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wide track front end
beaver34 - 1/4/15 at 10:53 AM

hi,

i fancy making a wide track wishbone setup for my car, my question is would i need longer shocks ie should i move the pickup point further along the arm or leave it where it is and just make the arms longer with the same geo?

thanks!

tegwin - 1/4/15 at 11:54 AM

If you move the shock attachment point inboard on the A arm you increase the bending forces dramatically. Not a brilliant idea on a thin arm...

I'd guess the "correct" way of doing things would require the top shock mount to be moved outboard slightly so that the shock angle is correct.... Shouldnt need different shocks though

beaver34 - 1/4/15 at 01:00 PM

i would move it outwards if making the wishbone longer, or leave in the same place if moving it outward i would need longer shocks.

i guess my question should have been does running say a inch or 2 inch longer shock help things or not

daveb666 - 1/4/15 at 01:09 PM

how wide are you planning? My front wishbones are 'as wide' as my rear axle, so around 1" wider on each side I believe.

fesycresy - 1/4/15 at 01:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
If you move the shock attachment point inboard on the A arm you increase the bending forces dramatically. Not a brilliant idea on a thin arm...

I'd guess the "correct" way of doing things would require the top shock mount to be moved outboard slightly so that the shock angle is correct.... Shouldnt need different shocks though


I totally agree, spend some time speaking to Matt @ Procomp and he suggests a beam to fix the top shock mount.

beaver34 - 1/4/15 at 01:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by daveb666
how wide are you planning? My front wishbones are 'as wide' as my rear axle, so around 1" wider on each side I believe.


match the rear end really an inch would be fine it think without measuring

daveb666 - 1/4/15 at 01:42 PM

In that case happy to take any meaurementsif you need any?

motorcycle_mayhem - 1/4/15 at 02:06 PM

Westfield's widetrack moves the wishbone's shock pickup a commensurate amount. You then have a longer shock requirement. When I fitted said wishbones to my Westfield, I was quite surprised at the shallow angle of the shock. Mind you the rears are at quite a silly angle too.

I've seen other wide wishbones with the shock mount in the narrow track location, but with some heavy reinforcement to (presumably) obviate the bending. You retain the standard shock and angle.

If I was doing this all again, hindsight would tell me to move the chassis top shock mount outboard. Hindsight is good, and accurate too.

MikeRJ - 1/4/15 at 03:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by motorcycle_mayhem
I've seen other wide wishbones with the shock mount in the narrow track location, but with some heavy reinforcement to (presumably) obviate the bending. You retain the standard shock and angle.


The spring rate would also need to go up in this case to keep the same wheel rate.

beaver34 - 1/4/15 at 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by daveb666
In that case happy to take any meaurementsif you need any?


yes might be usefull or ill pop round or meet up somewhere if your out and about