Suspension Program that is user friendly

[BRIAN]

Any programs out there that are fairly easy to get going ???

[astroracer]

This is about the easiest I have used...
http://www.performancetrends.com/SuspAnzr.htm
You still need to be up to speed with all of the terminology and have a basic background in how a suspension works though. It is fairly intuitive but it is just as easy to design a crap suspension as it is a killer one if you don't have an idea of what you want or need...
I would recommend looking at some of the canned suspensions and modify those to see what happens.
Mark

[sinned]

I use Wingeo; it is by far the best program available. It is also the most complex and requires the most in-depth knowledge of design to use. I used Performance Trends for about a year, really user friendly. PT still requires a pretty good grasp of design to use. Like anything else....garbage in, garbage out. There is no program that doesn’t require a fairly strong grasp of design, theory, and kinematics understanding.



BTW, measurements have to be very exact, small discrepancies will make a very impact.

[BRIAN]

I guess I should have ben more spcific. I was looking for ease of use as some programs for anything are just difficult to use. Thanks for the info, I will be looking into the PT as I feel it will suit my needs.

[David Pozzi]

You can download and try Performance Trends software for free, it disables save after 10 days but otherwise still works after that. You can also just buy the front suspension software and upgrade to rear suspension later.

It takes some time working with it to understand all the features and methods of shimming or moving pivot points.

Getting precise measurements is one of the big problems, especially the balljoint pivots.

[BB69]

I have been working on an Excel based program for a while now. It is EXTREMELY crude. I have it to the point that is gives the correct camber geometry, but I still cannot figure out the bumpsteer (too much matrix math). I also a program call sSNAP that is pretty easy to use. It was handed out to our class in college.

It seems to me that simple to use, and good program, are almost opposing ideas. Take my Excel sheet for instance. For weeks I couldn't figure out why my camber curve was off compared to sSNAP. What was it? sSNAP takes bushing deflection (in all 6 degrees of freedom) into consideration. Unless you are using bushings with little to no deflection, your numbers will be off unless the program can calculate bushings deflection. To calculate delfection, you must be able to input the material properties. For rubber, the properties are direction dependent, meaning you have to measure them in every direction. These deflection can not only change the amplitude of a curve, they can change the shape of it.

Anyway, I am still going to solve the issues I have with the Excel sheet, and it will be useful for determining the affects of geometry changes. When, if, I get it done, I will post it.

Ken

[David Pozzi]

Subframes can deflect a lot too! I'm distrustful of any calculated data. It points in the right direction but who is to know if every factor has been taken into consideration? Not so simple...

[Mean 69]

Subframes can deflect a lot too!

Sorry for the highjack, but so can full frames! My buddies 67 Chevelle has been partially disassembled, fenders/etc, and motor trans removed. It is on stands right where the front frame to body mounts are. He pushed on the front of the frame with his foot, not even really hard, and you could visibly see the frame deflecting. I think I'll measure it next week when I am at his shop, just for grins. Surprising.

This isn't generic to the stock frames either. There has been a lot of noise about the strength of the replacement subframes on the market, and full frames, regarding how much better they are than the stock stuff. Interesting, not one piece of hard data for specific comparison though. Metal bends, period.

Mark

P.S. I reflect Den's view, by the way. If you can't design a suspension system using equations, on paper, then you should REALLY think twice about designing with software. Software is incredibly efficient, but the fundamentals are key.

[KUL FIR CHICK N]

I use Susprog3D by Dr. Robert Small. Pretty good program but, as stated above, it doesn't do all of the work for you. You need to know what you're doing, it just makes sure the calculations are right. www.susprog.com


Ryan