more offset thingies

John, how much offset do the 50mm struts need for clearance on the 240s? I measured 1.2" on that part you sent me but what kind of clearance does that equate to on a car. Here are some pictures of the latest incarnation using allen nuts and cap screws to hold the clamp together.




I'm starting to warm to Kevin's idea of adapting the knuckles over into ear type mounting too. I just don't like the joint at the knuckle yet. Much to square peg/round hole unless the plate gets very thick. Need to play with that one more.

Tim

Wow that's a pretty looking piece of modeling.

Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

I've been following this thread with interest since my Peugeot 505 Turbo uses the exact same style struts.

I'm curious about the ear mounting you mentioned. I immediately think of two improvements - camber tuning ability with the strut bracket, as well as possibly allowing a longer internal strut depth since it wouldn't have to end at the knuckle. Should be ideal for making it suitable on a number of different types of cars as well.

My only curiosity with either design is of the movement needed in the strut mount up top with this offset design on the bottom since it would have a pretty decent arc at the bottom when you go through the turning range. Might not be significant - just curious if it mandates a certain mount.

I'm finally getting to the point where I can work on my car,so called up John and spoke at length about the possibility of using whatever you come up with on my car - so I'm definitely in for a couple sets at least when the design is finalized. The strut to wheel clearance is VERY tight on my car, and I'm wanting to redrill the hubs to 5x120 so that I can use BMW 5 series wheels on it. (the 4x140 Peugeot pattern is brutal!) Car is being built for rally, but will be competing in local tarmac events as it's being built up.

I'll be disassembling my struts this week, and will post pictures and dimensions for consideration as a possible candidate for these offset thingies... Oddly enough the newer ABS equipped 505's had the two piece struts - but wheel to strut clearance is just as tight on them. Modding the newer style bracket is a possibility to gain clearance - but the ABS front end parts are much more scarce up here, so doing the older design has better spares possibilities.

Rabin




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2008 01:35PM by bean.

Why not use 960 knuckles they are already set up for removable struts. Is it that the are not common enough or because they do no work with the Rx7 brakes.

Getting closer to completion...

Lord have mercy that's beautiful.
We better get Al over there to do a test fit.
UPS should be delivering the fresh tubes today so get those headed this way.

Now all thats left is the rear ears to weld onto the axle housing.

At this rate it looks like Houston will have everything in time to get it welded into the car and be ready for Olympus in late April.
Good good.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

That is awesome...

Fantastic work Tim - really outstanding... Now if I could just find my calipers, I could post some dimensions for my 505 struts to see if they'd work for me too!

What kind of costs are these units running aproximately? 'Cause if they fit my struts I'd love to get at least a couple sets.

Rabin





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2008 04:55PM by bean.

Hey-sus guys, them some good looking products there...It's great to see the co-op skills working to improve "our" cars.

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As always IMHO

SEAN TENNIS KF7JJR
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
SAAB 99, SAAB 850
SAAB V4, SAAB 99T

cant wait to see that stuff on my car. ohhh yeah.

john you were right about needing tissues!

Out of curiousity - will the part that fits into the offset thingies be one piece that gets welded onto the strut tube, or will they just be built from scratch on each strut?

Rabin

bean Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Out of curiousity - will the part that fits into
> the offset thingies be one piece that gets welded
> onto the strut tube, or will they just be built
> from scratch on each strut?
>
> Rabin

Tubes will be universal and should plug straight into the offset thingies..
The tube OD for the 50mm strut inserts is what

In the case of your thing, wanting to retain your OEM tubes, maybe if we ask Tim nicely---maybe! he could do something to accommodate your tube diameter.
Maybe.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

> In the case of your thing, wanting to retain your
> OEM tubes, maybe if we ask Tim nicely---maybe! he
> could do something to accommodate your tube
> diameter.
> Maybe.

I wanted to retain the internals of the strut assembly for now since the car won't see a stage for at least another year (likely two). When it does do rally duty, I want the sooper bitchin struts to plug into the offset thingies if I need to go that route. (Peugeot's struts can and have been used (stock components) in rallies back in the day - so I might not even need to upgrade)

I'm actually hoping I could get the internals to work inside the tubes you make up so that I can take advantage of the threaded tubes and the coil over bits you're using too. Failing that - I'd just make up these ends and weld them to my the existing tubes. They'd then fit the offset thingies. (I'd just need 2-3" of the tube you use to make them.)



I'd prefer to stay away from too much custom one off stuff - and work with something readily available - and if that costs a bit more in the short term so be it.

Rabin

CharlieV Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why not use 960 knuckles they are already set up
> for removable struts. Is it that the are not
> common enough or because they do no work with the
> Rx7 brakes.

They are not common enough. There is one yard around here (the Seattle area) that has them regularly, and they want like $150 for a complete strut, and they will not sell less than a complete strut.


Tim Taylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I measured 1.2" on that
> part you sent me but what kind of clearance does
> that equate to on a car.

About an inch of clearance, but John forgot about trying to keep the top mount in the same location.

> I'm starting to warm to Kevin's idea of adapting
> the knuckles over into ear type mounting too. I
> just don't like the joint at the knuckle yet.
> Much to square peg/round hole unless the plate
> gets very thick. Need to play with that one
> more.

Why not? The rounded rectangular peg is only for locating. It gets welded along the top face on the knuckle. Also, how much does that 6-bolt thing weigh? (I'm not going to get into a contest, because I know you'll win, I'm just curious.)

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Monika Hawkinson
Seattle, WA

Sofa King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Why not? The rounded rectangular peg is only for
> locating. It gets welded along the top face on the
> knuckle. Also, how much does that 6-bolt thing
> weigh? (I'm not going to get into a contest,
> because I know you'll win, I'm just curious.)
>


The 6 bolt clamp weighs in at 3.4lb without the bolts according to the mass properties in SW but I didn't spend a lot of time optimizing it. With some serious pocketing I think your adapter could get into that range. I really do like your idea. It has great potential to be the most cost effective solution. Want to trade CAD models? I'd love to play with the geometry of your design.

Tim

Yeah sure!
Do you have the FEA add-in? I think my boss didn't spring for that, and I think that the files I make at work will not work at school. On the other hand, I haven't actually tried either one.

My email is khawki02 at gmail dot com.
I'll have to go to work and get the files off my pc.


BTW, the big adapter thing was about 3# before pockets, and about 2# after carving out 3/8 from each side. But that doesn't count the ears on the strut tube.

I'm gonna take my meds, eat, and run to the "office".
Edit: scratch that. It 8:30 on a friday night, raining, and I'm very ill.

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Monika Hawkinson
Seattle, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2008 10:31PM by Sofa King.