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PKRA President; PKRA Champion
Posts: 824
 
| How should I set the rear ride height on a 05 PTK / CRG Kali chassis. It is a 32mm shifter chassis that I am running in Sr. Sportsman.
The rear bearings were set for the lowest ride height. If I move them to the highest ride height what affect will this have on the handling?
Some sources on the net say they should always be in the lowest position and some say they should always be in the highest position.
Any input will be appreciated.
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PKRA Member
Posts: 669
| Bryan,
It's all about moving the center of gravity to give you the fastest lap time and/or the most drive-able kart. This is why you get different responses. We're all built differently and have slight variations in driving style. Someone with a long torso may prefer a lower ride height - track grip, tire type, front geometry would all interact with this variable. The big adjustments - toe, front and rear track width, seat position, caster/camber, weight distribution (lead). Smaller adjustments - # of seat struts, front and rear height. I probably missed a few.
Todd |
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PKRA Champion
Posts: 106
| Hey Bryan,
Not that I'm any major authority on kart setup, but I think you're better off with the ride height being at the lowest or second to lowest setting... The question I have is what is the kart doing that you are trying to fix? Is it loose on entry and/or exit? Is it tight on entry or exit, etc?? I recall that kart having a lot of front grip; almost too much...
let us know...
David V. |
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PKRA President; PKRA Champion
Posts: 824
| Todd and David,
Thanks for the input.
Here is what the kart is doing. Turn in feels good, I have gotten the front grip under control it still grips good but it is not as aggressive as it was. I have been working to loosen up the back end. It has gotten to the point were on a fast sharp corner I can turn in hard and the front and rear will both grip. The problem is in turns like the hairpin it feels like the rear is binding. I think I may not be getting enough lift on the inside rear tire or enough weigh transfer to the outside. A friend checked the front alignment with me in the kart and felt it is good. I have moved the rear tires out to the point that I think I will need a new axle to go any further and the binding has gotten better but it is still there. I have the rear torsion bar out and the front one in the flat position. I have tried putting the front bar in the up (stiffer) position and I have tried removing the front bar all the way and both ways things got worse.
I know what ever I do I will need to drive it to feel the change for my self. I happen to have the rear axle out of the kart so that is why I was asking about changing the ride height.
Again thanks for the input. Let me know if you have any other ideas of things to try.
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PKRA Member
Posts: 669
| Have you experimented with tire pressures at each of these settings? For an inherently grippy chassis - seat position and type (stiffness), strut location and number, and tire pressures will be good things to work with. Also try tire pressure stagger depending on track direction, measure all your tire circumference to make sure you don't have some weird stagger. Last thing is king pin hardware - pull out the bolts and makes sure they are true and check the bearings. I've had a few poor handling karts that had bad/bent king pin bolts. |
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Rear ride height
