FWD struts in RWD application

[yukonphil]

Not sure if anyone will be able to help, if you were to convert a boring FWD hatchback into a RWD set up, could you utilise the standard front struts and brakes etc and just leave the end of the CV joint that goes through the hub to keep it all together? It might be nicer to have the CV housing turned down but I'm just interested in the mechanics of it at the moment. Thanks, Phil.

[mk2cossie]

yup, that's the easiest way to do it

Thats what Rover did with the front end of the MGF, and didn't even turn down the outer cv joint

[darrenh]

biggest concern is that mac strut is designed to move axial and radial plane, meaning you need a method of controlling the track. if you use standard steering arms (i.e what used to go between the strut and the steering rack) you'll end up with chronic toe in/out when the suspension squats

[yukonphil]

May 7, 2015 13:05:44 GMT darrenh said:

biggest concern is that mac strut is designed to move axial and radial plane, meaning you need a method of controlling the track. if you use standard steering arms (i.e what used to go between the strut and the steering rack) you'll end up with chronic toe in/out when the suspension squats

So what's the difference when the struts are being used in the original FWD set up? I wasn't aware that the driveshafts affected the geometry at all as they are so flexible.

[Rich]

May 7, 2015 15:22:59 GMT yukonphil said:

May 7, 2015 13:05:44 GMT darrenh said:

biggest concern is that mac strut is designed to move axial and radial plane, meaning you need a method of controlling the track. if you use standard steering arms (i.e what used to go between the strut and the steering rack) you'll end up with chronic toe in/out when the suspension squats

So what's the difference when the struts are being used in the original FWD set up? I wasn't aware that the driveshafts affected the geometry at all as they are so flexible.

They don't. The geometry is set up different to account for the pull of a FWD car putting tractive effort through the wheels or, the drag of being unpowered on a RWD car. It theory, mechanically, it'll be fine. It may just handle a bit funny under certain circumstances.

[bmw2101]

the settings wont be a mile off by any means, just you want toe in instead of toe out on the front


I ran xr4x4 struts on my sierra for years with the outer cv and they where fine too...

[darrenh]

May 7, 2015 15:22:59 GMT yukonphil said:

So what's the difference when the struts are being used in the original FWD set up?

they steer. and you don't want them to on the back of a car

[mk2cossie]

May 7, 2015 19:19:01 GMT darrenh said:

May 7, 2015 15:22:59 GMT yukonphil said:

So what's the difference when the struts are being used in the original FWD set up?

they steer. and you don't want them to on the back of a car

The OP is on about using the original front struts at the front of a vehicle thats been converted to rwd tho, so I would imagine the rear would be a whole different ball game

[yukonphil]

May 7, 2015 19:19:01 GMT darrenh said:

May 7, 2015 15:22:59 GMT yukonphil said:

So what's the difference when the struts are being used in the original FWD set up?

they steer. and you don't want them to on the back of a car

Ahh, crossed wires methinks, I was thinking if the original front struts could be used in their original position rather than going down the more common Escort MK2 cross member and strut type solution. It would also depend on steering rack position I guess.

[darrenh]

May 7, 2015 19:55:05 GMT yukonphil said:

May 7, 2015 19:19:01 GMT darrenh said:

they steer. and you don't want them to on the back of a car

Ahh, crossed wires methinks, I was thinking if the original front struts could be used in their original position rather than going down the more common Escort MK2 cross member and strut type solution. It would also depend on steering rack position I guess.

ah my bad, thought you were converting the car to rear wheel drive using the entire front clip! engine, subframe, suspension, mac struts in rear of car !

so yeah, reset. mac strut tend to use double row angular contact bearings. the bearings just need the pre-load of cv joint + castle nut squashing the inner tracks together.