Double A-arm suspension

[volkdent]

Its not all in yet, but I found that with a 20deg. roll of the rack, I could get a decent angle to the output shaft. I've cut down the stock steering shaft now, and pressed in the Teflon bushing and all is good. STILL waiting for the Flaming River U joint, they must be slow on the draw right now. Bob wanted to machine down the rack to allow it to be rotated at any angle, but then I'd have to have a clamp machined and then it would also be a solid mount, more noise. I have PU bushings for the rack now, and I may switch to rubber in the future if the road feel is too much.

The design is finished, so just waiting on parts before fabrication begins!

Jason

[pure55vw]

Just a consideration: are you hard-mounting the bottom end of the steering tube to the body? As you know, stock form uses just the rubber grommet isolator between the tube and firewall. I originally tried a metallic bushing in the steering tube to support the bottom of the shaft, but found that steering reaction forces working against the grommet kept causing it to back out of the firewall hole, in turn causing the shaft to become loose. I built a seperate lower bearing support that attaches to the suspension subframe, so the bottom half of the tube no longer has to support the shaft (like stock).

[volkdent]

Apparently you just saved me a lot of time. I was planning on using the stock grommet, but as of today, I've realized I have issues with the U-joint that will push it through the firewall anyway. So, I'll be making a bracket too, but on the inside of the firewall. Do you have any pics of your steering setup?

Jason

[volkdent]

Well, it turns out that the whole upper U joint is going to have to reside on the INSIDE of the bulkhead. I'll have to shorten the steering column some more, then have a clamping bracket made that holds the lower end of the steering column. The Teflon bushing will sit inside that, then the upper U joint, then the intermediate shaft through the bulkhead, then the stock U joint attached to the input shaft of the rack. The angles are tight, but it looks like its going to work, so I have one less thing on my todo list.

Jason

[volkdent]

The shafts and U joints are at the gear cutter as we speak to be splined. I have a pair of QA1 Proma Star 11 1/4" shocks sitting here, and I have someone working on another balljoint option. So, nothing too concrete, but getting warmer!

Jason

[volkdent]

Pure55, can you take some pics of your steering linkage as it attaches to the steering shaft? Thanks,

Jason

[lazylongboarder]

WOW, I got to this a little late, but this setup is incredible Pure55! As is yours Volkdent.

I have access to a cnc plasma cutter and a few other play toys, Would it be possible for a set of plans to go up for sale? I'm interested in the setups, but it'll be a little harder to get all the money at once. This'll make things a little easier on the checkbook. This would also be easier to ship to my address (email). You name the price.

I love your ideas guys! I like the idea that i can upgrade to a higher end shock because it is a more common performance application. If only Ohlins shocks weren't $3010 each.

Let me know the price.

Thanks a lot,
Russ

I would rather use your guys ideas and pay you, but I'm pondering the idea of a 996 macphereson strut front setup. I'm sold on the Multi-link 993 rear setup. All one clip, just have to worry about the angles of the strut towers.