a Bent U shaped bone which would give more coil over clearance and look nicer ( personal choice ).
2 With the extra offset for castor, and the resulting mating fishmouth shapes, the balljoint threaded tube needs to be considerably longer ( usind the vee method) to meet the extra angular tube lengths ( not a great description I hope you get my meaning). If I used the U method I'd get away with std balljoint tubes.

Up for discussion now over to the experts

I know what you mean. i'm still tyrying to work out how to make quick camber adjust top bones.

I thought that round tube is stronger than box size for size.

The round tube bone is not technically very good as the tube isn't on the load path (not to say they don't work fine though) and there's plenty of clearance for the shocker with std vee bones (I have 2.25" springs and they clear with ease.

Personally I don't like the look of the bent ones either!

You should only have to set your camber once, don't compromise your design by trying to save yourself half an hous work

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark Allanson
You should only have to set your camber once, don't compromise your design by trying to save yourself half an hous work

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Mmm I preferred the look of the U shape (in plan veiw) wishbone but can see hoe the load path offers to bend the bracket instead of transferring the load path through the chassis.
I am hoping to mount the coil overs on the underside of the top rail. But by mounting on the outside of the rail the coil over is more vertical and therefore more efficient.

the angle wont make a vast difference, just changes the effective spring rate (ie pounds per inch of wheel movement). It does slightly affect the load into the chassis, but these are small things. I know what you mean though, its better to have things working efficiently if possible.

But i dont like bent bones myself, straight lines work for me, bends dont Id rather straight bones and inefficient shocks than bent bones and efficient shocks!

One of the reasons the arch style bones are popular is getting into the corner of the weld for the ball joint tube is slightly awkward with a standard MIG torch.

From the cutting and bending point iof view Arch bones are a bit more fiddly to make and get identical for a one off.

Arch bones are obviuosly weaker because there is a bending moment on the tubes but top bones are much lower loaded than the lower wishbones and outside the Locost world TVR have been using a similar design top ad bottom since the 1960s without trouble.