Anyone done a trailing arm rear suspension?

[95geo]

The existing suspension is nothing more than a four link, a "trailing arm" suspension (in the terminology I've learned from- 1:1 Offroad) has the rear springs/shocks/coilivers mounted on the lower control arms which creates a >1:1 motion ratio when comparing axle travel to shock travel. I.E.- the axle travels 2" and the shock travels 1.5".

The wraith has a rear chassis that can support this without lengthening the wheelbase so it's something that I've been considering for the last couple days. I plan on modifying the rear frame to allow for more bump travel also.

Has anyone else done this or am I going to be the first?

[BLKXJ 96]

Sounds like it may be worth a try.

Im looking through my XR10 manual and there is a part the slides over the stock LCA. It already has the bracket so you could mount the shock the way you are talking about. im sure you could mod it to fit a Wraith. It's part number #AX80059.

[NFA Fabrication]

A "Trailing arm" suspension would eliminate the upper arms, and have a modded lower arm that controls axle wrap. Any pics of what you are describing exactly?

[romulus22]

Isn't a 4 link design technically already a trailing arm versus an A-arm setup like a hummer suspension. A VW is a trailing arm suspension. Is that what your talking about?
Shock location shouldn't determine what makes a suspension setup.

[95geo]

See the picture Jeff posted in his post (#2). There are a LOT of different types of suspension out there. I described EXACTLY what I am talking about doing in the first post. It will be a 4 link nearly identical to what is stock but it will have a lot more bump travel (bump=fully bottomed out) and have the shocks mounted farther forward than the stock location and the lower shock mount will be roughly 3/4 of the way down the lower control arm.

I think this project is going to warrant a slew of VP hardware including housings and upper link mounts.... Now to bite the bullet and place the order. While I'm waiting for parts, I'll be working out the rear suspension.

Anyone have comments one way or the other on running the pro line slash shocks? The rears would be mounted front and rear. I like them for the threaded bodies, it'll help make dialing in the spring rates a lot easier I think.

[95geo]

Full bump will look something like this:

[maxxa87]

There was one that had some wicked cantilever set-up on youtube. But wheel travel isn't everything and it can sometimes hurt you so they say. But if you ran that in some kind of droop and get the center of gravity really low it could work well.

[95geo]

I'll let you all know how I end up hacking it up.... From what I gather, you guys get to see an awful lot of half assed attempts to switch stuff up but few are successful! It's a good thing I've convinced myself that I know what I'm doing with this stuff....

[johnnyh66]

these might help: https://store.rc4wd.com/mobile/Hardc...rm_p_1093.html


I've really wanted to use them in a build...

[dunerinaz]

Originally Posted by romulus22

Isn't a 4 link design technically already a trailing arm versus an A-arm setup like a hummer suspension. A VW is a trailing arm suspension. Is that what your talking about?
Shock location shouldn't determine what makes a suspension setup.

Correct.

A trailing arm setup can include upper links so you're correct. In fact, lower links are often referred to as trailing arms. I think NFA hit the true description of a trailing arm though. It's a two link system with the arm solid mounted to the housing to control rotation and will often have two mounting points on the housing end.

[95geo]

Call it what you will, there are too many types of suspensions out there to have a specific name for each of them, thats why I described it in the first post!

Koh Desert Race Car Setup Trailing Arms Photo 2

Anyways, I'm off to the shop to make chips....

[Harley]

Originally Posted by 95geo

Call it what you will, there are too many types of suspensions out there to have a specific name for each of them, thats why I described it in the first post!

Koh Desert Race Car Setup Trailing Arms Photo 2

Anyways, I'm off to the shop to make chips....

Describing it but naming it incorrectly is what everyone will get hung up on.

There are lots of things you need to handle when doing link mounted shocks.if the rod end is mounted at or abOve the center line you get a piss poor performing suspension unless you add "wobble stoppers" to the links. Reason is because of all the degrees of freedom the link and shocks have. The proper method is to mount the shocks below the centerline to make the force of the suspension align the link properly.

P.S. - never convince yourself you know how to do it, you'll never learn anything that way.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by Harley

never convince yourself you know how to do it, you'll never learn anything that way.

Yup. When I interview people and we're reviewing their work, I always ask them, "What level would you consider yourself at with the software?"
If they answer "Expert." and their work is not far better than mine, they go in the Do Not Call Back pile... aka, trash.

[ManxCrawler]

Back when Losi WAS Losi, 1988, they brought out a 2WD 1:10th buggy called the JRx-2, it had trailing arm rear suspension and was very good...for a while, until it all got sloppy with wear

[zjguy721]

What does the HPI mini trophy truck have? Isn't that kind of what you're thinking?

[zjguy721]

Not sure the length of the arms, but just an idea.

[Turn'Nburn]

Originally Posted by ManxCrawler

Back when Losi WAS Losi, 1988, they brought out a 2WD 1:10th buggy called the JRx-2, it had trailing arm rear suspension and was very good...for a while, until it all got sloppy with wear

I have one of those! I have a JRx-T also.

[Sevastra]

The lower axle mount for the control arm would have to be fairly rigid and tough, while the upper mount to the skid plate could use the stock ball and socket design. The key to all this is to make sure that the pinion angle is correct so you arent binding the drive shaft u-joints during suspension travel.

Originally Posted by zjguy721

Not sure the length of the arms, but just an idea.

Running dual shock absorbers like this setup should help control horizontal movement (atleast in theory.) But as Harley mentioned once parts start wearing you'd run into all sorts of problems.. Just a better reason to spring for the better parts to begin with.

Have one of the fabricators here make some stout custom metal links, then you can use a sliding rail system with a set screw to finalize and fine tune the lower shock mount location on the link itself. (Let me know if I need to draw up a quick diagram to better explain?)

[midnight_f150]

Did you every get this style suspension setup?

[evan03]

This thread will make you see stars

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/deser...try-getin.html