I was going to post this in Suspension/Handling or General, but I would hate to see a no0b destroy much of his car trying this and I really would like to hear what the experts think of this idea.

Anyway, the idea popped into my head the other night that maybe you could shave a little weight by removing material from some of the chassis/suspension components. I'm picturing a sort of "cross-drilling." I was inspired, I think, when I saw a perforated steering column in a WRC car the other night. Weight reduction and crumple action in a wreck.

EX: the front cross member. If you were to use a torch or a cutter and make a bunch of holes that go all the way through it, but not in what appeared to load bearing sections, you would lighten the piece. Picture it to be like a wiffle ball or something. This could perhaps be done to some of the suspension components like the arms, and maybe even on the inner fender wells to remove the metal, and then you cover the holes with some super thin plexi to keep water out.

NOTE: I understand that this would likely seriously diminish the integrity of the parts. If you were to get into an accident, they would break a lot easier. One curb check might be all it takes to snap a lower control arm and leave you stranded. Maybe even one of those NY pot holes Oracle mentions from time to time. However, being that they are all metal pieces, frequently steel, I'm thinking that this could drop some serious weight. Maybe not 400lbs, but certainly as much as the rear seat removal.

So if you had a parts car lying around with a complete suspension system you could hack and still have your OEM as back up in case insurance wouldn't fix it, maybe this would be a different idea to try? Feel free to flame me now, but I thought this would be good food for thought.

Thanks.

i would NOT reccommend messing with any of your suspension parts unless you know pretty much exactly what you are doing. fabrication is cool if you have experience in that sort of thing. motofool was supposedly making chromoly suspension parts (i was gunna be the guinea pig) but im not sure, shoot him a PM
_________
96 talon esi-t
san clemente, ca

Uberingram> I bow down to the Geo

It doesn't sound like that great of an idea to me either. Seems like a lot of work for what you would gain. Little weight reduction for a greatly weakend chassis. But keep on thinking I respect inovation

getty up

-kent-




'98 Talon...gone, but not forgotten

It's an extreme thing to do. I guess maybe it would be better to just back half it and get the CF body panels. Still gotta be creative when it comes to the weight of our cars right?

build new suspension peices of 4130 chromoly and your stronger and ligher...


yes drilling holes will lighten things but on those parts its a bit un safe..

Bill

You can have it cheap, fast or good. Pick any two.

If you want it cheap and fast, it's not going to be good.
If you want it cheap and good, it's not going to be fast.
If you want it good and fast, it's not going to be cheap.

I would definitely not start randomly putting lightening holes into stressed components.

The WRC teams have a staff of engineers to figure out these sorts of things. Plus remember that components on a WRC car only have to survive one race in controlled conditions. Our cars on the other hand have to survive tens of thousands of miles through all types of roads.

I’m a mechanical engineer and we only start machining holes in our structures when we are absolutely desperate to loose extra weight.

A hole not only weakens a structure because you have removed material but it is also a stress concentrator. This is the reason why once you have a crack in something it is so easy to break it. The crack becomes a stress concentrator.

-J

You learn something new everyday around here! Thanks guys!

Homer Simpson would call them speed holes.

--- My 2gnt WIKI contribution ---> http://www.jamlez.com/2gnt

97 Eclipse Spyder

*Skrilla
"Honest officer, I thought you were trying to race me"
Talon: 1st 2.4L
'97 Prelude
'04 350Z

Originally posted by etx
Good luck man! Project 'STFU Brian your talon is dead meat' should be on it's feet soon!

interesting....


Speed holes. LOL.

post resurector!

dont start drilling holes unless your are a mechanical engineer or understand you are severly weaking parts.

i agree skrilla driveshaft shop was devolping stronger bearings talk to them.

You can have it cheap, fast or good. Pick any two.

If you want it cheap and fast, it's not going to be good.
If you want it cheap and good, it's not going to be fast.
If you want it good and fast, it's not going to be cheap.

My father in law is a welder and has been for years he's built any thing from sprint cars to monster tractor pulling rigs and he said w/ out a good real world engineer helping you would more than likly kill your self. To shave weight he recomend spending way too much moey for cad desighned replacement cromoly pieces that are tig welded for good penatration.

TeamLSR member @ landspeedracing.com