In Evo magazine this month (December 2003 issue) there is an article about the latest design from Caterham which they are currently developing - it has inboard front suspension and IRS rear rather than their current de-dion set up.

I haven't read the article fully yet, but there are some good 3D pictures of the design for the suspensions and photos of the prototypes.

I will post these later this week when I get close to a scanner as they could be useful for anyone looking for ideas in this direction.

front suspension photo:
Rescued attachment Caterham SV-R front small.jpg

front suspension 3D graphic
Rescued attachment Caterham SV-R front 3D small.jpg

rear suspension photo:
Rescued attachment Caterham SV-R rear small.jpg

rear suspension 3D graphic
Rescued attachment Caterham SV-R rear 3D small.jpg

Nice one Andy....

Looks cool.....

Any more pics?

Thx mate...you posted 2 more while I was writing...

only other pics are of the whole car - and that just looks like a wide bodied locost with a full race cage

I can post one tomorrow though if you want to see the complete machine.

I particularly like the look of the front - I quite fancy having a go at inboard suspension when I get that far!

The rear is interesting how they have transposed the bushing and the bracket....putting the bracket with ears on the moving part rather than the frame....

Hmmmm?.......wonder why?......any theories?

quote:

---

Originally posted by andyps
I particularly like the look of the front - I quite fancy having a go at inboard suspension when I get that far!

---

Alan, I hadn't seen it before, but have now! That looks great, I will have to study your pictures in more detail, do you have any drawings or dimensions?

Cheers

U2U me your e-mail and I'll see what I have....

Can you handle autocad files?

I saw the same article, and noticed the IRS with interest. The rear suspension really is quite curious, with it's unusual method of adjusting the toe in/out, and as Alan pointed out, it's weird inverted mounting points. I can't imagine it would make getting the bushes out too easy. I'm suprised they didn't rose joint it though - it is supposed to be the ultimate racer after all.

What will be interesting to see will be what diff they use. Not sierra, obviously, but freelander possibly? Maybe something bespoke from Quaiffe?

It'll also be interesting to see how far forward of the current offerings it is.

Kingr

Oops just seen your e-mail addy......

Silly me....

I can't figure the rear - to my uneducated eyes (in suspension design at least) it looks to me like the extra bar/link would induce an element of rear wheel steer as the suspension compresses/extends due to roll in corners.

It's really the same issue as at the front.....minimising or indeed optimising bumpsteer and rollsteer.

It possible to design in some toe in/out when cornering if desirable.

That is exactly how I designed the IRS for the F27 for my university dissertation!! (except i used rose joints)

I new i was doing something right, its a shame F27 didn't adopt it after building the initial prototype

There were some doubters on the thread that discussed this, i told you it would work

Old suspension thread

".....minimising or indeed optimising bumpsteer and rollsteer.

It possible to design in some toe in/out when cornering if desirable"

That is what I would have guessed it would do - just that I don't know yet enough about suspension design to have been sure.

Thanks both of you for the input.

Iv been toying with this idea for a bit now there is a good section in tune to win by carroll smith and all so in Race car aerodynamics by joseh katz thay sagest that the aerodynamic bonuses are quit good. Also you can have a pull rod attached to the to the top arm and the linkage at the bottom insted of a push rod with the linkage at the top. This way you can use a smaller section tube but it makes it harder to change the shocks and springs but on a locost for the road and the odd track day you dont change them you may change the settings but not the unit