outrigger protectors

[bluezeeland]

In the recent rebuild of the front suspension found the 1 year old new outriggers already had stone-chips and were covered in crud..........mud + water on triangle plates and tubes > rust & rot......

So, decided to make outrigger protectors, mainly to get the sand and mud out.

They are made in foamex, which is a low density PVC. This stuff is light, plyable and is formable like wood.

This is the material;



roughly formed;



shaped to size, method of securing;



in situ & siliconed;



finished result;



Now for a bit of testing !

Frank

Edited by bluezeeland on Monday 28th December 20:58

[bluezeeland]

They are 'eared' at the outers to prevent stones throwing up, will see how they perform after some tours/trips...

[bluezeeland]

Storm Guy said:

Very nice indeed Frank - looks like a good material. I assume it requires some form of heat to safely bend.

It quite easily forms under some heat (must confess my father in law was in acrilic plexiglass, so knows a thing or two about forming)

[bluezeeland]

phillpot said:

Is Forex a trade name, googling brings up just stuff about market trading stocks and shares?

Would it be a bit like Foamex?

I stand corrected, Mike, its indeed Foamex (edited my post to correct too)

[bluezeeland]

btw, these are in 8 mm, thought 4 mm was a bit floppy...

[bluezeeland]

One year after installation, mine looked like this (note paint touch ups)

[bluezeeland]

roseytvr said:

stevesprint said:

I'm more interested in what looks like a camber adjuster bolt sitting on the top of the top ball joint. Any chance of a close up picture and an explanation.

Cheers
Steve

Looks like it's the top suspension mounting bolt tbh

Its the top shock mount bolt, the whole suspension was only loosely put together in that picture, no fancy camber adjusters I'm afraid !

[bluezeeland]

Storm Guy said:

bluezeeland said:

phillpot said:

Is Forex a trade name, googling brings up just stuff about market trading stocks and shares?

Would it be a bit like Foamex?

I stand corrected, Mike, its indeed Foamex (edited my post to correct too)

It may actually be Forex as you stated in your OP - quite a bit about Forex after some googling following your initial post...and it seems to match the thermoforming properties you stated.

https://www.antalis.co.uk/business/catalog.htm?mhI...
http://www.techsoft.co.uk/products/milling-routing...

Would be good to have this confirmed.

I'll ask the old man, will report....

[bluezeeland]

Portzi, I see you went the bolted route on the outrigger protectors, rather like em.. Plus they seem to do the job as intended !

Re the adjustable camber; is that an altered set off of the rear lower wishbone ?

Do like to go on track, now and again, but in essence a fast road driver, so not really concerned with more negative camber

Edited by bluezeeland on Tuesday 29th December 12:25

[bluezeeland]

macdeb said:

Excellent idea. Here's some I made a while back for my Chimaera from stainless steel with rubber backing so as not to interfere with the powder coating. A must in order to stop stones getting trapped between body and chassis which does the damage.

Nice ! Rubber backing, in strips ? closed cell ?

[bluezeeland]

Alan461 said:

portzi said:

Macs stainless ones look the best option?

I do agree although Frank's design might be easier to make and less visible.
My one concern is moisture might hang around for longer than with the tube exposed.

I agree, you shouldn't close off and trap water, which will makes matters worse. Mines are open at the underside. They should protect the outriggers from direct impact of stones, sand and other road crud. The space under/over the outriggers have been cleaned, blown out by compressed air and probe-sprayed with clear waxoyl

If you want to go stainless protectors you would have to consider the fact that the body relative to the outriggers/chassis does move a bit. Not a lot but enough to make allowance for it. Mine have been siliconed up in two stages, that is, first in the slight gap between body and protector and then, when cured over this.

[bluezeeland]

puss said:

They look great and seem to involve more skill than I possess. Would you consider making some to order?

Pressuming you mean me....I'd rather not, the differences in the bodies to the chassis are just too big, I could make a pair, but they still would require some fettling......so, in order to avoid frustrations, no thanks !

(had an query to make some for a mate's wedge, but will only make them on the car, just too many variables....)

Obviously you are free to copy....

Frank

[bluezeeland]

Apparently its called 'forex', originaly a swiss made material (back in the day) but nowadays referred to as foamex (to distinguish from this stock exchange thingy)

[bluezeeland]

Hoover. said:

Do they not act as a trap catching dirt which remains wet/moist against the chassis ?

I'm fairly confident it isn't, please refer to portzi's post earlier.......I have now cleaned the 'cavities' in between the outriggers and the chassis by means of compressed air and a water-jet + clear waxoyl coated them, intending to do keep doing this on a regular base ( do bear in mind the original outriggers lasted for 22 years)

[bluezeeland]

Oldred_V8S said:

Excellent solution
Which thickness of Foamex sheet did you use for the protectors?
Many thanks.

The foamex/forex used is 8mm, but thinking about making some for the rear in 4 mm, and if OK would change the fronts for 4 mm too....