Rear Cantilever Coilover Setup
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From: Bremerton, WA
Rear Cantilever Coilover Setup Just in case you suspension folks don't make it to the appearance and detailing forum here is what I have just about finished on my 95 TA...
Cantilever being designed and mocked up
Just about done, I think I need to pin the setup since the front is rising under the weight of the car.
I designed everything including the rockers, they are a 3 piece design that each part is cut out on a waterjet then the assembly is bolted together the only machining is honing out the main thru hole for the delrin bushings to press in. It was MUCH cheaper than having rockers CNC machined and I think they actually look cooler. I had to build a mount box from 3/16 and 1/8" plate and weld in in over the rear seatbelt mount. So the box is welded in (as well as it can be to sheet metal and some thicker areas), bolted to the original seatbelt post, and the landing spot for the rear down tubes from the 6-point roll cage. So I think it is supported fairly well. I don't think there will be any performance advantage but reducing the unsprung mass a little, but the addition of the crossmember kills any weight savings! It is mostly to look pretty cool and provide easy access to the coilovers. Plus I wasn't doing anything with the rear deck area anyways, and I don't have rear seats there is a custom subwoofer box rear seat delete. I think I need heavier springs since I made the rockers have a slight mechanical advantage to gain travel from a 4" shock (it is approx 20% advantage).
Cantilever being designed and mocked up
Just about done, I think I need to pin the setup since the front is rising under the weight of the car.
I designed everything including the rockers, they are a 3 piece design that each part is cut out on a waterjet then the assembly is bolted together the only machining is honing out the main thru hole for the delrin bushings to press in. It was MUCH cheaper than having rockers CNC machined and I think they actually look cooler. I had to build a mount box from 3/16 and 1/8" plate and weld in in over the rear seatbelt mount. So the box is welded in (as well as it can be to sheet metal and some thicker areas), bolted to the original seatbelt post, and the landing spot for the rear down tubes from the 6-point roll cage. So I think it is supported fairly well. I don't think there will be any performance advantage but reducing the unsprung mass a little, but the addition of the crossmember kills any weight savings! It is mostly to look pretty cool and provide easy access to the coilovers. Plus I wasn't doing anything with the rear deck area anyways, and I don't have rear seats there is a custom subwoofer box rear seat delete. I think I need heavier springs since I made the rockers have a slight mechanical advantage to gain travel from a 4" shock (it is approx 20% advantage).
That is a pretty sweet setup. I love cantilever setups, I used to enjoy studying them at shows when I did air ride stuff. Well done, sir
wow!
I have no idea how that **** works but it looks badass!
I want to know what advantages there is to cantilever as opposed to springs/shocks. I'd figure that springs/shocks are a lot simpler so what's the advantage to cantilever?
I have no idea how that **** works but it looks badass!
I want to know what advantages there is to cantilever as opposed to springs/shocks. I'd figure that springs/shocks are a lot simpler so what's the advantage to cantilever?
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alot easier to set ride heights, tire clearence since all you really have is a bar going from the original shock mount that goes through the floor to the lever. and alot easier to adjust your shocks no more crawling half way under the car at the track. i would also think that you could change the progression of how the car handles through the corners if you used a cantilever at different degrees instead of the standard 90*. i would love to get my hands on this car for a few days and do some tinkering!
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From: Bremerton, WA
Thanks for all the kind comments this car gets a lot of hate!
I unfortunately haven't driven the car yet, I am still finishing some other stuff up before firing it.
I had to increase the spring rates from what are in the pictures. I originally had 175's and figured I would try them, but the rockers have a 20% mechanical advantage to them (4.00" radius to 4.75" radius) so a 4" travel shock will have about 5". I designed the angles to always be a rising rate from ride height to full compression (so they are set up like progressive springs). I just got some 200's to put in.
There really isn't many advantages to a cantilever setup other than ease of adjustment and the coolness. It does reduce unsprung mass slightly but you add a ton of mass in the crossmemebers that were added.
I unfortunately haven't driven the car yet, I am still finishing some other stuff up before firing it.
I had to increase the spring rates from what are in the pictures. I originally had 175's and figured I would try them, but the rockers have a 20% mechanical advantage to them (4.00" radius to 4.75" radius) so a 4" travel shock will have about 5". I designed the angles to always be a rising rate from ride height to full compression (so they are set up like progressive springs). I just got some 200's to put in.
There really isn't many advantages to a cantilever setup other than ease of adjustment and the coolness. It does reduce unsprung mass slightly but you add a ton of mass in the crossmemebers that were added.
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TECH Enthusiast
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From: Bremerton, WA
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Bremerton, WA
This setup probably won't make a noticeable difference in handling versus a standard coilover setup, it is more for looks and easier to adjust/tune. The slight decrease in unsprung mass is killed by the extra weight of the mounting cross brace.