Pelican Parts Forums

Sorry guys no time for all the details or more pictures at the moment. Trying to get all mine changed out this week. My quick take is better bearing design with roller and needle bearings in each, adjustable spring plate as well. And finally the price is very competitive for all that you get with the package. My thought was it was a better deal $ wise for my use and for what you actually get. IMNSHO of course.

$650 as opposed to $900. Take a good look and the $650 of new spring plates and bushings still doesn't have every option the $900 set up does. I am a fan of actual steel bearings over the current synthetics in long term use.

Set screws? While I haven't pulled the set screw I would suspect it is shaped to lock the threads and not damage them. Pretty common use of hex head screws.

Better picture of the spring plate.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1095443010.jpg

From this previous thread..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182875&perpage=10&highl ight=wevo%20spring%20plate&pagenumber=7

quote:
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Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
Not to take anything away from Hayden, he has developed an attractive product which he did show me at Autofest. I'm sure there are some customers interested in a $900+ spring plate bearing solution, just as PolyBronze appeals to a segment that wants a $295 spring plate bearing solution. And there is yet another group that will continue to buy polyurethane bushings no matter what.

Clearly different products can peacefully co-exist in the market.

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Just so there is no confusion in terms of relative pricing, the WEVO SPS (Spring Plate System) is a full system. The $900 price tag will supply you with the Spring Plate Bearings AND the adjustable spring plates - another $350 worth of components if you buy them from another vendor.

So the gap from Chuck's very fine product - fully installed - up to our WEVO SPS solution is not as dramatic as it seems. It is however a gap, one that is significant enough that buyers should choose based on the intended use of the car and their budget.

With small markets available at every level we are very mindful that products can co-exist peacefully - although it requires respect and cooperation between the designers and manufacturing vendors.

I will be installing either Chuck's polybronze front bearings, or Mikes needle bearings on my own car, I see no space for another solution or vendor in that particular area.

Regards

Hayden

and more..

quote:
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Originally posted by Randy Webb
I understand re stiction. But is this a theoretical benefit? Or large enough to be noticed? or signifcant?
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Randy,

When we installed the first set of proto components on a car, it was me who drove the car into the shop and then hours later drove it away.

I was astonished by two factors among others.

I should start by saying my orange car (the first test vehicle) has 21/ 27 T-bars, 22 Anti Roll Bars, on the street runs 195/65 fronts, 205/60 rears Continentals, a nice riding tire. I have Bilstein Sports on the front and KONI gas on the rear, rear rebound set on the "0" (softest) posn.

1) We set the spring plates by angle, same as prior to removing the old Sway-A-Way parts, that had the red poly bushes - yes they squeeked and groaned.
With the same relaxed spring plate angle - the rear ride height was 10mm higher when we put the car on the set-up pad.
This indicated that the stiction in the old bushes was capable of constraining the suspension 10mm from it's relaxed position.

2) The test ride was a revelation, it felt like I had replaced the T-bars with softer units, taller tires, softer dampers and added sound insulation to the car.
I actually found myself looking for road features to drive over and gauge the feedback.
The suspension was quieter (no squeeking) and definitely more compliant.
The car has since been track tested by both novice and expert drivers, but I am yet to personally track test the car.
The novice driver enjoyed more speed and predictability and the expert driver admired the predictability. Having said that I have no way to aportion the fine balance of the car to the WEVO SPS as the car was pretty good before and the novice driver is on the steep part of the confidence curve.

We are continuing to test the parts and monitor the bearings for wear.

As much as the advantage would appear to be theoretical, I have experienced the improvement in a road car and was sufficiently impressed to allocate funds to productionize the design.

Our display at the GAF was configured so that visitors could lift the trailing arm and feel the virtually friction free nature of the installation. We had a steady stream of industry experts coming by to check that out which was a pleasure for us.

Regards

Hayden

more yet...

quote:
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Originally posted by jpahemi
Aside from the stiction, wouldn't the roller bearing pivot yield a more precise geometry during braking, cornering or accelerating? Unless your rubber bushings are brand new, there's no way they could be as precise as the WEVO units.
There would be a definate difference on the street.
IMHO, these babies are worth the price.

Hayden:
Is there a possibility of this technology for the front?
Regards,
J.P.
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JP

The factory did use similar technology for the 934. The 934 was homologated with torsion bars, therefore it was required to race with them. This precluded the use of the yet-to-come, 935 spring plates.

The 934 ran with a small rear torion bar plus the coil-over spring damper unit, effectively 2 road spring mediums. The issue of wheel location, toe change due to acceleration (prodigious acceleration!) was effected with a bearing solution on the spring plates. Our components are not actually visually similar, but conceptually yes.

In terms of wheel location, I doubt the WEVO SPS has a significant advantage over Chuck's Poly Bronze bush, or a well installed poly bush. I believe the advantage will be in terms of friction. The dynamic nature of the spring plate design makes it difficult to measure the friction under use conditions.

Our product also included some good installation and set-up features that are missing from existing spring plate designs.

Regards

Hayden

finally ...
The WEVO SPS uses all sealed bearings, the ball bearing is pre-lubricated and the needle roller is lubricated during install - then residing behind a lip seal.

Our expectation is that this assembly is maintenence free, time and testing will determine if we are right.

Hayden