Crushed Chassis Leg

[wookie]

I'm having a problem visualising how the bottom of the suspension is not taking the same weight as the top, please enlighten me.

The top takes all the weight, whilst the bottom just locates the wheel in the correct position both forwards/aft and side to side, other than that it only needs to be strong enough for any lateral forces when cornering.

It's similar to how a tent pole holds up the tent, whilst the guy lines are there just to stop the pole falling over.

 

[migcurious]

My beetles great, its so high I don't need to jack it up to get under it.Its also so solid that I'd have no problem using the jacking points.

I had one like that once wasnt as good as yours though heres a picture from the archive

 

[migcurious]

sorry about the 80s jumper and the boat not the same year

 

[nickk]

my '89 audi coupe is still so stiff i can lift it on the sill jack points & still open & close the doors. whats more the whole side thats lifted comes up evenly leaving both whees dangling.

 

[keithski122]

I've got a pic of that speed boat.I took it at a newton abbott race course custom show, must have been about 1987.

 

[Farside]

Reminds me of a mark2 escort estate I had decades ago. Dealer had fitted new outer and inner sills. Tried to jack it up on chassis rail jacking point. Floorpan went up and the rest of the car stayed on the ground. New sills were tacked at the ends and not joined to the floor at all.

I had a Triumph 2000 like that.
Lovely car, but tended to shed itself all over the place, like a metal sheepdog.

 

[migcurious]

sound about right that pic was taken at the sandown street machine show and judging by the jumper it was 86/87 I loved the boat and thought it was a work of genius

 

[Gareth J]

JOhnser I agree - beetle jacking points are woeful, I'm just about to replace mine, but more for aesthetic reasons than utility, I'll likely never use them. There's nice beefy torsion bars to jack up just a bit further inboard.

Commonly removed altogether from the repair panel. They're a trap for mud and grit so rot quickly there. I didn't bother with them on my bug anyway. As you say, jack from the torsion tube. Presumably though, the OG jack points are balanced to let you change front or rear wheels from the same, single point.

 

[pedrobedro]

The top takes all the weight, whilst the bottom just locates the wheel in the correct position both forwards/aft and side to side,

Track control arm, wishbone and radius arm or a solid rear axle locates the wheel, spring carries the weight and damper takes out the bounce not locating the wheel in any position just controlling it's contact with the road up and down. Tent pole analogy doesn't work for me sorry.

 

[Robotstar5]

Or just get a car with a built in jack.

 

[colnerov]

Track control arm, wishbone and radius arm or a solid rear axle locates the wheel, spring carries the weight and damper takes out the bounce not locating the wheel in any position just controlling it's contact with the road up and down. Tent pole analogy doesn't work for me sorry.

Hi, To control the movement at the bottom it has to be solidly mounted to the vehicle structure, otherwise it would be just be pushed out of position. I would argue there're greater forces at play doing that than bearing the weight of the corner of the car.

Colin

 

[Turbo]

I normally try to use the front/rear subframe to jack a car up, with a jack at each side of the car. That leaves the sill jacking points free for my axle stands. Then when everything is in place carefully lower the jacks so that the car is just resting on the axle stands.

A tow bar is a very handy place to jack up the rear of a car, if you have one!

 

[pedrobedro]

Hi, To control the movement at the bottom it has to be solidly mounted to the vehicle structure, otherwise it would be just be pushed out of position. I would argue there're greater forces at play doing that than bearing the weight of the corner of the car.

Colin

Who would you argue that with ? The bottom shock mount is on the wishbone or the axle that is doing the locating and taking all tbe forces. McPherson strut combines several of these functions by including the stub axle support and the spring but the bottom is still located by wishbones or track control and anti ro!l bar all holding the wheel in place securely so the suspension can work efficiently. Did you quote the wrong post because you are agreeing with what i posted.

 

[colnerov]

Who would you argue that with ? The bottom shock mount is on the wishbone or the axle that is doing the locating and taking all tbe forces. McPherson strut combines several of these functions by including the stub axle support and the spring but the bottom is still located by wishbones or track control and anti ro!l bar all holding the wheel in place securely so the suspension can work efficiently. Did you quote the wrong post because you are agreeing with what i posted.

Hi, I think I might have done. I'm hoping no one else has noticed.

Colin