BND TechSource

Front Suspension
Baseline Optimization of
Bump/Roll Steer

Website = http://bndtechsource.ucoz.com

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09
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The Steering Knuckle in an SLA
(Short/Long Arm) Independent Front
Suspension has three pivot point
attachments. These are at the Upper
Control Arm, the Lower Control Arm, and
the Tie Rod end.

Bump/Roll Steer (change in toe) occurs
due to the Tie Rod pivot at the Knuckle
swinging through a different arc than the
Control Arms.

The baseline for this arc can be optimized
using CATIA DMU Kinematics.
Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09
 BND TechSource

Certain parameters were set in this particular
design.

Track: Front/Rear = 1490/1510mm

Wheelbase = 2489.2mm

Tire Size:

Front = P245/45ZR-17
(Static Rolling Radius = 302mm)

Rear = P275/40ZR-18
(Static Rolling Radius = 314mm)

Wheel Size:

Front = 17 x 8.5 in, Offset = 56mm

Rear = 18 x 9.5 in, Offset = 63mm
Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09
 BND TechSource

Parameters (cont’d).

Scrub Radius = +10mm
Steering Axis Inclination = 8.8
o

Caster Angle = 6.5

o

SLA Ratio = 1.43:1

Brake Rotor Offset (Hub face to Rear Rotor
face) = 38mm

Ackermann Steering = 82.5%

Shock Extension/Compression = 48.7/36.1mm

All of these parameters affect the three pivot
points on the Steering Knuckle.
Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09
BND TechSource

In design position, the Toe and Camber
Angles measure zero degrees.
The intersection of the
Caster & SAI planes result Camber Angle
in the Steering Axis. Measure line in
the Knuckle part.

Caster plane in the Knuckle part.

Normal to the global XZ plane.

Toe Angle
Measure line in
the Knuckle part.

Steering Axis Inclination (SAI)

Toe & Camber
plane in the Knuckle part.
Measure plane in
Normal to the global YZ plane.
the Fixed part.
Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09
 BND TechSource

To optimize the Toe Angle delta as the
suspension moves through jounce and
rebound, the Tie Rod pivot arc must first
be determined.

The method shown in this example is an

expedient way to get the optimized plane
to swing the Tie Rod pivot arc.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 1: In the Fixed Part, create a temporary plane
through the Steering Axis and the Tie Rod pivot point.

Temporary plane
in the Fixed part.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 2: Use the temporary plane as the controlling
surface in a Point-Surface joint to complete the

suspension Kinematic.

Controlling plane
in the Fixed part.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

BND TechSource

Step 2: The completed Kinematic.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 3: Run the Kinematic to full jounce position.

To view the values, the

measures must first be
chosen in the Selection tab.

Pick Activate
Sensors.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 4a: Adjust the Knuckle to Optimized position.

In the Fixed Part, create planes

through the now moved
Steering Axis (Knuckle Part)
normal to the global XZ and YZ
planes (Fixed Part).

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 4b: Adjust the Camber to Optimized position using
Snap.
In Assembly, Snap the SAI
Plane (Knuckle Part) to the SAI
Adjustment Plane (Fixed Part).

Snap

After Snap, apply Force

Measure Update on the Toe &
Camber Angular Measures
Notice the Camber
reduction, and the
Toe increase.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource

Step 4c: Adjust the Toe to Optimized position using
Snap.
Next, Snap the Caster Plane
(Knuckle Part) to the Caster
Adjustment Plane (Fixed Part).

After Snap, apply Force

Measure Update on the Toe &
Camber Angular Measures
Notice the Camber
increase, and the
Toe reduction.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource
Step 4d: Adjust the Toe to Optimized position using
Compass on the Steering Axis. This method could be

used in lieu of steps 4a – 4c.

Steps 4a - 4c were to
show the relationship
between Camber & Toe.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource

Step 4e: In the Fixed Part, create a point at the now
moved Tie Rod pivot.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 5: Return the Kinematic to design position. In the
Fixed Part, create a point at the now moved Tie Rod pivot.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 6: Run the Kinematic to full rebound position.

To view the values, the

measures must first be
chosen in the Selection tab.

Pick Activate
Sensors.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 7: Repeat Steps 4d & 4e in rebound position.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 8: Return the Kinematic to design position. In the
Fixed Part, create a plane through the three Tie Rod
Pivot points.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource

Step 9: Replace the Temporary Controlling Plane in
the Kinematic with the Optimized Controlling plane.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 9: The completed Kinematic.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 10a: Create a Kinematic Simulation (for the Trace).

Simulation

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 10b: Compile the Kinematic Simulation (for the Trace).

Compile
Simulation

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 10c: Create a Kinematic Trace of the Optimized Arc
for the Tie Rod Pivot Points.

Trace

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

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Step 11a: Use the Kinematic Trace of the Optimized Arc to
determine the optimized Steering Rack attachment point.

Create a circle
through the three Tie
Rod Pivot points.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource
Step 11b: Use the Optimized Arc to determine the
optimized Steering Rack attachment point.

Create a point at
the arc center.

In this case the

Steering Rack needs to
be moved rearward.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource

Step 12: Reposition the Steering Rack to the Optimized Arc
Center Point and complete the Kinematic with the proper
Tie Rod joints in place of the Point-Surface joint.

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09

 BND TechSource

Step 12: Run the Kinematic with Sensors Activated
and Output the data into an Excel Spreadsheet.

0.2

0.1

-0.1

-0.2

-0.3
Toe Angle (Degree)
Camber Angle (Degree)
-0.4

-0.5

-0.6

-0.7
63.7718

58.3332

52.8708

Camber Angle (Degree)

47.3852

41.8771

36.3471

30.7959

25.2243

19.633

14.0228

8.39444

2.74886

Toe Angle (Degree)

2.91307

8.59043

14.2822

19.9874

25.705

31.4338

37.1726

42.9201

48.6751
Jounce/Rebound (mm)

Prepared by: Bill Harbin –Technical Director 12-Sep-09