I am working on a model build for 95% out of normal lego bricks. The dimensions are about 55cm in length, 22cm in weight and about 20cm in height. It will be build with rc steering and driving. But insted building with technic bricks i will build it with normal bricks. This automacticly will add a lot of weight in the model. Now i am wondering if i can put suspension in it. I must say that there is limited room in the model to make the suspension vertical. So if i build it with suspension, i must do it horizontaly.

Is there someone of you how have experience with building suspension that way? And witch shokabsorbers are the ones that i can use the best for it?

Please take a look at literally all Formula 1 cars with suspension that have been released by TLG. They all have a suspension setup like that.

Edited April 19, 20168 yr by Balrog

Ok i will get in to that... tnx

I belive 42039 has a similar setup with horizontal shocks. But don't nail me on that ;)

I googled it and your right. And i can use that as a base beginning, but i have to adapt it big time, so it can take the weight..

Edited April 19, 20168 yr by JDL1967

Thinking of the physics, the heavier the model, the more support it will need. In the end, if you want the springs to support the vehicle, the springs need to be very stiff, otherwise they will compress completely. Now, how do you make springs stiff? You have two options:

1. Use springs in parallel, as was done on the 8880 (2 shocks for each tire/corner)

2. Use some lever arm ratio to scale up/down the spring force.

Thinking of the physics, the heavier the model, the more support it will need. In the end, if you want the springs to support the vehicle, the springs need to be very stiff, otherwise they will compress completely. Now, how do you make springs stiff? You have two options:

1. Use springs in parallel, as was done on the 8880 (2 shocks for each tire/corner)

2. Use some lever arm ratio to scale up/down the spring force.

Tnx for your reply. I have adapt the rear suspensionrack from the 42039. And i have placed two springs on each side. I first tryd out the strong ones ( the yellow ones ) but that wouldend work, so i replaced them with the grey ones for now. Untill the model is totaly ready, i cant tell yet of the grey ones will hold. Iff not, then i have to replace them with the yellow ones..

A better question might be why do you want suspension?

It doesn't work well on almost all lego vehicles for the purpose of improving ride quality and traction. What it can do is keep all the wheels on the ground, even if they're not loaded significantly. If that's what you're after, then springs at full compression under load isn't actually bad, as they'll extend to keep a wheel on the ground as that corner starts to lift. Just an idea.....

I also find the F1 style suspensions with the yellow hard spring shocks don't actually work - you're getting suspension movement mostly in the plastic support structure deforming rather than the springs doing anything meaningful.

In other words, it looks correct, but doesn't actually work as you think it might. A curiosity would be if the torsional stiffness of a brick built model is much higher than a technic style unit and might therefore work its suspenders harder.....?

It could be that when i finished the model, i will remove the suspension as it dosend work. At this moment its trying as i build the model.

Edited April 19, 20168 yr by JDL1967

why not just have the suspension springs in 'for looks'...

have them in place, but non functional, so that it adds a nice detail for anyone looking under the wheel arches :)

I did a brick build a PF RC Star Wars model with suspension. I basically tried different shock absorbers to see which ones worked. Some were too soft, some too hard, some just right. (Sounds like Goldie Locks and the Three Shocks). I also made some of the shocks non-functional because they made the model too stiff and put a lot of stress on the frame. Experiment to see what works for your particular model.

Motorized Turbo Tank by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

I did a brick build a PF RC Star Wars model with suspension. I basically tried different shock absorbers to see which ones worked. Some were too soft, some too hard, some just right. (Sounds like Goldie Locks and the Three Shocks). I also made some of the shocks non-functional because they made the model too stiff and put a lot of stress on the frame. Experiment to see what works for your particular model.

Motorized Turbo Tank by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

That just it, i have to experiment with it. This because i have no instruction and build it as i go. The way it is now seems to be good, but there are going to be add a lot of bricks witch will add to the additional weith. Evenso i have got a lot of tips/ideas here, witch i can look back on.

Edited April 20, 20168 yr by JDL1967

The rear with suspension is ready, now i am waiting for some BL orders so i can go on. The differend comments here really helpt. Tnx for that folks.!!

Looks great so far JDL1967 .

I know what you are building .

Yeh, you now. But we keep it a segret for now. It was not easy, to adapt this suspension for the model i am making. Now i am working in the frontsteering with supspension also. I create as i go. Its a nice build, but as you said before, i think you right it will be about 4000 pieces +!!

Edited April 20, 20168 yr by JDL1967

supporting the back side inboard mount of the springs would help stop them twisting. Even a 1x3 liftarm across them would help. Good luck with it

supporting the back side inboard mount of the springs would help stop them twisting. Even a 1x3 liftarm across them would help. Good luck with it

I now what you mean. I allready have two axles behind the axles to pleace a 1 x 7 beam. But i can allways add a 1 x 3 for extra support. For sure i will keep your solution in mind. Tnx for posting it. Tomorrow i will test with the 7 beam. And if it dosend work good inough, i will add the 1 x 3 also..

I would think that the heavier your model, the more you need suspension - not for comfort in conventional sense since nobody will be riding in it, but to dull 'shocks' as your model travel over uneven surface... I've tried before with and without suspension, and parts of my model tends to loosen more readily without suspension.

ferrari f40?

No not a ferrari. You will see it when it is completely ready. But i can tell you that its not a sport or race car..

I would think that the heavier your model, the more you need suspension - not for comfort in conventional sense since nobody will be riding in it, but to dull 'shocks' as your model travel over uneven surface... I've tried before with and without suspension, and parts of my model tends to loosen more readily without suspension.

Thats why i used the combination of technic bricks and beams for the suspension. If you look very close, you can see that the bricks are mounted to the chassis on 3 sides. And like Bonox said to me to place a 1 x 3 beam behind the shoks that is allready done. So now is on the rearside of the shoks a 1 1x3 and 1 1x7 beam for extra support.

Edited April 22, 20168 yr by JDL1967

ferrari f40?

I guess this a MOC of an old VW product.

No sorry, thats not it...

Is it a ferrari testarossa?

This looks like Go-Kart.

Is it a ferrari testarossa?

No it is a testarossa...

This looks like Go-Kart.

Some have build one out of it...