UWA's KPI

[Brian Smith]

UWA Wheel (http://evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/FSAE06/IMG_0129)

UWA front suspension (http://evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/FSAE06/IMG_0128)

Looking at these pictures, it seems that UWA is running a lot of KPI. And looking at the wheels they are dished to give an offset. Just saying, if the wheels weren't dished like that you wouldnt need the KPI. So my question is, did you want KPI? Is there an advantage that I am overlooking?

And by the way thoes wheels look great with the cutouts behind the spokes.

One more question. Are all of the suspension links carbon/kevlar or just the two most likely to hit a cone?

[Brian Smith]

UWA Wheel (http://evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/FSAE06/IMG_0129)

UWA front suspension (http://evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/FSAE06/IMG_0128)

Looking at these pictures, it seems that UWA is running a lot of KPI. And looking at the wheels they are dished to give an offset. Just saying, if the wheels weren't dished like that you wouldnt need the KPI. So my question is, did you want KPI? Is there an advantage that I am overlooking?

And by the way thoes wheels look great with the cutouts behind the spokes.

One more question. Are all of the suspension links carbon/kevlar or just the two most likely to hit a cone?

[Nick McNaughton]

There's only 6 degrees KPI at the front, the rear has a bit more. The dished wheels give clearance for the steering arm, as we use a front steer setup. Negative effects of KPI on camber with steering aren't as bad at small angles as you might think.

Using some KPI lets us use this solution with smaller compromises in things like trail, scrub radius and so on that maintains steering feel. It's not the only way of doing it, but it's the one that works best with our concept. Plus, dished wheels are fully sick http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Travis Garrison]

What's up with the pull rod in the second picture? Is there a bellcrank on the other end of that thing? Or is that a hydraulic cylinder in place of the pull rod this year?

[Wright D]

It looks like an adjuster to me. Threaded on the inside and out side, and when turned the length of the pull rod changes. The threads are formed in opposite directions, to act as a turn buckle. The rod end goes into the adjuster, and the adjuster goes into the pull rod's aluminum end.

Sometimes details in a picture can be hard to make out, so if I am wrong somebody let me know.

[Kevin Hayward]

UWA used to run non-dished wheels with similar KPI. One of the motivations for changing the wheel centre design, is to increase the stiffness of the assembly in the direction of heavy loading.

As for the Pushrod I am pretty sure that the team now runs a double adjustment. Left and Right handed rod ends as well as a second right hand thread. Basically they can get larger adjustments with the left and right and then finer adjustments with two right hand threads with different pitches.

Nick, or one of the other guys or girls, would have to confirm that though.

Kev

[Travis Garrison]

I figured that was the other option, just couldn't make out any threads on the lower bit...that and there's a lot of threads exposed http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Anyways sweet car, obviously a lot of thought put in at every level.

[Tommo]

The dish wheels were a new item between Oz05 and Us06, the KPI has not changed. Primary motivation for wheel centre change was camembert reasons

Spot on with the carbon/kevlar Brian
Front lower fore and steering arms

Trav - Any hydraulic effects of the pushrods are accidental, there is a bellcrank at tother end (I'm amazed no 'undertray' photos have come up yet) with TB's etc.

Kev - confirmed

Tom

[RacingManiac]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tommo:
(I'm amazed no 'undertray' photos have come up yet) with TB's etc.



Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am still sorting through my pic from Detroit....the stuff that are underneath the nose is something else....

[Nick McNaughton]

...and to add to everything else, the huge amount of exposed thread on the Ti adjuster is for rapid ride height / COGH change for the acceleration event. It was easier to package than another set of holes in the rockers, which is what other teams have done. The rear suspension, being pushrod, has that same length of thread for adjustment but wound all the way into the pushrod so it's not seen.

[Travis Garrison]

Thanks, that makes much more sense...

[TG]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tommo:
(I'm amazed no 'undertray' photos have come up yet) with TB's etc. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I asked one of your guys at comp if they we're torsion springs and dampers. He replied they were just rockers... err.