Front end test fixture

[hardingfv32]

What is the purpose of this test fixture? To test pre-load or spring rate?

What about the design of the ends of the fixture. What is the small box with the red label on it located near each end of the lower beam? There also seems to be a strain gage connecting the two beams on each end. Is this a way to measure the application force?

Brian

[DaveW]

Pull rod load calibrator, I guess.

[hardingfv32]

Are the load sensors normally subject to falling out of calibration between/during races?

Carrying this big a piece of test equipment on a fly-away would indicate this is a common setup procedure.

Brian

[DaveW]

I'm not sure (completely) how the load cells outputs are used. What I am sure about is that the load carried by each link in the suspension and the geometry of the links is required to compute any component of load reacted by the wheel hub. It follows, I think, that changes in geometry will change the load carried by the push rod, which will therefore have the be interpreted to be of any use, & the one (perhaps the only) way to accomplish that would be calibrate the load cells for each set-up.

I think the rig shown is actually quite small....

[Jersey Tom]

Some ugly welds there, that's for sure.