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Re: Rear suspension

To: Dave Dahlgren <ddahlgren@snet.net>,
Subject: Re: Rear suspension
From: Joe Timney <joetimney@dol.net>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 07:36:03 -0400
List:

Teaching suspension 101 over the internet is almost impossible. I have found 
that
one must truely "want" to learn about suspension and be willing to spent the 
money
to experiment and learn. All too often, I find that racers will spent big $$$ on
engines and trans, but not invest in getting it to the ground.

Bonneville is a place where everybody has experience making their setup work of
them. Howard's example of the 3 foot dip is one of the toughtest conditions for 
a
LSR vehicle to handle well. One of the biggest problems for a suspension system 
to
control is unsprung weight...a lot on bonneville cars run steel wheels, add to 
that,
lots of ballast, high spring pressure, so the shock has one hell of a time 
dealing
with travel. Howard's point about speed is a valid, the faster one goes, the 
less
likely the suspension will 'keep up'.

I belong to the 'use suspension until it slows me down' group.

joe

Dave Dahlgren wrote:

> I am not an expert either but i will tell you everyone that specs data acq 
>from
> me wants the shocks to log in excess of 100 times per second so there must be
> something going on... But then there is deal about data that is aquired at a
> certain multiple of the signal too. If what you are saying is correct then 
>there
> is no downside either if it will never move too. But there maybe gains in the
> begining of the run.
> Dave Dahlgren
>
> Nafzger wrote:
> >
> > Keith,
> > God knows I'm no expert on this and I have spent a lot of time anguishing
> > over this problem on the two liners I have built.
> > I made them both with rigid suspension for three basic reasons.
> > 1. Less complex and therefore probably more reliable.
> > 2. Lighter and cheaper.
> > 3. I can't figure out how to make a suspension that will respond to a 3 foot
> > wide dip in the salt.
> > Keep me honest on this guys. 60 MPH =88 ft/sec. therefore 240MPH =
> > 352ft/sec. Therefore 1/100 of a second = 3.52ft.
> > No suspension I am aware of will even begin to move in that time period. It
> > will skip right over the depression anyway so I just did not mess with it.
> > If I'm screwed up in my logic, let me know and I'll admit liners may be
> > different in some ways but we have been very successful with rigid cars.
> > P.S. The engine builder and I have both agreed to not go up there and
> > embarrass ourselves anymore. Way too many engine problems.
> > Howard
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
> > To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 4:28 AM
> > Subject: Rear suspension
> >
> > > Okay along the lines of the Trans mounting system....   I wanna do the
> > rear
> > > suspension issues....
> > >
> > > My thoughts are that a fancy rear suspension to make the car leave the
> > line
> > > is a Moot point at Bonneville... ( may help you at Maxton or El Mirage )
> > but
> > > once the car is through the gears it's settled down and the only real
> > > advantage of a suspension at all is to maintain the contact patch with the
> > > ground....over minor bumps...
> > >
> > > Joe Timney and I have beat this up at length and I have several idea's on
> > > the correct course of action for me....  But I'm curious to hear others
> > > thoughts on what they run and WHY?....
> > >
> > > In other words... what are your theory's..
> > >
> > > Keith ( Mayf.... what you doing Hiding out... I love your questions...
> > > always pointed .... which may not be pleasing to all ... however they are
> > > always honest and well thought out )

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