Go kart basics [Archive] - DIY Go Kart Forum

norty40

06-19-2009, 02:12 AM

For my tech studies project, I will be making a 1/2 scale hot rod. Basically it will be a go kart with a shell. I have a few questions about it.

#1. Can someone post a pic of their single disc brake setup on the rear axel. Working out how to mount it has caused me some grief.

#2. Will I need suspension if the approximate weight inlcuding me shouldn't be to much more then 200Kg (I'm hoping)

#3. How much kingpin and steering camber angle will I need on it.

All help is appreciated

toystory_4wd

06-19-2009, 05:24 AM

Sounds like a neat project! You'll have to keep us posted and be sure to incluse pics! Now-

#1 Do you have the brakes yet? You'll have to mount the disk to the axleshaft using a hub of sorts, and fab up a bracket to hang the caliper on the disk. I'll check after to see if I've a good pic

#2 Suspension is more a matter of use, and personal opinion, rather than weight. You and your kart would certainly benefit from it, but of course it requires more engineering, time, money, and weight. You decide.

#3 This also depends on use, and other design elements of the kart. If you're using a live (solid) axle, no differentiation, it will be kind of inclined to go in a straight line, regardless of steering input, also known as push, or understeer. This is why automobiles have differential gears. But differentials for gokarts can be hard to come by. The understeer is likely to be worse on pavement than on dirt, and can be partially overcome with careful design of the steering geometry of the kart. Unfortunately, I don't have any numbers for you. I'm still working these out myself, and I haven't yet measured my existing angles yet on the kart I didn't build. I can tell you that it actually steers pretty well, and appears to have 0 camber. There's a few degrees of caster, but I'm not sure yet.

Give it a day or two I'm sure alot of guys will jump in with some good starting numbers for you.

Good luck! Cheers- Chris