Typical rear suspension travel?

[PeterAllen]

I have opened up the rear arches to fit extended tubs which fill the gap between the original S30 guards and the new GTO fibreglass rear section. I'm trying to establish a ride height based on the clearance between the tyre and the tub.

 

Would anyone like to comment on whether there is a legal requirement and/or what is a sensible gap to leave considering this will be a road/touring car and not a track car. Thanks

[nizm0zed]

You would be best off going through the relevant ADR's that apply to your build, but from memory, you must retain 2/3rds original suspension travel AND 100mm ground clearance.

You also need to ensure minimum 10mm clearance between moving suspension components, wheels and the bodywork.

 

regarding the 2/3rds travel, if you comply to the minimum clearances and ground clearance and your suspension is re designed for limited travel, eg short stroke shocks, stiffer springs, bump stops ect, then you could feasibly get the suspension engineered to comply with ADR's.

However, as you are building a touring car, you dont want stiff short travel suspension, it'll make it harsh and jittery on the road.

 

not much of an answer and probably doesnt help, but thats all i have, hopefully someone else can add more.

[RB30X]

As above Peter, I think you'll run out of ground clearance before running low on tyre to tub clearance?

[PeterAllen]

I think I have come at this from the wrong direction - a trait not unknown to me!

 

With the exhaust tucked up close to the floor and the tyre-well removed and replaced with a fuel cell there was a huge amount of clearance underneath, in fact I was able to lower the rear 90mm and sill have 110mm ground clearance. However with 16" rims and high aspect ratio tyres (225/70/16) I was left with only 55mm tyre/tub clearance as well as requiring repositioning of the struts to eliminate the negative camber.

 

Last night I raised the rear 50mm (i.e. still down 40mm from standard) which created over 100mm tyre/tub clearance and leaves minimal negative camber. The car clearly looks higher at the rear but cars of the 60s did have good ground clearance so it actually enhances the character of the car - win, win.

 

PS. As some of you know I have been having an annus horribilis but thing are turning around. I fly out for Goodwood on Friday - YES!