My first design for the new suspension is the one below. I the a-arms in the pictures are this design. Though this design most likely will not be used niether will the a-arms.
The current problem with it is that I don't have a drill press or mill. So its very hard to make straight accurate holes for the hinge pins through 5 layers of lexan so that they match all up. Also I have always hated bent hinge pins and e-clips. I could have come up with a way to eliminate the e-clips like on the T4/B4. Instead I just decided to get rid of the hinge pins all at once. The design I have come up with uses no hinge pins. Instead it uses Pivot Balls. This reduces resitence and friction. Also this set up will always me to make sure that the a-arms mount up nicely with out having to worry about hinge pins binding and holes not matching up. This is a picture of the rough design that I decided to draw up. It is ofcourse a rough drawing but it should be able to give you an idea of what I am thinking...
Soon I will be cutting a motor cooling hole in the chassis and also finishing the motor mount and getting that mounted. Also I will probaly start sanding everything. In a few days I will be ordering the nitro tc3 hub carriers and pivot balls off of ebay. If ofcourse I win the auction. Until those come I can't really do anything else. Once they come though I will be able to figue out the suspension and figue out what I need to complete the suspension. I am pretty set on the hing-pinless design unless it proves to be weak or undo-able.I am also trying to decide between lexan or delrin for the new a-arms. My old version 2's will no longer be used, unfortunatly.
You may ask why I am going with the laydown type of suspension. When I was making the rocker mounts I was asking myself the same question. But there are advantages.
1. Lower Center of Gravity
2. Less bent shock shafts
3. In my opinion more durable
4. Progressive suspension
5. Its unique
The following picture should give you and idea of the most noticable advantage ; the lower center of gravity. The lexan shock tower is from my version one and is showen at about the same height as it was mounted on the last version
I was bored so I decided to draw a full chassis picture of the TR3 using Microsoft Paint(Its not the most accurate but its about the best I can do with paint). This will give you'll a rough idea of what it will look like in the end.
I Also figued for the heck of it I would put some mock up arms on it and just lay the arms on to get and idea of what it will look like..
Oh yea for version two I have a secret surprise. Here are the hints i have given so far.
Clue 1: I like it inside out,not outside in
Clue 2 : I lurk in the lens
If you would like to view my building process and my updates over the last year . you can visit my website at
www.freewebs.com/eds24/
If you would like to view more pics you can go here
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/eds24/...%20TR3/?start=0. Please let me know what you think. I would be glad to hear comments and suggestions. I will keep you guys updated on any progess.
Ethan
Team Kassanova