Are you madabout kit cars      
 "We've Got Kit Cars Covered" Information about Madabout-Kitcars.com Contact Madabout-Kitcars.com         Home of UK kit cars - madabout-kitcars.com Various kit car write ups All the latest kit car news Kit car related and general discussion

Search
Manufacturers
Kit Cars
Kit Car Data sheets
Picture Gallery
SVA Knowledgebase
Clubs & Communities
Build cost estimator
Kit cars for sale
Knowledge Base 
KitcarUSA.com
Classic-Kitcars.com
 

Go Back   Madabout Kitcars Forum > Mad Build Area > Marlin 5exi builds

Marlin 5exi builds Calling all you sexi builders....sorry 5exi builders, show us your progress.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22nd September 2008, 20:08
alackofspeed's Avatar
alackofspeed alackofspeed is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dorset
Posts: 1,180
alackofspeed is on a distinguished road
Default Front steering arms

At the weekend I met up with Limpabit (John) and Merlinman (Ian). We went for a short convoy drive, so Merlinman could get a seat of the pants experience of my car, and John and I could enjoy the novelty of two cars in convoy.

Anyhow, whilst driving along, as Merlinman will no doubt recall, I clobbered a fairly nasty pothole. I realised after saying farewell to John and Ian, that I'd knocked my tracking out, so this evening I had a look to see what I'd done....

Well I'd managed to add quite a bit of toe-in to the front left wheel, and given the step change it got me wondering what I'd bent / displaced. I'm pretty sure I've found the problem, and it's the nearside hub to track-rod arm (steering arm?).

Whatever it's called, it would appear that it was bent slightly by the impact... which led me to wonder about the stiffness of the part....so I put the steering lock on, and pushed / pulled the nearside wheel at the 3 and 9 o clock positions, and noticed the track rod stayed still, but the rim / caliper / hub moved. It was possible to induce 5mm or so of movement at the rim edge, just manually, without getting a sweat on.

I've noticed that the steering feels slightly vague at "higher" speeds, so I'm wondering if the flex is the cause. I'm going to cut some stiffening plates, and weld them on..... another experiment that'll hopefully further enhance the driving experience.
Reply With Quote
Available from eBay
  #2  
Old 27th September 2008, 19:04
alackofspeed's Avatar
alackofspeed alackofspeed is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dorset
Posts: 1,180
alackofspeed is on a distinguished road
Default

Right.... well I've stiffened up my suspension arms, and it has made an obvious difference to the feel of the car.

The steering doesn't feel half as vague as it did previously, which makes for much more reassuring feel when driving at speed in the region of the national speed limit. A worthwhile, quick, and easy modification.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 27th September 2008, 21:21
limpabit's Avatar
limpabit limpabit is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Basildon, Essex
Posts: 1,800
limpabit is on a distinguished road
Default

I always thought they looked a bit light weight. But thought all they would be doing is connecting rack to hub.

But over time, and pot holes, time takes it's toll.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28th September 2008, 07:57
bigrich's Avatar
bigrich bigrich is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 404
bigrich is on a distinguished road
Question

Any pics of how you have modded the arms please?

Rich
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 28th September 2008, 15:32
alackofspeed's Avatar
alackofspeed alackofspeed is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dorset
Posts: 1,180
alackofspeed is on a distinguished road
Default

Very crudely is the answer..... but it does seem to have worked perfectly....unsprung mass anyone?



Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10th May 2010, 19:28
sylvazx sylvazx is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dunfermline , Scotland
Posts: 15
sylvazx is on a distinguished road
Default

I hope you have not patented your design for the strengthening mods on the steering arms as i am about to use it in preference to my own ideas for upgrading. After adjusting the terrible bump steer i thought the steering would be better but it still feels very light and wanders on the road. there is about 5-10mm of movement at the wheel rim when steering held solid and wheel rim is pulled with force. steering arm visibly bending at the outer adjusting bolt hole on the arm.
Did your mods make any diference to the steering feel or did you go further.

The bump steer was caused by me bolting the stub axles to the suspension upright 180 degrees out of position which pushed the track rod end mounting point far too high. i bought one of the first cars and there were no instruction for the correct installation for the mounting of the stub axle and of course i got it wrong.

John
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 23rd May 2010, 17:12
alackofspeed's Avatar
alackofspeed alackofspeed is offline
Senior Member
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dorset
Posts: 1,180
alackofspeed is on a distinguished road
Default

The mod made the steering feel far more consistent. I've had the car beyond 120mph on track days, followed by jumping heavily on the brakes, and it feels quite reasonable. Although I've been nowhere near as fast on the road, and the mod was made prior to any track exposure, I suspect had I not made the modification, the car would have felt quite vague at high speed on a track, especially when making the heavy transition from full power to full braking.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 23rd May 2010, 19:51
sylvazx sylvazx is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dunfermline , Scotland
Posts: 15
sylvazx is on a distinguished road
Default

i cut the brackets for the mod on friday and hope to be able to find time to weld them on this week. the car continues to feel very light and darts about on the road. just checked all the wheels alignment tonight with a string and found a fair bit of toe on the passenger side rear, have no idea where this came from as it was set up dead straight several months ago and has done little miles since. am slightly alarmed at what appears to be stress cracks in the paint on the front steering arms at the rear mounting bolt, this must be coming from the flexing of the arm at the bolt. will get it right eventually !!

john
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +0. The time now is 09:12.

copyright © madabout-kitcars.com 2000-2024
terms and conditions | privacy policy