off roader

[Adam]

Off road buggy dilemma

Hi I am relatively new to this site and am thinking of building a single person fully independent suspension off road buggy but I have a few ideas I would like to toss around first. I am planning on using a 300cc Suzuki King Quad for most of the parts (engine, wheels, automatic clutch gear box, brakes and the front shocks) with a round tube frame.
I was thinking of using converted motorbike forks for the rear suspension does anyone have any success stories?

Would a single disk on the rear be enough?

I was thinking of using the handle bars and thumb accelerator from the quad, the benefits being more leverage and dirt wouldn’t clog up the accelerator would this work?

Finally the quad has had a long hard life and has been sitting around for a while what work should I do to the motor before putting it in the buggy?

Thanks for any help you are able to give.

I am hoping to design something similar to this-

 

[theo]

Hi good looking buggy, can you tell me if he is using a McPherson strut on the rear suspension?
1 brake disc on the rear will work.
I use handle bars in my buggys and it works great plus you have more leverage then with a steering wheel. But if you use a rack then you have to go with a steering wheel.

 

[Adam]

Hi thanks for replying. Sorry but what is a McPherson strut I have searched it on Google but it has only shown complete suspension systems.

 

[bowie]

Hi new to this site nice to see some really smart thinking people on here confirmation from me a single disc should work just 1 question do you intend to use a live rear axle or just apply the brake to 1 rear wheel just thinking out loud so to speak, Why would you think you have to work on the motor [assuming it does go]. Gearing I think would be the only thing you might have to think about good luck whatever happens

 

[theo]

Hi thanks for replying. Sorry but what is a McPherson strut I have searched it on Google but it has only shown complete suspension systems.

Polaris uses them on some of their quads. They use a lower a arm and the outer bearing housing (on the rear) attaches solidly to the bottom of the shock strut, somewhat like this

http://www.elephantracing.com/image...oading/frontcomponentscamberanimatedmetal.gif

 

[freakboy]

Thats how my freinds moms plaris 250 2 stroke is like when i saw it i said wtf. Its not a bad system either its a good idea.

 

[Adam]

Hi again. In reply to theo- yes I think it may be a McPherson strut I hope this picture helps.
In reply to bowie- I want the engine to run reliably and last a long time and doing something small now could save a lot of hassle later. I would not have a live axle I would hope to place the disk in the centre so it braked both wheels like this piranha buggy (got the image from a post by 88s10Durango thanks)

 

[anderkart]

I think the corect terminology for those shocks are adjustable coil-over shocks. They're basicly the same idea as McPherson struts but without an attached spindle.

 

[Adam]

Just a quik question do the coil over shocks put much stress on the drive shafts because it doesnt have a upper A arm (like on the blue buggy) ?

 

[theo]

No at the bottom of the shock there is usually 2 holes to bolt the shock to the bottom bearing carrier to keep the assembly stiff. And the shock shafts are much larger then a regular shock.