cheap front suspension

[dirtcheap]

OK I am new here and I built a go kart a year or 2 ago
not very good at posting pic but it is just a normal one wheel drive one seater
I am looking to put some cheap front suspension on in i was thinking like this http://home.comcast.net/~briano911/gokart/front-sus-webpage.jpg have you ever seen anything like this or is there any other cheap ways

 

[modelengineer]

That setup will indeed be cheap, but it will not have any damping, such as you get from a shock absorber. Also, if someone overweight uses the kart it could compress the spring to the point that it doesnt do anything (might not be an issue).

Other cheap suspension ideas... if you can weld and fabricate something with some monoshocks from dirt/road bikes (get from wreckers) then that could be the best option. Single a-arms would suffice for off-road, double if using wide slick tyres for the road. It would be a little more expensive than the system you suggested, which would cost next to nothing, but it means you get shocks and the potential for much more wheel travel, which is always good

Good luck, and I'm interested to see what other ideas spring up

 

[jerseyrick1]

Here is a pic for ya man of the single a-arm. GL...

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Thats how my manco is set up just more vertical, works great.

 

[dirtcheap]

kenny
which way is yours set up?
if it is my idea is there any problems with the steering changing as the suspension cycles

oh and nice pun model

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

They way you show in your first post, but the travel is vertical and im using some stiffer transmission regulator springs instead of the weak stock ones.

 

[dirtcheap]

does the steering change as the suspension cycles

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

No, but only because the travel is vertical and not on an angle.

 

[dirtcheap]

ok
do you have any pix of it

 

[modelengineer]

oh and nice pun model

HAHAHA, just noticed that. Completely unintentional.

With the single A Arm suspension the camber will change with suspension movement but this is not a problem. When you turn and the weight goes to the outside wheel, it compresses and gives you more negative camber, which helps you go round the corner.
IF your steering system has the pivots exactly in line with the pivots of the suspension then there will be no change in steering with suspension movement. e.g if you used a rack and pinion with the ball joints the same distance apart as the suspension pivots, and at the same height then there would be no problems.
HOWEVER, if you are using conventional bell crank steering which has the pivots for the steering rods in the middle, and the suspension pivots much farther out then you may have problems such as the wheels getting more toe out/toe in as the suspension compresses