Minor Front Suspension

[risto]

Came across this picture somewhere (sorry for no accreditation, can't remember where).


Would this even do anything? It seems like even on minor bumps with a strong spring, it would slam that spindle into the bracket.

Could this work and work well?

 

[Jblankster]

hmm. ima have to try this when i make mine. looks like it would work

 

[Matt1995]

I dont think that kart is loaded in that picture, so the spindle wont be touching the bottom. On a bump, the spindle will of course go up, but it wont slam down. It's just a spring, so it will prob bounce a bit more than anything. I saw those brackets and spindles for sale on a website somewhere...i think it would be better than a no spring setup!

 

[kibble]

I was thinking of making something like this when I was making the spindles for my kart but didn't do it. It seems like a good idea though to at least have some suspension on the front without having to make it too complicated.

 

[my_mini_bike]

that is a very good design, i have never seen that before. i think it would work, why wouldnt it?? and like matt said, any spring is better than no spring!

 

[risto]

ok, you guys are right, this probably would work. If it didnt, why would i have saved this picture on my computer? When (if ever) i get started on my next go kart, i'm going to try this.

Something to consider if you're trying this:

remember to put the brackets and spindle at a bit of a forward angle, so that when you're driving fast and hit a bump, the wheel can move up quickly and not cause severe rubbing resulting in metal fatigue.

crappy illustration:

that's a bit too much of an extreme angle, but you get the idea

 

[Matt1995]

Yep, what you describe there with the angle of the spindle bracket is called Caster. You always want to have a least a little bit of postivie caster(top of the spindle bracket is farther toward the rear of the kart) as this helps with self centering of the steering wheel, and also for live axle karts, helps with "weight jacking" for lifting the inside rear tire in a turn. This is how i have my road kart setup. Since i use a live rear axle, and i want it to make turns properly, i used around 20 degrees of positive castor on the spindle bracket, and about 15 degrees of king pin inclination(inward tilt of the spindle bracket). I also used the correct "ackerman" angle of the steering arms that connect to the bracktes..this makes the inside tire turn a little bit sharper angle than the outside tire for better turns as well.. My live axle road kart steers on a dime! Racing kart chassis are set up the same way as this.

Here is where i found those spindle brackets like in that picture:

http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/?shop=1&cart=799683&cat=1&itemid=3267&&thumbval=thumb&showFullImage=

 

[2or3wheels]

It looks like the big springs from a sporm door. Those are stiff as hell, i bet they would work, yet another concept.

 

[risto]

@matt1995:

wow, i learned something today

haha, thanks for that

 

[kibble]

2or3, What's a sporm door?

 

[pete]

kibble,

storm door.

 

[2or3wheels]

whoops my bad, typing in school and trying to beat the late bell.