the poi
Has been
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2003
- Location
- Pasadena, CA
Alright, let's start--spindles!
First spindles--these are modified standard spindles, I added ears for the V brakes:
At some point, and I honestly don't remember when, I decided to build drop spindles so I could dump the car a little more and not compromise the geometry quite so much. This was my first attempt:
The concept was pretty simple--just extend the bottom of the stock spindle. I wasn't happy with it, and never drove it with them. Primarily, I couldn't get a good weld onto the spindle--lots of outgassing from the OEM forging, not sure of what. Additionally, it was very heavy, and moved the strut mount point up a lot, limiting travel. I put it on the back burner for awhile, and eventually decided to bite the bullet and just make spindles from scratch:
That's what I came up with after some modeling. It drops the axle stub 50mm, incorporates the mounting ears for my brakes, the ABS sensor, and shortens the steering link to quicken the steering 20%. I simulated this pretty extensively and am very happy with the force it can take in turning/braking.
The stub axle is 4130, the machined part on the bottom is 1018/1020, and the flat parts are a 1/2" HSLA steel. I chose the metals primarily for their forgiving weldability.
All the joints were chamfered to increase the depth of penetration. Surface was prepped with sandblasting.
They fit great, but I have yet to really drive in anger with them. My initial impression is very good. I love how the car turns in now.
Here's an image showing the suspension as it is now. The swaybar endlink was giving me trouble--the amount of motion really needs a longer endlink, but the 850 strut has very low mounting positions. Solution: move the mount. New endlink is an ipd HD for....something. I think it's an S60?
Next will be a general front suspension update, then, bodywork!
First spindles--these are modified standard spindles, I added ears for the V brakes:
At some point, and I honestly don't remember when, I decided to build drop spindles so I could dump the car a little more and not compromise the geometry quite so much. This was my first attempt:
The concept was pretty simple--just extend the bottom of the stock spindle. I wasn't happy with it, and never drove it with them. Primarily, I couldn't get a good weld onto the spindle--lots of outgassing from the OEM forging, not sure of what. Additionally, it was very heavy, and moved the strut mount point up a lot, limiting travel. I put it on the back burner for awhile, and eventually decided to bite the bullet and just make spindles from scratch:
That's what I came up with after some modeling. It drops the axle stub 50mm, incorporates the mounting ears for my brakes, the ABS sensor, and shortens the steering link to quicken the steering 20%. I simulated this pretty extensively and am very happy with the force it can take in turning/braking.
The stub axle is 4130, the machined part on the bottom is 1018/1020, and the flat parts are a 1/2" HSLA steel. I chose the metals primarily for their forgiving weldability.
All the joints were chamfered to increase the depth of penetration. Surface was prepped with sandblasting.
They fit great, but I have yet to really drive in anger with them. My initial impression is very good. I love how the car turns in now.
Here's an image showing the suspension as it is now. The swaybar endlink was giving me trouble--the amount of motion really needs a longer endlink, but the 850 strut has very low mounting positions. Solution: move the mount. New endlink is an ipd HD for....something. I think it's an S60?
Next will be a general front suspension update, then, bodywork!