HOW TO: Suspension Design

[greenpower dude reloaded]

Ok, Fair point... So how do I begin with tyres?

[RacingManiac]

How big is your car, weight, size...etc

At the very least you can take a look at whats close, what do they use, and then to see if data is available.

[Jersey Tom]

Yep. You're gonna have to find some sort of vehicle that's at least ballpark similar. Otherwise.. even with say Avon, on a 13" wheel, they have 33 bias constructions / sizes and 22 radial constructions / sizes, and 17 tread compounds. Not all those are combinations of each other.. but the point being there's a lot of options!

Not to mention other size wheels.. or other manufacturers (Dunlop, Goodyear, Hoosier, whoever).

Gotta have some sort of starting point.. best really would be to ask some tire manufacturers what they'd recommend as a starting point given the basic vehicle load and power output.

From there you could easily do an all-day test on constructions and compounds to find what's gonna work best. It gets expensive really quickly.

[greenpower dude reloaded]

I'm aiming for 400kg, 4m long 1.5/2m wide? any use

I had looked at aFormula ford, but wondered if that were grippy enough all seems a bit slippy to me.. I had a very thorough look at a Formula Palmer Audi the other day that seemed far more realistic.

I know this project sounds ambitious but I'm only 21 and am so incredibly eager to learn

[BreezyRacer]

OK, let's think this through with a few key questions. I know you've had some questions already but ..

1. Is this an established racing series?
2. Are there any rules?
3. How much money do we have to play with?
4. How long are the races?

HINT: If this is an established series look into the active tire suppliers and cars at the head of the class.

HINT: If there are no rules RUN AWAY! You cannot afford it.

HINT: IF we do not have as much money as the leading teams RUN AWAY!

[greenpower dude reloaded]

too be honest, it is a rediculous project to contemplate, especially considering my current back up BUT! that's what really fires me up. It's a means of forcing me to learn. I mean where's the fun in a kit car? Haha.
By your reckoning. I should run away, and you are probably right but it's the fact it's such a big project is the reason i'm doing it. I've FINALLY managed to get them to agree to send over the draft regs which i shld get later this week.

It is supposed to be a realatively open class, but it doesn't bother me if im not fastest out of the box. I'm almost certain i can construct a lightweight highly aerodynamic chassis and i have a fair bit of background motor knowledge...

So who's with me?

[BreezyRacer]

too be honest, it is a rediculous project to contemplate, especially considering my current back up BUT! that's what really fires me up. It's a means of forcing me to learn. I mean where's the fun in a kit car? Haha.
By your reckoning. I should run away, and you are probably right but it's the fact it's such a big project is the reason i'm doing it. I've FINALLY managed to get them to agree to send over the draft regs which i shld get later this week.

It is supposed to be a realatively open class, but it doesn't bother me if im not fastest out of the box. I'm almost certain i can construct a lightweight highly aerodynamic chassis and i have a fair bit of background motor knowledge...

So who's with me?

Well, I have been following your electric car efforts so I'll ride along but there is so much detail that goes into all this. Rather than starting from scratch pick up a used kit car and start fixing the problems with it. Then clean sheet your project. I guarantee it will be faster and cheaper .. Till you're in it you don't know what the true class limitations are and what is most important in that form of racing.

[flynfrog]

maybe start with a locost?

the aero is crap but they are pretty light. and there are lots of plans for chassis out there. It would be a good starting spot anyway.

http://locost.voodoobox.net/locost3.jpg

[marcush.]

Hey ...if RedBull can be seconds in front POSSIBLY not being the best in tyre usage
Luke can choose a tyre blind and build the rest of the car mechanically sound and will be maybe not the top performer but respectable.

I feel his idea is to try something different and i applaud this.with budget constraints you don´t have to many chances to take blind alleys so I´d think the best idea was to start with a deep analysis what sort of power to weight ratios you are going to see and if the machine will have theior strength in making speed /acceleration or if it would be wiser to maintain speed and go for cornering .From this basic decision it is far easier to decide on tyre /rim size and width..and go from there.

[greenpower dude reloaded]

Thanks for the support guys, I know this is turning in to a bit of a meandering thread already but you'll get through to me eventually.

I don't know much about formula SAE but I was looking at a car today, and although I should have asked the team I was a bit a busy. What can people tell me about the performance of that sort of thing.

I get the impression they are a bit more autotesty but maybe with the amount of SAE people on this forum we could get a nice starting point. Maybe a longer wheelbase but similar layout otherwise?

RE: Locost/Haynes roadster. I really considered it but it's all a bit too westfield iRacer for me and that's not what i'm aiming for.

[flynfrog]

Thanks for the support guys, I know this is turning in to a bit of a meandering thread already but you'll get through to me eventually.

I don't know much about formula SAE but I was looking at a car today, and although I should have asked the team I was a bit a busy. What can people tell me about the performance of that sort of thing.

I get the impression they are a bit more autotesty but maybe with the amount of SAE people on this forum we could get a nice starting point. Maybe a longer wheelbase but similar layout otherwise?

RE: Locost/Haynes roadster. I really considered it but it's all a bit too westfield iRacer for me and that's not what i'm aiming for.

the fsae cars are a blast to drive and build. They are pretty hard to beat on an autox course too. On a big track they start to show there weakness they are really on built for lower speeds and quick acceleration. They do have electric FSAE cars as well now and hybrids. maybe look more at a formula 1000 car.

[greenpower dude reloaded]

*wikis* OHH YEAH! Now you are talking my language, Similar power output too. But of course we need to consider the max power output is at 0rpm so these tyres need to be pretty sticky if we are to make it off the line but I really like the F1000 cars.

Funny, being an american series (according to wiki) I'd not really seen them before but that main picture is taken at Brands Hatch my local track!

[Smokes]

If you are base in the UK you would probably better off looking at building hill climbcar or build a car that fits in the 750mc rules. These place are some of best when come to testing or trying out your ideas and it not too expensive to race.

[Belatti]

Yep. You're gonna have to find some sort of vehicle that's at least ballpark similar. Otherwise.. even with say Avon, on a 13" wheel, they have 33 bias constructions / sizes and 22 radial constructions / sizes, and 17 tread compounds. Not all those are combinations of each other.. but the point being there's a lot of options!

Not to mention other size wheels.. or other manufacturers (Dunlop, Goodyear, Hoosier, whoever).

Gotta have some sort of starting point.. best really would be to ask some tire manufacturers what they'd recommend as a starting point given the basic vehicle load and power output.

From there you could easily do an all-day test on constructions and compounds to find what's gonna work best. It gets expensive really quickly.

Lucky you.

Here all we have got is the tyre they give us. Not we nor them know anything about it.