Books - Suspension Design

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Low Output

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Anyone know any good and reasonably priced books about suspension design? Or some good websites?

Thanks!

Rupert
 
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Flexibel_kampfe

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What do you want to know?

I might be able to help you in the design for suspension.... living in a family of doctors, engineers, cops... and god only knows what else... gets you to learning a bit about suspension...

Otherwise, here is some info:
 
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For street kart/racing, all you need is leaf spring, even nothing would be fine, albeit a tad bumpy..(if you are going over potholed roads)

For off road, independent/swingarm, would be the best bet.

There was a thread a while back that showed a unique rear inde. setup, where the motor runs to (I assume) a jackshaft, then that is transfered to each wheel, via a sprocket at each end, which is attached to a chain, that runs down each strut to the wheel. That might work for off road. Although you would have to have the risky brake on jackshaft setup... but, it should be fine, since I imagine its rare to throw two chains at the same time...
 
Low Output

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I'd kind of like to just study suspension design in general, but I have a feeling I'll be building a vehicle for street use before I build one for off-road.

I think I've discovered that I have a very analytical type personality... so the information I'm after is the design of the geometry, spring constants, etc. I haven't looked at enough vehicles to get a good feeling of what pivots on what and how long of an arm is where and all that kind of stuff.

Maybe I need to break out my old legos and build some stuff.
 
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Flexibel_kampfe

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Low Output said:
I'd kind of like to just study suspension design in general, but I have a feeling I'll be building a vehicle for street use before I build one for off-road.

I think I've discovered that I have a very analytical type personality... so the information I'm after is the design of the geometry, spring constants, etc. I haven't looked at enough vehicles to get a good feeling of what pivots on what and how long of an arm is where and all that kind of stuff.

Maybe I need to break out my old legos and build some stuff.
Click to expand...

That it is.... but might I recommend popsicle sticks instead.... they are much easier to fashion what you are trying to do...

Them and a Hot Glue gun... Instant designs....
 
Kaptain Krunch

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Flexibel_kampfe said:
There was a thread a while back that showed a unique rear inde. setup, where the motor runs to (I assume) a jackshaft, then that is transfered to each wheel, via a sprocket at each end, which is attached to a chain, that runs down each strut to the wheel. That might work for off road. Although you would have to have the risky brake on jackshaft setup... but, it should be fine, since I imagine its rare to throw two chains at the same time...
Click to expand...

Called trailing arms. Not all that unique. Seen quite a few chinese karts with this setup, and many custom buggies use trailing arms.
 
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flexibel_kampfe - you seem like the kind of dude who wants to look into double a arm suspension design. It's a black art when roll center and body roll and designing in camber during flex but you can easily get a good idea of what goes and having a very functional setup on by simply building a double a arm or double wishbone setup. Most of what is to be learned in double a arm suspension design is too hard without just building or modeling it and seeing it in motion.

Here's a good visualization tool http://www.racingaspirations.com/?p=286. grab the points and move them up and down, adjust, and try again.

If you need more information I am building an all around double a arm street setup in my basement and have just spent several months studying up on it, so you can ask questions.
 
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Flexibel_kampfe

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The_Machine said:
because cops and doctors know **** about suspension design and theory
Click to expand...

What I mean by cops and Mds. is that I know a fair amount about how stiff is bad for your back(drs), and a decent amount regarding how lose it should be to do any sort of jumps/high speed(cops.)
 
sideways

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The_Machine said:
flexibel_kampfe - you seem like the kind of dude who wants to look into double a arm suspension design. It's a black art when roll center and body roll and designing in camber during flex but you can easily get a good idea of what goes and having a very functional setup on by simply building a double a arm or double wishbone setup. Most of what is to be learned in double a arm suspension design is too hard without just building or modeling it and seeing it in motion.

Here's a good visualization tool http://www.racingaspirations.com/?p=286. grab the points and move them up and down, adjust, and try again.

If you need more information I am building an all around double a arm street setup in my basement and have just spent several months studying up on it, so you can ask questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for showing that link! I've been looking for something like that for ages!

Low Output: I learned about suspension geometries and so on from several old chassis and sports car design books I've picked up from second hand book stores, the newest one is late '60's but everything is still relevant, the only real advancement over those designs is push rod operated shocks/springs. They all have full technical drawings of the chassis and suspension of the greatest race cars of those days. Modern books on suspension and chassis design seem to be few and far between and all ways exceedingly expensive. The old books I have all cost me less than $10.

Thanks

Hayden
 
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Flexibel_kampfe

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sideways said:
Thanks for showing that link! I've been looking for something like that for ages!

Flexibel_kampfe: I learned about suspension geometries and so on from several old chassis and sports car design books I've picked up from second hand book stores, the newest one is late '60's but everything is still relevant, the only real advancement over those designs is push rod operated shocks/springs. They all have full technical drawings of the chassis and suspension of the greatest race cars of those days. Modern books on suspension and chassis design seem to be few and far between and all ways exceedingly expensive. The old books I have all cost me less than $10.

Thanks

Hayden
Click to expand...

I dont know why everyone is assuming that I need assistance regarding suspension.....?

I never did....
 
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