benhardt57

Hi,

I posted this question yesterday under 'Suspension', then realized it should probably go here.

"Referring to the 2010-present Camaro rear suspension, I am looking the for dimension (up or down) from the centerline of the wheels to the centerline of the differential where the drive axle attaches, while the car is resting on level ground. Or if it is easier, the angle of the drive axles from the differential to the wheels.
Just so you know, I'm farting around with my own design using an LS engine and a Camaro rear suspension unit. The dimension I asked for is so I can properly set the location of the mounting brackets on my chassis. If anyone has access to this information I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks,
Ben"

benhardt57

C'mon, surely there are GM engineers who pop into this forum from time to time who would know the answer to my question! I've attached a sketch to clarify what I am looking for.

Sorry guys. I don't mean to be a pest.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

You're referring to the CV angle, I can take a measurement with a protractor for you next week on my car (im out of town until wednesday). The angle will obviously change with ride height, but I have a stock height car.

Schitzo

iTrader: (6)

Per your PDF, to answer your question as to which one is correct, my answer would be neither is wrong. Unlike the conventional U-joint, CV joints can operate at much larger angles. The angle also constantly changes as the car drives and suspension articulates. As such, don't let a specific "angle" dictate your differential and hub placement instead aim to stay within the range recommended for the CVs in question.

That said, my observation of most IRS setups is that OEMs tend to mount the differential in such a way that the axle angles down towards the hub. The angle is often very small so much so the axle looks almost parallel to the ground at ride height. Such is the case with the camaro.

Here is a pic of a 5th gen camaro at ride height. You can see the axle has a small downward angle toward the hub.

benhardt57

Thanks for the input fellows! And I hope you don't mind that I used your picture to illustrate my concern. In my cad model, a couple of the linkage members (sorry, I don't know the actual names of the parts) come awfully close to the inside edge of the rim, especially in a compressed spring state. You're proabably already aware of this condition, and is the main factor for limiting the width of my rear wheels. Above the hub, there doesn't appear to be any risk of interference, so that's when I began wondering if the drive axles should be angled down more when the car is at rest.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

BMR makes a lower control arm that has much more clearance in the spot you point out. Some wheels (wide or small) will hit at that point without different control arms.

benhardt57

Hey, thanks for the tip! Modified control arms sounds like a good option. Another thought I had was to go ahead and raise the location of the differential. But I'm trying to keep the C/G as low as possible because fast cornering is a high priority.

Do you happen to know what is the +/- suspension travel on the back end of the Camaro?

benhardt57

Just a side view with a paper doll driver.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

Your best bet on shock travel is to call pedders or pfadt suspension. I know they make longer/shorter shocks and could probably make you whatever you needed or answer any travel questions you had.

benhardt57

Thanks again for the advice. I'll give them a call.

I'm currently in the process of building a 1:4 scale dummy body so I can look at the shape in 'real' 3D. I'll post some pictures once it starts taking shape.

benhardt57

Time for an overdue update.
My project seemed stalled at times, but I managed to put in a good effort the last two months to finish my quarter scale model. Opinions have been mostly positive. Next stop: the steel fabricator to discuss the chassis.
Let me know what you think. Opinions have played an important role in the way it has taken shape

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

some old school aston martin taillights would look sick in that rearend

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

Reminds me of a Lister.