Homemade hubs for RWD independent suspension.

[welderdude]

I have been working on these hubs for over a year. They are for a project that I started over 3 years ago right after I graduated high school. I got a Suzuki gs550 engine off of ebay and started building a go-kart frame around. 3 years later, I have learned so much that I realised that using hot rolled square tubing wasn't going to cut it. Currently, its all in limbo. Im trying to decide what I'm going to do with the mess I created over 3 years.

Hub. The main shaft is made form 8620 alloy steel. I want to have them case hardened so the seal doesn't wear out the shaft. the outer housing is a piece of unknown alloy steel that was about 2.25'' in diameter. I know from welding in a mis-drilled hole in another project that this alloy is hardenable. It cuts kind of like a grade 8 bolt. I made a custom boring bar to cut out the center to size. The bearing are just trailer bearings. The hub fits a standard metric ATV tire. I believe its a 115 mm bolt pattern. The driven side of the shaft has an adapter that goes form the 7/8'' shaft to the 1.25'' universal joints i have.

[Jake98]

Im trying to decide what I'm going to do with the mess I created over 3 years.

I wouldn't call it a mess... looks like you've got some time invested there.. good job!

[welderdude]

Hey thanks! I have put tons of time into it. It amazing what I have learned from taking on this kind of project.

I do know that I will have to re weld a lot of joints that aren't done correctly. When I made most of the cage, I only had a HF 90 amp mig and didn't know enough to use it to its fullest. I will probably invest in the rage 3 compound miter chop saw when I finally decide to start working on it again. Having to cut compound miter cuts with an angle grinder just sucks every bit of fun out of it.

Right now, I'm thinking about using what I already have and kind of rebuilding it into something even cooler. I just wish I had some real tubing and a tube bender, but that will come later when I have some money to throw around.

[jakeru]

Wow, look at that double a-arm front suspension! I'll bet you have learned a lot working on this.

Have you looked at formula SAE racecars? They have some very cutting-edge designs, for a similar size vehicle and powerplant. They run on paved surfaces, not off-road.

A rear independent suspension, combined with adding triangulation to the frame, will open the door to tuning the suspension and making it handle more predictably, whether you intend to use this on paved or off-road application.

[welderdude]

I checked out the formula SAE cars. That is pretty much what I had in mind when I started this project. I liked the idea of being able to run on concrete and then change springs and run on rough dirt. Now that I have thought things over, I think I'm going to try and finish what I have started.

[charger891]

your go cart must really fly with that engine in it!!!

[hooda]

I happened across this today and I'm asking myself "why haven't I started my project like this yet? You will have one hell of a fun toy when finished, no matter where you run it. As far as the heat treating for seal wear, ask yourself:"will I put enough miles on this thing to actually wear it out?" The reason I say is that typically in a situation such as this, you got a lot of more important things to worry about than whether a seal is going to wear a groove in 5,000 miles or 50,000 miles. If you see yourself getting 20,000 miles or more out of it, go for it. If not, don't sweat it, unless you just want to do it for a learning exercise. Either way, nice job!! Keep us posted.

[welderdude]

Thanks hooda! I've decided that unless I acquire the proper heat treating equipment, I'll most likely end up screwing them up. They should be plenty strong the way they are now. If it ever becomes an issue, I'll redesign them and make it better.

On another note, taking on a project like this has given me new respect for engineers. Its amazing how much thought goes into each little part to make it work like it should.

[DaveO]

Any thoughts for a roll cage? Or is it wide and low enough that it doesn't need one?

[welderdude]

It has most of one now. Here are some fresh pictures of it. Its finally warm enough for me to start on it again.