weird I-beam idea

[fathead]

just curious, would it be a good, (usefull) idea to run an equal
length i-beam frontend, with a j-arm/a-arm upper,and a traditional a-arm spindle? I have never seen or heard of it being done.
what do you guys think.

[91yotaprerunner]

would seem kinda pointless to me, like running center mounted lower arms with uppert arms that arent center mounted. it throws the camber curve out of wack, and doesnt cycle very clean travel. would be too great of a difference between the upper and lower lenghts. just my opinion, im am no expert at 18.
matthew

[fathead]

i sorta see where you are coming from, but if you look at most a-arm set ups, the upper arm is not the same length as the lower....with the difference made up in the spindle??

[91yotaprerunner]

all a-arm set ups have the upper short than the lower. but its not a very big difference. also the steering would be really hard to work out on that set up.

[tedmales]

the axis the 2 arms pivot in would probably give it al kinds of crazy caster change.

[ntsqd]

Th uppers would also need to cross the chassis centerline in order to get a decent camber curve.
It would give you either more travel than a 'conventional' A/J arm set up, or the same travel with less angularity in the joints.
Depending on where the outer pivots were your steering could be the same, or nearly so, as a pure beam suspension, or it could be as unique as the rest of the design. I've toyed with a variation of what you're suggesting for some time. Just no vehicle to try it on.

[partybarge_pilot]

If anyone can find it in the archives Bob Sheaves was working on a prototype suspension like that for a mojor car manf. I belive it was in the a-arms suck post. The lower "beams" only went to the center of the vehicle though, not full cross-over.

[GFC]

It almost sounds like a 2wd toyota's suspension when center mounting the "beams".

[Ryno]

Bob had designed a lower beam/ upper arm suspension, with coil springs. If I can dig up the schematics, I'll post them. I remember him saying it would soak up parking blocks @ 45mph. Bob is amazing at this stuff, his knowledge is awesome.

[fathead]

sounds good, thanks

[84toy]

Heres the thread to Bob Sheaves stuff, don't think it is the same as "upper a arm lower beam"
http://www.race-dezert.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=19755&page=&view=&sb=5&o= &fpart=1&vc=1

Heres another one with a picture:
http://www.race-dezert.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=shop&Number=75040&Forum=Al l_Forums&Words=bob_sheaves&Match=Username&Searchpa ge=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=75040&Search=true# Post75040