How much suspension travel is there in a typical road-going locost? I'm looking for an approximate figure at the bottom balljoint (front) or pivot bolt (rear).

Standard height to full droop
Standard height to full bump


I don't think my rocker setup is letting me get enough travel without some modification! Luckily all still in the design phase

IIRC it's around 3-4" full travel from bump to droop depending on spring rates.

JB

[Edited on 22/1/11 by Daddylonglegs]

Only?

I've got around 110mm max (before things start hitting other things ), approx 75mm of which is in compression, the rest in droop.

I had a good chat with the guys I bought my shocks from and the chap I spoke to gave me some good sound info and between us we decided on the spring rates and travel of the shock piston. If you have travel letting things hit each other then maybe you have got too much travel in your shock?

Someone with proper knowledge should be along soon.

[Edited on 22/1/11 by Daddylonglegs]

Nothing to do with the shocks - The rocker hits a chassis tube if it goes beyond 75mm in compression. I'm either going to have to move the chassis tube slightly, or alter the rocker.

I'm still in CAD stage with no springs.

Oh! Hopefully a clever chap will be along soon

Everything to do with shocks.
The shocks determine the potential max and min travel of the suspension. Too long a shock may mean the droop of the suspension hits the chassis or bodywork and the opposite on rebound. short shocks mean very little travel.
If you require more ground clearance you may need to redesign the chassis or bodywork to give extra clearance.

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Originally posted by lucy
Everything to do with shocks.

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Yes, really.
The suspension mounts are fixed and the the length of the shocks are flexible. So you choose the length of the shocker to give you the desired ground clearance and ride height. Without the shocker the only thing limiting the travel is the ground, bodywork or chassis. Unless of course you choose the shocks and make everything else fit around it.

A typical Locost has (should have) around 4" or 100mm of total travel, with 50 to 75% as compression (bump) and remainder as rebound (droop).

Be very careful at the rear ( assuming RWD ) that you do not run out of droop travel. Will lead to all sorts of wheelspin and other handling woes . It pays to be generous because there is no real way out. Bump you can mitigate with progressive rubbers to a degree but I don't think this works in drrop.

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Originally posted by MikeCapon
A typical Locost has (should have) around 4" or 100mm of total travel, with 50 to 75% as compression (bump) and remainder as rebound (droop).

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