Shocks vs No Shocks

[Andy_Tres]

I’m looking into a Go Kart that has front and back shocks. My question is, does one with suspension come with any other potential problems or should it make a difference in buying one with suspension or not?

Also, is there a quick or easy way to tell what Karts have a live axle and one that doesn’t?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[landuse]

Originally Posted by Andy_Tres

I’m looking into a Go Kart that has front and back shocks. My question is, does one with suspension come with any other potential problems or should it make a difference in buying one with suspension or not?

Also, is there a quick or easy way to tell what Karts have a live axle and one that doesn’t?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Does suspension come with problems? Well....there is just more that can go wrong with the kart (more moving parts), but not really more problems if the suspension is done right.

A dead axle kart will have the sprocket attached to the one back drive wheel with the chain attached to that. A live axle generally has the sprocket attached to the axle with a hub. At a glance, that is probably the easiest way to check

[itsid]

except that a tubed live axle look very much like a dead axle kart.
easiest thing to do is to jack up the right rear and spin the wheel,
if it does spin freely while the left is still on the ground, it's a dead axle kart.
else a live axle
(unless it's got a diff, which again cannot be ruled out entirely )

I'm just saying that since there's that Kazuma Drifter kart (full suspension single seater with such tubed live axle)

'sid

[JTSpeedDemon]

And a few Kartco karts, as well as I think a few Mancos.
More common with newer karts, due to annoying safety litigations.(mostly from people's long hair getting caught in the sprocket.
That's their own fault!

[BigWes]

Originally Posted by JTSpeedDemon

And a few Kartco karts, as well as I think a few Mancos.
More common with newer karts, due to annoying safety litigations.(mostly from people's long hair getting caught in the sprocket.
That's their own fault!

Girls have long hair, don't be hating! And don't forget the princess! I seen the way you was looking at her!

And it wasn't from hair getting in the sprocket...it was from hair and clothes and other things getting caught and wrapped up around the spinning axle shaft... I read a kart recall notice years back and the fix was to install a floating plastic sleeve over the axle shafts. Is it any safer? I don't know. Safety is a product of the operator. I can safely operate an unsafe device as well as unsafely operate a safe device. The operation is up to me. It's a moot point. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

OP

As with all machines, with more complexity comes more expense and maintenance. Some folks like to keep their karts simple and cheap, some like them more complex, some are racing machines and some are like little dune buggies.

So you just gotta decide what you want to do and how far your wallet will take you. You could even build like a little micro car if you wanted to.

It's not an answer to your question, but a question to your answer.

Ponder on them both.