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Some work on my rear suspension
Alan B - 25/1/07 at 11:48 PM

One corner under way...trying to make a lot of use of the plasma.



Rear corner 01
Rear corner 01


Rear corner 02
Rear corner 02



[img][/img]


DIY Si - 25/1/07 at 11:51 PM

Looks good that. One thing, are you happy with the bottom two bolts in single shear? Would they not be "better" inside the hub carrier? PS, you may have already thought of this and considered it ok, in which I'll just shut up!


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 12:28 AM

Yep, I'm happy....I used to despise single shear arrangements, but they are commonly used to good effect. The shaft that the rod ends are mounted on will be high tensile steel with just enough threads for a nut at end..i.e full shaft diameter in shear....for example a shaft of grade 8 or equivalent material would require over 8,000 kg to shear it.

Good question though, and I appreciate the input.

Cheers, Alan


DIY Si - 26/1/07 at 12:33 AM

That's quite ok, just curious really. The rest of it looks quite tasty too, I quite like the design of the bottom bone. I may have to pinch it when I need to make some!


James - 26/1/07 at 12:57 AM

Looks great!


I don't know the correct metal work terms for this...

But would it not be advantagous to have the large arcing tube merge into the main longitudinal tube. Rather than sealing the end and welding it to the tube?

Would give a larger area to weld, and would save sealing the tube up!

Just an idea not properly thought through!

Cheers,
James


locost_bryan - 26/1/07 at 01:30 AM

I'm an engineering novice - what is the difference between single and double shear? A bolt supported at one end versus a bolt supported at both ends?


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 01:54 AM

James, you are absolutely right, however it would make for a horrendously difficult joint to make. Good idea, just not easy to do

Bryan, yes that's pretty much it....in single shear the the shear load is in one place rather than being shared in two places.

Again thanks for the feedback.


kb58 - 26/1/07 at 02:20 AM

What is that bolt-on spindle off of?


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 02:24 AM

Spindle/hub unit is Chevy Cavalier. I'm planning to use them all round.


Sven - 26/1/07 at 08:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
Spindle/hub unit is Chevy Cavalier. I'm planning to use them all round.


Will you have to have custom axles made?

-Steve


ecosse - 26/1/07 at 09:21 AM

Theat bottom bone looks terrific, not seen one like that b4
Will the shock mount roughly where the string is tied, or on the further out of the tubes? If so will it require additonal bracing at this point?

Looking good though

Cheers

Alex


bodger - 26/1/07 at 01:10 PM

How come your garage/wokshop is so bloody clean?


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 01:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ecosse
Theat bottom bone looks terrific, not seen one like that b4
Will the shock mount roughly where the string is tied, or on the further out of the tubes? If so will it require additonal bracing at this point?

Looking good though

Cheers

Alex


Thanks for the kind words.

It may end up being a pushrod and rocker arrangement, but either way the string is roughly at the mounting point, and yes it will braced diagonally.


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 01:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bodger
How come your garage/wokshop is so bloody clean?


Do you really think so?.....if you do then it's down to my Dad sweeping up after me...


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 01:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Sven
quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
Spindle/hub unit is Chevy Cavalier. I'm planning to use them all round.


Will you have to have custom axles made?

-Steve


Yep, it was the plan from the start...gives me a lot of freedom to mix and match transmissions and change track width.


kb58 - 26/1/07 at 02:11 PM

I learned the hard way to be very careful measuring how long the axles need to be. Be sure to anticipate all suspension and engine motion, otherwise the combination of the two can bottom out the CVs.

That said, having custom axles made is a great way to "bridge" between different makes of parts. For example, it's then easy to use a Miata diff with Nissan 240SX rear uprights.


Alan B - 26/1/07 at 03:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kb58
I learned the hard way to be very careful measuring how long the axles need to be. Be sure to anticipate all suspension and engine motion, otherwise the combination of the two can bottom out the CVs............


Good point kb.
It is something I'd considered but still well worth mentioning. I will mock up a set of axles and test them before committing to the finished length.


sgraber - 29/1/07 at 05:54 PM

Holy crap Alan! This is neater than the original Meerkat design in leaps and bounds. I approve, not that you need my approval... but I give and give. LOL.

Interesting that you should be using the Cavalier hubs, as those are the same units that come with the 2.2L Ecotec I am using on my next car. I am continuing the use of the deDion at this point and bolting those GM hubs to a carrier tab. Front uprights using the same GM hubs to maintain the bolt pattern which is a not too common 5x100 btw.

Rorty's website has a nice pictoral on determining the length for custom half-shafts. Not that you need any help, but there it is.

Graber