TheSamba.com :: View topic - sand rail ------ A-Arm vs Beam

Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:36 pm

Thinking on my next rail I might go with A-Arms.
Anyone have some pros and cons of each that they can see?

Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:44 pm

it depending on your plans for usage.If your are running strictly sand you could get away with some tubular style arms,if you plan on desert running then a heavier duty boxed in style might be a better choice.A beam will be good for both and you can get upwards of 15-16 inches of travel with 4 over arms and the right set up.

Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:32 pm

I think it would be borderline OK on a long wheelbase buggy or 4 seater where you are crowding the front.

If you use heims it will be noisy.

I have ridden in several different styles of A arm buggies and even the high dollar ones are noisy. Clickety clickety click and clack. Even the teflon hiems loosen up.

I prefer the VW beam. It is quiet and proven itself very reliable. Parts are redily available.

If you decide to build your own. Make a jig so you can duplicate the peace's. You will need them. Especially your spindle set up.

Make left and right sides interchangeable.

If I were to build a new rail with A arms I would try to fabricate something that I could carry spare parts as an integral part of the frame design. Utilizing the tie rods as some sort of bridging or strengthening peace behind the seats or around the engine assembly.

I will admit that I do like the cast peaces of the aluminum Tatum front A arm suspension. To rich for my blood.

Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:13 pm

"I feel" that the link pin beam is the closest to indestructible you can get! When you set-up your tie rods on an "A" arm set up they are usually out front making them the first thing you hit. Also it is very hard to set up the tie rods to eliminate any "bump-steer".

However, "A" arms have more travel & usually weigh less.

Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:06 pm

heres a pic of my beam car,from new years.
i have full build up pics,but the link on my site isnt working right now.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:50 am

Hey vdubduner, I would like to see some pictures of your rail if you get a chance. Getting ready to build a 4-seater and could use some different ideas.

James L.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:30 am

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www....D%26sa%3DN

Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:17 pm

I posted a simlar question on one of the desert sites a while back. Response was overwhelmingly "A" arm. I like my "10"-over beam set up myself and plan on staying with a beam for some time.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:15 pm

I like the travel of the A-arms but the strength and reliability of the beam.
Is 16 inches the most you can get out of a beam setup?

What exactly needs to be done to get 16 full inches out of a beam set up?

Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:40 pm

You'd reach the upper limits with 4" longer arms and a set up that allows max tie rod clearance. I haven't installed 4 over arms yet, so I can't say what I'll end up with when I do. I think the best answer to A vs. Beam can be found by looking at Class 1 and 10 buggies. Those folks can buy whatever they want and the big boys all seem to go with "A" arms now. For those of us that live in the real world (meaning we don't own casinos or we sold-off our dot coms in 2000), I'd argue if you can get 16" with a beam, you have "arrived." I mean, really, 16" is a heck of a lot of travel.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:43 pm

You will spend as much money as going with the A arms and it will most likley be heavier.

Unsprung weight is important to avoid.

I want to keep my overall buggy in proportion for size, weight, handling and also for hauling in my enclosed trailer.

If you are driving so fast and furious you really need that 16 inches of travel your more like to stop suddenly and not be happy when you do.

If you get that kind of travel out front you have to have it in the rear to keep things correct.

Extended trailing arms
wider beam
Rack and Pinion steering
custom tie rods
spindles
Shocks

Every holiday I go to the dunes for about a week at a time. Seems like those beautiful long travel buggy's end up brocken and sitting in camp because the don't have the parts or tools to repair them.

I guess if folks didn't strive to improve and be different we would still be walking on the sand dunes. hehehehehehe

Obviously there are enouph folks building and driving them with smiles on there faces and trophy's in there arms that they can't be all bad. Just more than I can afford.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:02 pm

This really is a tough questoin to awnser. I personaly want to go to a-arms as soon as I can. Mainly I say that just because there alot more adustable in my opinion. Plus you can virtualy get rid of bump stear all together. where as a beam you cant. Which is why I really want power steering. I also just crave more travel. At the moment I have a bug with a 6 inch wider beam and 4" longer arms up front getting 14" I'm also getting 16" in the rear to match. Every time I go drive I hit the bump stops at all four corners atleast a few times. But I drive pretty hard most of the time. Plus I need to stay on the cutting edge of what people want since I build these things for a living.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:09 pm

you can get rid of bumpsteer with either type of suspension, you just have to set it up right. i think it boils down to how hard you are gonna drive. keep in mind, an a-arm front end designed for a sand car probably wont hold up in the desert.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:53 pm

ill work on the link for the build up pics tonight.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:11 pm

I see the occasional "play car" entered in the 1300 class at the MORE races. The fact that it's a rare beam 10 car that can hang with the A-arm 10 cars means something to me.
Were I building from scratch I'd give a long hard look at an SLA front design. No way would I try to convert my Baja to A-arms.

There's a lot to designing a good SLA system that isn't totally obvious, and there aren't any good reference books on the topic as it relates to off road applications.

Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:29 pm

just click the link below,enter website,go to sand pics,and green car pics.

Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:22 am

Still cant see them. Can you post them here or maybe in ther gallery? Would like to see more pictures closer of your rail.

Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:00 pm

Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:02 pm

Clean looking rail dude. What kind of seats are those.
Ben

Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:09 pm

beard seats,navy blue and gray.