steering and suspension?

[anderson777]

Im a young teen building a dirt kart. I know quite abit to do so but what steering system must I use. The one showed in the plans won't work with a suspension. I'm stuck. Please help.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

A little more detail is required. If you can post pics of what you've got, that'll help. Maybe a shot of the plans, and the suspension you intend to use? I take it the "plans" do not include suspension, but you plan to add it yourself? We need more info to help you. And, welcome to the forum!

 

[anderson777]

Sorry didn't think. I saw plans on http://www.spidercarts.com/granddaddy.html. I'm going along those lines with the front end. Hope that's sufficient info. Thanks

 

[fowler]

ok that helps
what type of suspension are u useing, doulble a arm id say

how wide is the grand daddy, u may get away with useing a rack n pinion fron a car

that is the simplest solution

 

[anderson777]

That's what I was told to do but isn't there a les costly solution. Would the steering system of a quad bike work. I'm using the shocks off it.

 

[fowler]

we really need to know your plan

give us a full plan and pictures as thall help

what quads use is cheap and kinda goes against basic geometry, but they get away with it bacause they only go on dirt and the front is so narrow

to have perfect steering require alot of perfect lining up
but basically u need the tie rod to pivot at the same point that the a arms pivot

on a quad bike they pivot in the middle so as the suspension travels up and down the wheels move in and out with ruins the track this is called bump steer
but because the front end of a quad is only 40cm wide the bump steer is small and the wheels can just skid a little in the dirt

in a wide vehical like a two seater kart using medium travel suspension this would be diastorous dew to the fact the pivot point is so far inbound

a car rack n pinion is only $20 (dont get power steeering racks)

try and find one that is the same distance across as your kart

id find one close to the right size and build around it

u could try and make a rack n pinion but im the only one to have tryed it to my knowledge (im sure others have) and it was wrought with problems

 

[anderson777]

I havnt started building yet. Waiting to have all parts. I live is south africa so finding cheap parts are hard. Not going to give up though. Any good online shops that are cheap shipping fees? Thanks

 

[Jeremiah]

Heres a quick sketch of something that would work for articulating front suspension.

 

[anderson777]

Thanks for the help. Going to local scrap yard now to look for things. They said they got a fleet of scrapped car in hope to find fixed rack and pinion.

 

[fowler]

good idea
look at the plans to find the witth of the kart then find somtihing close

shortening a rack inst hard

i did it it 2 hours with a grinder and a welder

 

[anderson777]

Thanks guy. Will be going soon