Go Kart steering

[GoKartTeo]

Hi! My friend and I have a CAD project where we're designing a steering system for a go-kart. We want to achieve Ackermann steering and have decided to use a pitman arm with two attachment points to each steering arm on the steering knuckle. All measurements should align when the wheels are pointing straight ahead, but when we start turning, the distance between the holes on the steering rods changes because the Ackermann holes end up overlapping. Do you have any tips on how we should proceed?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

What do you mean by "overlapping"?

File:Ackerman Steering Linkage.gif - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[GoKartTeo]

What do you mean by "overlapping"?

File:Ackerman Steering Linkage.gif - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Thank you for responding. This seems to be the problem: When the steering wheel and wheels are pointing straight ahead, every dimension seem to work just fine. The problem starts when you start to steer the wheel. When rotating on the steering wheel, the distance between the holes in the steering arms will shrink. This is because the pitman-arm moves in a different plane than the steering arms. But how would i solve this?

 

[Hellion]

The terminology you're using changes between post #1 and post #3, so it is a bit hard to decipher. Do you attain full Ackermann when the steering wheel is "at full lock" (e.g. turned all the way to the right or left)?

I'd say submit more pictures from more angles. But it does appear that the tie rod ends (the ball joints), where they attach on the Pitman arm, may bind up at a position that is far past "full lock" which should not be possible...... I do not have enough info, where is the animation?

 

[Master Hack]

This solved a coupla problems i encountered.
Bump steer may or may not be a problem for ya, but with steering there is a lot of parts moving in different arcs.
So maybe this will help:

How to Correct Bump Steer

What is Bump Steer? It is the term for when your wheels steer themselves without input from the steering wheel. It is caused by bumps in the road or track …

www.onallcylinders.com

 

[Sparkwizard]

Try using longer tie rods and attaching them to the holes on the opposite side of your steering shaft.
You will need to stagger their heights because they will cross.
Try less angle on your spindle steering arms. (where the tie rods connect) The way they are illustrated would make the outside wheel turn in a tighter arc than the inside wheel, which is the opposite of what you want.
The inside wheel should turn a tighter arc.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Since you seem to be turning more angle with your outside wheel than your inside, here's a trick I would try: Swap your spindles, left to rear, move your tie rods to the front, flip your steering column 180 degrees and build a solid front bumper.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Seems like you are experiencing exactly what you want to be experiencing. Like saying "I was hungry and I ate an apple, so now I am not hungry. Any ideas?"

 

[Scout]

What I would do is stack your tie rods at the steering column.