Lakester Front Suspension

[SPARKY]

love the duct tape---To Sum's point do not forget  fire suit thickness it moves one forward as well as up---that was the main reason we had to re do our front cage hoop. It was my second rodeo and we still screwed it up---also --are you using 7 or 9 point harness---it also changes things some.

[Lemming Motors]

Thanks Sparky
Looks like I will have to get suited and booted before final measurements

I have Lakester front questions;

1. a number that have been proposed on this thread have the rack attached to the axle - no bump steer - yeah. I assume (?) therefore that the lower (rack end of) the steering column has a splined section to accommodate small changes in length required by the vertical movement of the axle altering the (relative) length of the column? If that is the case can anyone supply a manufacturer or photos of what is acceptable?

2. are spindle mounted non-ferrous front wheels accepted in the 200 and a little bit mph classes?


John

[awelker]

I used a Woodward MC rack that is mounted to my axle. Rack just has a short spline but they also sell telescoping shafts. Somewhere I have a CAD drawing of my rack if interested.

http://www.woodwardsteering.com/catalog2017.html

[Lemming Motors]

The Woodward catalogue shows splined yolks which answers my question and has a really good description of how u-joints deliver different shafts speeds at different times as they go through rotation and how double u-joints help that at higher angles and especially how to phase u-joints on a shaft - really interesting. Thanks.
John

[Stainless1]

Sliding d shafts can be salvaged from a variety of cars and found on ebay.  John, start a build diary....
Yes spindle mounted aluminum wheels are allowed, but magnesium wheels are not.
It looked like you have a single bar over your helmet, split that into 2 bars and you will gain head space.  Plate over them and you head will be better protected. 
If you can find a center load rack, it will allow longer tie rods... good luck with your build.

[SPARKY]

To SS1 point  the flat plate added between the two bars--not to stick up above them--really makes it nice to put the flat SFI padding on above and behind the helmet should not lose clearance

[Skip Pipes]

John,

Your frame/cage mock-up is superb. You should start a thread in Technical Discussions and re-post these pics so we can flush these design concepts. My chassis design is similar so I want to get Sumner's further guidance.

Skip Pipes

[NathanStewart]

Both you and Nathan are pretty stout guys, are you considering a "slimmer" driver, cuts down on the frontal area.

Luckily for me, even though the engine is an inline 6, the turbo hanging off one side and intake manifold hanging off the other means I fit within those confines very easily. 

[NathanStewart]

John, Your frame/cage mock-up is superb.

I concur.  I really like the raised floor for better driver ergonomics.  Very formula car-ish.  You don't always have to build things to be stupid simple.  A little design pizzazz goes a long way. 

[Lemming Motors]

Thanks for the positive comments - I have started a build thread as suggested: UK Lakester Build G/GL.
John