Questions about double a-arm suspensions

[Keegan]

I've seen a bunch of karts here running the double a-arm front suspensions. I think that's the way I'm going to go as well.

From what I can tell, they seem to all run 0 caster. Is this pretty normal. My kart is going to be low speed...15mph, and tall-ish tires. Maybe I'm just over thinking this issue.

Hopefully I'll be heading to the steel yard in the morning to get some materials to begin the build.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

0* caster? I would consider that to be set up improperly, low speed or not.

 

[theo]

For a slow speed, I would go with 5 -7 deg.

 

[Keegan]

Assuming the frame is level, you would mount the a-arms with the desired degree of caster? Can you tell I don't have a clue!!

 

[Keegan]

I think I've got a handle on it now. Caster is just the angle of the steering axis, used to help the centering effect of the steering.

 

[theo]

What kinda front suspension are you planing to use?

 

[Keegan]

I'm thinking double A-Arm front. Equal length. I'm just trying to get it all straight in my head before starting the build. Never had to build a suspension before, so I just want to make sure I'm pointed in the right direction. Don't want to make any HUGE mistakes.

 

[deecee53]

If you don't mind a little advice?. Find a four wheeler that has the type of suspension you like. See if you can find parts or a wrecked one with a good front end.Some of these you can just cut the whole thing off.E-Bay has all kinds of suspension parts for sale all the time. Of course this takes all the fun out of doing the whole thing yourself?.

 

[sideways]

My advice...

Run single A-arms. They're so much simpler, easier and cheaper to fabricate and design. On an low speed offroad kart there is little advantage to using double A-arms(on a low travel road kart, arguably even less). With the sort of tyres we run camber change has little impact on outright grip anyway.