Frames and suspension loads

[540ZCar]

Think double wishbone suspension with the springs and shocks mounted to the lower control arms. That means most of the suspension loads will be going through the lower control arm right? Does it make sense to have the frame rail stay low and go to the lower control arm mounts and then have a crossmember for the upper control arms? I think it would be stronger and stiffer, but want profensional input as well.

 

[hemipanter]

I'm not really on what you mean, but that the lower A-arm is mounted in a portion of the frame work is right. Now it so that the stability of the frame work are most important at the point where the coilovers are mounted, and it is between these four points the torsion stability is calculated. If we look at the A-arms, it is the lower one that is receiving most of the loads, but how high it will become depend on what the geometry looks like.
Regards
Goran

 

[540ZCar]

What I'm getting at is that the lower control arm is mounted to a crossmember that in most cars bolted to the frame. I think having the frame going to the lower arms and have the upper arms on a crossmember would be better.

 

[GregLocock]

Probably not, surprisingly, since the cross member supplies a direct axial path for the lateral loads, whereas your chassis rails will be reacting it in bending.

As ever the devil is in the details, either can be made to work, either can be made to misbehave.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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