Was looking for something else and came across this:

http://www.purflux.c...e-02032012.html

Looks like they're making coil springs from fibre reinforced epoxy now, with a view to them being used on a future Audi.

Quite interesting as the weight saving is good, but I wonder how the life is?

Wonder if it'll be a change every 100k with dampers or if it'll last as well as the steel versions (subject to rust obviously).

Edited 15 May, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

The lack of rust sounds like a good idea but there is the worry that if they break you just end up with a handful of fragments and the car is resting on the floor.

Weight gain would be good but not sure how composite would stand up to the continuos movement and flexing. Presumably if they are to be used on a production car they will have significant testing done first. Are these used in F1 or any other racing scene?

I doubt F1 uses steel when the rest of the car weighs so little, but I was thinking the same about how they'd last due to the regular flexing etc.

In terms of them breaking, if they're fibre glass re-reinforced, then you should get a fair amount of warning that they're on their way out before they go.

At the end of the day though, if they pick the right polymer, then is should be fine.

FWIW the article suggests Audi will be putting it on a production car.

They will be able to make the springs from carrots,

just like the Carbon Fibre fishing rods they have had for a while now..

http://www.spinfish....4carrotrod.html

What ever the small coil spring was made of that came off the F1 car a couple of seasons ago, it appeared pretty heavy.

Are the springs used not a traditional throw back thing in F1,

'Uniform Part/component' that all the F1 cars must use exactly the same manufacturers springs but in a choice of Specs in the range.

george

Edited 16 May, 201214 yr by sk4gw