Buggy Build Double A-Arm Caster Setup

SquidBonez

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I recently started thinking about how I'm going to set up my suspension/steering, and I have a question regarding caster. Would it be possible achieve caster by placing washers between the A-arm pivot (in my case, a heim joint) and the suspension mount? The upper and lower suspension mounts themselves will be in-line with each other, but the upper A-arm will have washers placed towards the front of the buggy (in front of the A-arm) and the lower A-arm will have washers placed towards the rear of the buggy (behind the A-arm). This in theory would cause the upper and lower A-arms to be ever so slightly out of line from each other, allowing for a slight angle on the spindle, thus achieving caster. Depending on how many washers I decide to use, I can also have a pretty good degree of adjustability with my caster setting by swapping washers around. It doesn't have to be exactly perfect down to the degree, but a little caster would be appreciated.

Would this idea work?:idea2:
 

gegcorp2012

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If I understand your description, the a arm would look like this on the frame:
(viewed from the driver side (left) wheel)
o*==upper==o

o==lower==*o

The washers go at the * and would be reversed on the passenger side (right side)

Sounds like it may work, but if you plan on using threaded heim joints, why not make the adjustment using the heim joints ?


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SquidBonez

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If I understand your description, the a arm would look like this on the frame:
(viewed from the driver side (left) wheel)
o*==upper==o

o==lower==*o

The washers go at the * and would be reversed on the passenger side (right side)
Yep, exactly.
Sounds like it may work, but if you plan on using threaded heim joints, why not make the adjustment using the heim joints ?
I'll be able to adjust camber with the threaded heim joints (a bolt will be welded to the end of the A-arm that allows me to thead the heim joints in/out to make adjustments) but caster requires the A-arms themselves to move forward/back along the frame. That will require me to alter the mounting points of the A-arm, not something I can adjust simply by screwing the heim joints in/out.
 
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