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Suspension Geometry Info
scootz - 22/2/12 at 10:13 AM

Can anyone recommend a good 'suspension geometry for dummies' source?

I'm trying to understand the effects of the relationship between the top / bottom chassis wishbone mounting points and the corresponding upright mounting points.

Cheers.

bonzoronnie - 22/2/12 at 10:27 AM

There are a few reasonably decent books out there

Competition Car Suspension by Allan Staniforth

Racing & Sports Car Chassis Design by Michael Costin & David Phipps

To name a couple ( Oldies but interesting )

That said, not exactly for dummy's though.
I find them quite heavy reading but then, I do have the attention span of a Goldfish

Both titles turn up on fleabay now & then.

designer - 22/2/12 at 10:38 AM

You can mess around on here to get a few ideas:

http://www.racingaspirations.com/?p=286

britishtrident - 22/2/12 at 11:02 AM

As above but The Fred Phun book "How to make your car handle" is also worth reading, Len Terry and Alan Baker also wrote a very good book in the 1970s "Racing Car Design and Development " but it is quite rare.

designer - 22/2/12 at 11:21 AM

Racing & Sports Car Chassis Design by Michael Costin & David Phipps
Racing Car Design And Development by Len terry

Both the above I can get on PDF, he charges £2 each.

Neville Jones - 22/2/12 at 11:24 AM

None of the books tell you the truth or the full explanation, nor how they apply it or why.

But, please, carry on and read what you want. The best come from Paul Van Valkenburg, who openly admits it would be counterproductive for him to print everything he knows and does and the explanations, when he still derives a good percentage of his income from design and consulting work in this field.

Cheers,
Nev.

Rod Ends - 22/2/12 at 12:49 PM

Suspension for Dummies

scootz - 22/2/12 at 12:50 PM

Thanks fella's... some starters for 10 there!

Bluemoon - 22/2/12 at 01:48 PM

None of the books will cover trikes? This is going to be the sticking point (the dynamics a probably different), but I would still read around the car books..

scootz - 22/2/12 at 01:57 PM

You're probably right, but I guess I have to start somewhere.

Chippy - 22/2/12 at 02:40 PM

Hi Scoots, if you can find it "Andre Jute --- Designing and building special cars" well worth reading, as he covers all aspects, plus some info on three wheelers. Don't know if its still in print, but did see a copy on Amazon second hand. Regards Ray

scootz - 22/2/12 at 02:49 PM

Thanks Ray... will check it out.

Bluemoon - 22/2/12 at 02:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Thanks Ray... will check it out.


Amazon have loads secondhand, just ordered one..

rachaeljf - 22/2/12 at 03:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Chippy
Hi Scoots, if you can find it "Andre Jute --- Designing and building special cars" well worth reading, as he covers all aspects, plus some info on three wheelers. Don't know if its still in print, but did see a copy on Amazon second hand. Regards Ray


I may have that very book, you can borrow it if so Scott. I'll have a look when I get home.

EDIT: ^^Ah well, sorted then.

[Edited on 22/2/12 by rachaeljf]

SPYDER - 22/2/12 at 04:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
As above but The Fred Phun book "How to make your car handle"........


The copy I have was written by Fred Puhn, not Phun. Is yours the Vietnamese equivalent maybe. Does it have a chapter on "17th Parallel" wishbones?

MsD - 22/2/12 at 05:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Rod Ends
Suspension for Dummies



x2

Bought this book knowing hardly anything about Geo etc... Now after flicking through ive got a pretty good basic knowledge. Im sure a bit more time spent reading and ill be pretty competant!

designer - 25/2/12 at 10:17 AM

I have all the books and Andre Jute's (Designing and building special cars), is overrated.

The bottom line is that there is NO ideal set up.

mad-butcher - 25/2/12 at 11:20 AM

be interesting to find out how these have done it now...morgan 3 wheeleer used to race against the originals in classic sidecar racing, they used to have to give us a lap head start and they still managed to win,

scootz - 25/2/12 at 11:35 AM

Thanks again folks... I'm still wracking my brain for possible front-end of the trike designs. My head hurts!

PS - special thanks to Nev Jones for all the advice via email.

phelpsa - 25/2/12 at 12:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
I have all the books and Andre Jute's (Designing and building special cars), is overrated.

The bottom line is that there is NO ideal set up.


There is, but there are thousands of different ones for every situation. Best thing is to decide on what you want your system to achieve, set a series of goals, read the books and decide what to easiest way for you to achieve it is. There are thousands of ways to get exactly the same characteristics in theory, in practice you have to go with what's possible within your constraints.

Every suspension designer has their preferred methods, none right or wrong, just preference, so just because the books disagree (which inevitably they do) doesn't mean that one is right and the other wrong. You just have to work out your own preference from their opinions.

Volvorsport - 25/2/12 at 12:15 PM

andre jutes book is pretty good , ive had it since i was 14 .

you have to decide what camber compensation you want , the travel you want and go from there .

if you have 3 inch of travel max , then you wont get much camber compensation in that anyway .....

you can also try heinz heissler books , but they dont go into detail like a specailist suspension book.


id say staniforth is the one you should design from , fred puhn has some innovative ideas in it too.

for me id bolt the vw front on , and get on the road and see if it handles like you want it too .

im still deciding on a GRP tub for mine........