scardeal
scardeal Reader
11/4/10 1:17 p.m.

I was looking at the images from the Regal thread, and had a quirky thought...

From the looks of this, any MacStrut (with Cheese) suspension could be adapted to this configuration. I wonder if it would provide an AutoX advantage vs plain camber plates.

Thoughts?

Some questions:
What other GM models could use the stock LaCrosse HiPer struts? Could these be used in a Cruze or Cobalt?

What's the performance delta between a HiPer Strut, a regular Mac strut, and a-arms?

itsarebuild
itsarebuild GRM+ Memberand Reader
11/4/10 1:27 p.m.

looks like the only reral difference is added bushings at the strut/ lca mating point. think they are rubber or urethane from the factory?

and that "unique" LCA looks a lot like an E30 unit doesnt it?

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
11/4/10 1:43 p.m.

Reducing your KPI would give you... what? I'm a little rusty in my kinematics.

Matt B
Matt B HalfDork
11/4/10 2:53 p.m.

I would gander that the extra bushings only provide extra NVH insulation (which is important to Regal buyers, I would imagine). If there was a performance advantage it would be in the kingpin axis. My noob mind needs to look it up again though.

snipes
snipes Reader
11/4/10 3:40 p.m.

More room before the tire hits the spring perch? It should let you run a wider/taller tire. But I think the bigger change is want the shallower kingpin angle does as the wheels are turned. The turn-in and on center feel would be way different no?

ReverendDexter
ReverendDexter Dork
11/4/10 3:42 p.m.
itsarebuild wrote: and that "unique" LCA looks a lot like an E30 unit doesnt it?

Like an S197 Mustang's, too.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
11/4/10 5:26 p.m.
ReverendDexter wrote:
itsarebuild wrote: and that "unique" LCA looks a lot like an E30 unit doesnt it?
Like an S197 Mustang's, too.

or 2nd gen RX7

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
11/4/10 5:35 p.m.
snipes wrote: More room before the tire hits the spring perch? It should let you run a wider/taller tire. But I think the bigger change is want the shallower kingpin angle does as the wheels are turned. The turn-in and on center feel would be way different no?

Looks like it should reduce scrub radius, for one.

RexSeven
RexSeven Dork
11/4/10 5:40 p.m.

It looks similar in concept to the Ford RevoKnuckle system (warning: PDF):

http://www.not2fast.com/chassis/revoKnuckle.pdf

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/4/10 8:46 p.m.

Nobody noticed the #1 benefit of this and the RevoKnuckle...

By adding that upper balljoint and running the strut to the bottom of the spindle, now only the spindle rotates in a turn. In a plain MacStrut, the whole stinking strut pivots which gives slow steering, bad feel, and promotes understeer. I think it's pretty ingenious, actually.

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
11/4/10 9:55 p.m.
Grtechguy wrote:
ReverendDexter wrote:
itsarebuild wrote: and that "unique" LCA looks a lot like an E30 unit doesnt it?
Like an S197 Mustang's, too.
or 2nd gen RX7

"Unique" = only that model has it.

FC RX-7s and S197 Mustangs probably have ball joints at the end of the control arm, not bushings.

I showed the pics to my co-worker and he said "Oh great! Kingpins like an MG!"

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
11/4/10 9:57 p.m.
Javelin wrote: Nobody noticed the #1 benefit of this and the RevoKnuckle... By adding that upper balljoint and running the strut to the bottom of the spindle, now only the spindle rotates in a turn.

Nissan's been doing that for years, though. They put the suspension links wherever they wanted without having to worry about steering axis.

Slyp_Dawg
Slyp_Dawg GRM+ Memberand Reader
11/4/10 10:51 p.m.

this is a halfway interesting concept, although I don't think I would try it on my Mini just because I can't be bothered to tear the whole front end apart to reverse engineer it and I don't have access to the necessary casting and machining equipment to make the new spindle and spindle carrier (for lack of a better term...)

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