Any suspension gurus here?

"unpredictable_swerve" (rockingthe2)
06/15/2014 at 22:02 • Filed to: None

So, this is my first fathers day, sorta. My wife is about 5 months pregnant. I want to build my expected daughter a bitchin radio flyer with my dad in the next few months. Im hoping that I can get some cantilevered suspension in there, but I have a few questions.

Is there a way I could have static settings for ride height? As in one setting on the ground, one with a few inches of ground clearance for the beach/trails/etc, and one in between.

I plan on using go kart rain tires, like this:

This is about how I want the frame to look:

It will be built from 1" or .75" tube steel, or similar. Basic mount from the side to the frame. I had a quick sketch of the suspension, but I can't find it right now, and I am not gonna spend 8 hours on sketch up on this.

Do any opponaughts out there have any good primers? Tips? Suggestions?

Have a few awesome wagons for your time

That is perfect. Just add suspension.

suspension like this. Sort of.

this is pretty neat.

im not sure what is going on here, looks like some pretty cool hubs.

Future gear head in training.

i might obtain a shopping cart next... This looks cool too.

DISCUSSION (38)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:10

Use mountain bike rear suspension coil overs and put one for each wheel.

Skif6996 > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:11

I have no suspension experience but I do with kids. Find a way to mount a seat and/or harness. If not, it will be a good long while before she can safely ride in it. By the way, awesome idea!

Biased Plies > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/15/2014 at 22:18

Not a bad idea but likely too big and too stiff, especially at 1 per corner. The last mountain bike rear spring I knew the spring-rate of was 250lbs/in, a bit much for a radio flyer.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Biased Plies
06/15/2014 at 22:19

maybe 2 one front and one rear.

Biased Plies > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/15/2014 at 22:23

Maybe, it'd still need quite a mechanical advantage from each axle to get sufficient cushioning on something so light but it might be possible.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:25

Have angled top mounts for the shocks with three mounting holes in each. The lowest one would be for off road and the highest one would be sitting on the ground. The middle hole would be your middle height.

cluelessk > Biased Plies
06/15/2014 at 22:29

Kids bike suspension?

Squid > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:31

Kinja'd!!!

This seems like your best bet for having the height adjustability. You could probably scavenge around for some used Toy's R Us style kids full suspension bikes at a garage sale to harvest the shocks off of, or see if there are parts available off of eBay. If you use heim joints you could probably build more ride height adjustability and toe settings into the suspension. Sounds like a really cool project and you will end up building your daughter the coolest wagon in your neighborhood.

oldestyoungn > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:31

DAMMIT I WANT COOL TOYS TOO. Totally must do this for my kids as an excuse to do it.

Biased Plies > cluelessk
06/15/2014 at 22:32

Yep, that would help. Likely a much more workable springrate on those.

unpredictable_swerve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/15/2014 at 22:41

As Heisenburg here said, too stiff. Was exactly my first thought though. I can get low spring rates elsewhere, but I'm stuck on 4 coils, it just looks too rad not to do. Now 4 wheel disc brakes with an e brake, now that might come off a mountain bike. If I can even do that...

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 22:43

This was my best idea, not too sure how it would function and look, but having a weird shaped cantilever would probably work.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:43

Brakes off bike nice thought.

unpredictable_swerve > Skif6996
06/15/2014 at 22:44

She will be in a car seat for a while, then maybe one of those recaro seats, and after that who knows? I do want wood sides for that added protection though!

unpredictable_swerve > oldestyoungn
06/15/2014 at 22:44

Kids was my excuse too.

unpredictable_swerve > Squid
06/15/2014 at 22:49

I'm not entirely sure if I want to bring toe, caster, ackerman angle and the like into play here, as long as it tracks fairly straight and looks straight I should be good. I do want 4 coils, so putting the coils low and the bar high should do that, and I'm thinking building the adjustability into the cantilever would work right? Basically take the outboard mount there, and have one maybe 3 inches higher, and another 3 inches lower or so, as long as it doesnt contact the shock body it should work, I think. I have 0 experience here (I can't even weld, yet) so any help is much appreciated.

unpredictable_swerve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/15/2014 at 22:50

I've never had a bike with brakes, are they completely manual? Do they have a master cylinder? I found some decent hubs that I could get to work I think, but it would be later...

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:52

Just make it look good and maybe make it roundish.

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 22:53

I've got like 18 full sheets of paper here covered in drawings, I need a decent android app for this! Gah!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 22:55

Do you have a PC?

Do you have Inventor or solid works on it?

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 23:00

I've got a desktop running win7 (My only PC) But it's not connected to the internet (Only wireless for quite a while). And it's only used for movies/Tv shows off a hard drive, and it's in the bedroom, connected to a 42" TV where my wife is sleeping.

However I do have sketchup on it. Unless I can get it on Linux for my laptop... I'm beat.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 23:04

Try using sketchup, if it doesn't give you a good 2D drawing, just do it by hand and use thin cardboard to make 3D templates.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 23:05

Cables mostly.

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 23:07

My thought is a "Big brake kit" look behind the kart wheels, if they will fit, and have one lever, on the wagons handle, with a loop to act as an e brake. If I can even do that, it wont be at first. I need to get the wagon first haha.

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 23:10

I like this thinking. My problem is that I work in a secure area, so paper seems to work best at this point, and I don't have room to do a mockup. When I move in September (Which is when I will be starting this) I will have the room, and the cardboard will come out then most likely.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 23:11

It's a lot cheaper than metal.

unpredictable_swerve > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/15/2014 at 23:11

That is for sure.

tromoly > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 23:28

Depends on if you get Hydraulic or Cable disc brakes, cable brakes are cheaper and IMO all you'd need for a wagon, not to mention easier to adjust / install (for someone who hasn't done Hydraulics before, anyways).

unpredictable_swerve > tromoly
06/15/2014 at 23:38

Just reading "cable disc brakes" means everything is all right with the world. Google is a dear friend tonight.

tromoly > unpredictable_swerve
06/15/2014 at 23:57

In my opinion, you could get away with only running disc brakes on the rear tires, it would provide more than enough stopping power and would also keep the steering knuckles clean for adequate turning clearance.

unpredictable_swerve > tromoly
06/16/2014 at 00:03

If you're gonna do it, might as well overdo it right?

tromoly > unpredictable_swerve
06/16/2014 at 00:06

Personally I'm looking forward to how this comes out, it sounds like something straight out of Home Improvement. It's an awesome idea, keep us updated.

unpredictable_swerve > tromoly
06/16/2014 at 00:09

Hopefully I'll get it done before my girl gets here in November, or a first christmas present... whichever. All I know is the rims are getting powdercoated burnt bronze, the frame is going to be white, and small pieces will be Olive green (Most likely her name will be olivia)

Philbert/Phartnagle > unpredictable_swerve
06/16/2014 at 03:48

Kinja'd!!!

That's some awesome "spension" right there!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > unpredictable_swerve
06/16/2014 at 11:23

No it is.....just go to walmart and look at a bike.

Skif6996 > unpredictable_swerve
06/16/2014 at 20:33

Mounting a car seat in there is a great idea!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > unpredictable_swerve
06/19/2014 at 18:05

That. Is bitchin'.

unpredictable_swerve > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/19/2014 at 22:08

It really is!