16 replies to this topic

[rueda]

Hi,

Does anybody knows all the difference between V6 steering arms and elise/VX ones ?

I Think the arm is shorter to get a more direct steering, but It seems the wishbone rod attachement is different. Why ? Can it be a good idea to put one on our cars ?

Thank you.

[chris_uk]

making the arm shorter or longer (position of main ball joint relative to the track rod ball joint) will adjust the amount of lock needed for a given wheel position. 

 

It can be an alternative to a quick rack.  

[2-20]

My view of it was that the ball joint ( wishbone) seats lower...
But only by watching photos so absolutly NOT confirmed...

[rueda]

That's also what I've seen from picture, and why I ask, because that is the only difference I see in the front suspension between elise and V6 if we except the wishbones lenght.
So, I asked myself if it could be an improvement of the front to put V6 arm.

[Exmantaa]

I read somewhere that the V6 has more lock angle and a quicker ratio, both achieved by using different (shorter) steering arms. Anybody got a good pic of the V6 arms?

Alternatively you can buy the Spitfire arms, which have an adjustable ratio/length... 

[Tonie Pettersson]

Found this from a mail conversation I had with Exmantaa a few years ago

 

"What are the key changes under the skin of the 2012 Exige S?

There’s a faster steering rack, dropping the ratio from 18.5:1 to 17.25:1.

The rack isn’t new, the ratio change instead coming from a shorter effective lever ratio. Combined with a wider front track, this has also created more steering lock, making it easier to hold powerslides. Now, this sounds childish, but it’s actually very important, because the old car ran out of steering angle perilously close to the point at which you naturally balanced the car during a slide, namely 32 degrees. This now rises to 35 degrees, reducing the potential of hitting the lockstops and thereby reducing the risk of the car spinning. You can genuinely feel the flexibility this brings when you play around on a racetrack."

Edited by Tonie Pettersson, 15 November 2019 - 02:10 PM.

[2-20]

Ok... Good but for this you also need the longer wishbones otherwise your tyres will touch the chassis...

[Aerodynamic]

Could very much be so. Since the exige V6 is using the same front suspension and using bigger Wheels at the same ride height

making the suspension set "lowere" relative our cars.

 

And by doing this you could easily running outside of ball joint working ration.

 

Br, Per

 

 

My view of it was that the ball joint ( wishbone) seats lower...
But only by watching photos so absolutly NOT confirmed...

 

[Spitfire Engineering]

The V6 has a lower steering arm pickup but I think that is it.

 

The new VRSAS arms are actually lower still with the facility to set the bump on the arm in a few seconds as well as the steering ratio.

They have more camber and come with a bearing assembly which will probably last the life of the car as it is the same bearing we use on the toe links and no one has worn one of those out yet even though they are subject to forces of another magnitude in that position.

 

[Rosssco]

On Deroure, the V6 Arms are around £60 each if anyone wants to try.. Tempted myself as its a much easier and more cost effective option to quicken the steering (a little, but not too much) compared to a replacement quick rack (and easy to swap back).

 

https://www.deroure....&SMO=0&ST=&SC=0

[paul_mck]

would these allow more neg camber too?

[Rosssco]

Seen a couple of places already sell 'lightweight' versions of the V6 steering arms, so I presume these would offer the reduced steering ratio as the standard V6 arms.

 

https://www.elisepar...-steering-arms/

 

https://www.racefab....teering-arm-v6/

[rueda]

Yes, on the pics, we can clearly see the different height of the wishbone rod attachment. I can't find a V6 picture to see which part is the upside.

What could be the effect of that (roll center will move, etc...)

[2-20]

I assume that Racefab prints their trademark so that it can be read.So the boss would be on top and spotface at the bottom.
Which means that the ball joint would seat higher ... Just guessing...

[Spitfire Engineering]

Seen a couple of places already sell 'lightweight' versions of the V6 steering arms, so I presume these would offer the reduced steering ratio as the standard V6 arms.

 

https://www.elisepar...-steering-arms/

 

https://www.racefab....teering-arm-v6/

 

 

I'm not sure why you think any of the arms mentioned including the V6 OE have an increased steering ratio?

If you are talking about the ball joint mounting height then this is nothing to do with steering ratio.

 

[Spitfire Engineering]

a

Edited by Spitfire Engineering, 21 November 2019 - 07:15 PM.

[Rosssco]

 

Seen a couple of places already sell 'lightweight' versions of the V6 steering arms, so I presume these would offer the reduced steering ratio as the standard V6 arms.

 

https://www.elisepar...-steering-arms/

 

https://www.racefab....teering-arm-v6/

 

 

I'm not sure why you think any of the arms mentioned including the V6 OE have an increased steering ratio?

If you are talking about the ball joint mounting height then this is nothing to do with steering ratio.

 

 

 

I was of the understanding the some of the discussion above indicted that the quicker steering ratio on the Exige V6 was the result of shorter steering arms, which might be a retrofit for a shorter (fixed) ratio for the VX? Understand the ball joint height is not related to steering ratio, but the connecting point on the arm does.

 

I have a pair of billet steering arms, which I might get drilled for a different connecting point as a bit of an experiment. I'd like a set of variable ratio arms, but cannot justify given I think I'd only like a small reduction in steering ratio (95% street)