Jonathan Hall Posted December 23, 2001 Share Posted December 23, 2001 Need Watts linkage kit or bits for our Caterham Vauxhaul race cars running on Dion axles, can anybody help, even drawings so I can make them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted December 24, 2001 Share Posted December 24, 2001 There's a diagram in the build manual. They just replace the upper radius arm between the de dion tube and the chassis. Do you mean you have a modern, post about 1998, chassis with the mounts fitted and want to change from radius rods to watts linkage or what? Caterham sell the watts linkage kit for about 300 quid, provided you have the chassis mounts fitted. Are you trying to make your own to save cash? There are 4 rose joints in the kit which probably make a fair portion of the 300 quid. I'd be surprised if you could make your own significantly cheaper than 300 quid. If you don't have the chassis mounts then thats harder, Arch will want to remove the body panels to fit them so that's serious expense. I made my own for pennies using scrap tube but it was fairly time consuming. Do you have to run watts? Or are you looking for an advantage over the radius arms? Consencus of opinion from the Caterham racers is that it's of marginal benefit, the tuneability of the radius arms more than makes up for the theoretical benefits of significantly reducing passive rear steer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted December 25, 2001 Share Posted December 25, 2001 The passive rear steer also works to the advantage of the heavier VX emgine. Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted December 25, 2001 Share Posted December 25, 2001 Why's that then? Just experience or some kind of weight transfer type of thingy? Must dig out the Race and Rally Car sourcebook from the stocking.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Hall Posted December 25, 2001 Author Share Posted December 25, 2001 Thanks lads for the advice; I am about to remove and have a new rear panel made, thats why I thought to mod the back-end with the linkage (I have engineering support/sponsor from Serco Aerospace). Do you know anything about QUAIFE A.T.B. differentials for our race cars. Cheers Jonathan.Hall@computerweekly.net RHmotorsport Oxford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted December 26, 2001 Share Posted December 26, 2001 If the rear panels off then definetly add the watts mouniting points, it'll weigh almost nothing and give you the option of radius arms or watts in the future. Quaife diffs have the reputation for breaking drive shafts in race cars only, something to do with persistent kerb-hopping and wheels in the air spinning up to full speed then breaking driveshafts when they land again. Look in the archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 Graham, Sorry to disagree(again....), but isn't the AP Suretrack diff which is problematic and tends to break gearboxes??? The Quaife T/Biasing diff simply does not work in a Seven except in a straight line! My reference to the handling improvemnt on the VX is due to the rear passive steer improving turn in when the car gets a little body roll. Jonathan, - The ZF Plate type is the one top go for in a Seven. Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now