mounting single a-arms

[Voodoochikin04]

i have no idea where to start mounting the shocks. they are single arms.  i know the ideal shock position is 90 degrees at full bump. but im worried that mounted at that position it wont be enough when the buggy is carrying two people. i just dont know how to figure out where to mount them so that the camber is good when the buggy is loaded down. trial and error?

[Admin]

tack them up there and set two peep in it...

[Rick S.]

With single a arms you're sort of stuck having a little positive camber at full droop.
Unless you plan to install limit straps to keep it out of positive camber.
Your lower mounts are out quite a ways, so that's good.  I'd block the front up so you have 1 or 2 degrees positive camber and then play around with the shock angle until it feels good.
The wider you spread the upper mounts the closer to 90 at full compression you will be.
But at the same time your wheel travel will decrease. If you want some descent wheel travel,
you won't be able to get 90 degrees at full compression, but that's not a big deal.
just make sure that the angle is increasing as the suspension compresses.
Even if it's 30 at full droop and 60 compressed, that's OK.
You might want to make a strut that mimics the shock's compressed length.
This way you can see what full compression will look like, in regards to wheel travel, and shock angle.

[Voodoochikin04]

thanks guys, hopefully ill get them mounted today and finally make it a roller.

[Pacman]

What I've done is made a temp mount out of sq. tube that the 2 shocks mount to and then with 4 ratchet straps. One on each mount point and a set crossed across the back or front so the "mount" stays centered. Then I can "crank" down on the straps with weight in the car to get the mounts right where they need to be.

[Admin]

What I've done is made a temp mount out of sq. tube that the 2 shocks mount to and then with 4 ratchet straps. One on each mount point and a set crossed across the back or front so the "mount" stays centered. Then I can "crank" down on the straps with weight in the car to get the mounts right where they need to be.

so when we gonna see some pictures, are you back to building now?

[Voodoochikin04]

ok i got the shocks mounted. its not working out. look at the pictures and tell me what you think. i think the shocks are too weak. 

shock is 16.5 inches long with 3/4 wide .



here it is with one person in it. 



i was thinking of maybe adding a hoop and mounting the shock more upright.



it doesnt really like to rebound when the weight is released, so thats why im thinking the shocks are just too weak

[Admin]

the closer to 90 you get them the stiffer they will be...

[Voodoochikin04]

these shocks are pretty weak and i knew that when i started with them.. im thinking i should just find some different ones..

[Rick S.]

Either different shocks or possibly run 2 of those type on each side.
Part of the reason your shocks don't rebound completely is because the wheels scrub on the  the pavement. Even with the right shocks they'll always stick a little if the buggy's not rolling. If you put some sort of rollers under the front wheels, to prevent the scrub, they should rebound completely. This is what I use to set mine. You could probably do the same thing using steel plates, with 2 round tubes or rods underneath each.

[fabr]

VDC4 I know you are NOT going to like this but I think I'll say it anyway.  No offense meant and you may wish to ignore this.  Unless you are wishing to limit your front travel to a fairly small amount you MIGHT want to consider making new wider a arms for the front with closer to center mounting points.That will greatly minimize your scrub and extreme camber change. Wouldn't be too hard to do at this point in the build. You've made great progress so far and there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

[Voodoochikin04]

if im gonna start cutting the front end up and cutting up those arms to extend them. i might as well stop improving on the aquare wheel, and just build a double arm setup.  i could use the spindles and hubs that i already have couldnt i?

[fabr]

Maybe.Probably.Could be. Hell I don't know for sure. I'd say you could though.Depends on a few things.

[Voodoochikin04]

well, i could cut the front end off. run aquare tubing close together out the front, angle it up and come back, kinda like a pirahna. then do double arms. and why would i not be able to use the spindles and hubs i have? because i really cant afford new ones.  and you guys would have to completely walk me through how to set all these terms up, like scrub radius and kpi and all that fun stuff, because i have not had any expierience dealing with that.

[Voodoochikin04]

something like this?