Custom off road kart design

[DaiSan76]

Now since I have my frame made, I can think of adding suspension or not. I need suggestions and answers ASAP

Personally if I could do it over again I would not do suspension on my first kart, however, it did provide me with a lot of experience using my angle grinder cutting stuff off and redoing it.

Depending on where you plan to ride it, a swingarm rear and a leading arm front is easy to do, and if you don't need articulation, works great. I'll link a video with both of my karts that I have done so you can see the difference between the single A arm front, and the leading arm front.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kooTzawQaEE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCOiwtCrt8o

 

[DMCdesign]

Thanks Daisan. Now, how about welding a bar below the assembly and adding angle iron to both sides for swing arms? Please answer ASAP

 

[DaiSan76]

Thanks Daisan. Now, how about welding a bar below the assembly and adding angle iron to both sides for swing arms? Please answer ASAP

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you draw a picture?

Here are a couple of pictures of what I did.

 

[DMCdesign]

suppose your go kart has a skidplate. Then weld a very rigid bar to it. Then weld on the front and back of the bar angle iron to create pivot points for swing arms on both sides. Geddit?

 

[DaiSan76]

I don't think I would have the front and rear swingarms originate from the same point.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Nor would I hang suspension off a skid plate. That's what framerails are for (amongst other things).

 

[DMCdesign]

The skidplate was to just give daisan the idea where I would locate my suspension mount. For using common bar for both pivots, I'll weld two bars together.

 

[DaiSan76]

You don't want to have the Front and rear swingarms originating at the same point like in the picture below, that is a 4 link setup, and is completely different.

You want the rear swingarm to attach to the frame behind the seat, like in this picture.

The front swingarm should not be too long either. This picture is from a Yamaha Raptor 80, should give you an idea.

 

[DMCdesign]

wait, is the 4 link suspension not good for off road suspension? It the simplest type sf suspension I can comprehend at this point. I am planning to go to my car scrapyard and will post my progress. I have one question- do car wheels have bearings in them? Please reply ASAP

 

[modelengineer]

No, car wheels don't have bearings in them. They are mounted to hubs which have bearings in them.

 

[DMCdesign]

which of these is the softest of the suspension and rigid enough for off roading. The RC buggy setup is the best according to me because of the simplicity of having two swing arms originate from the same point.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

the softest of the suspension and rigid enough for off roading.

This is all very, very subjective. From one extreme (rockcrawling) to the other extreme (high-speed dune racing), there is a lot of variance in suspension travel and compliance. So, what is soft enough or rigid enough? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

 

[DMCdesign]

I want the suspension to enforce equal weight distribution along the frame and be as strong as possible. Equal weight distribution will automatically soften the ride

 

[DMCdesign]

Is the 4 link suspension good for off road karts? Please answer ASAP

 

[DaiSan76]

As Toystory said, it is good for Rock Crawling, not that great for other applications. Bottom line though, is that it is your ride, design it how you want to. The main reason I would suggest not doing it is the added cost and complexity.

 

[DMCdesign]

how about single a arm with swing arm rear suspension? please reply ASAP

 

[landuse]

how about single a arm with swing arm rear suspension? please reply ASAP

Most members are not on at this time of day. You might have to wait a while

 

[DaiSan76]

how about single a arm with swing arm rear suspension? please reply ASAP

I already linked you a video showing my kids kart, which has a single A-Arm front and Swing-arm rear. It works fine. Once you get up to higher speeds you get trouble from the swing-arm not allowing articulation, but the majority of low end builds use it.

 

[DMCdesign]

I had the plans of creating locks for the 4 link to turn it into solid suspension and turn it into suspension whenever I want.

 

[DMCdesign]

I still cant figure out steering geometry. any help guys? reply ASAP