So since I cant afford to do real work on my 1992 sidekick (vitara over here) I decided to go start on designing a SAS suspension setup in theory (If I'm really happy with it I'll try to fab it as well).
With my background as mechanical engineer (still doing school work for it  ) I decided to go build it in a 3D drawing program.
So the work has started and this is how far I've gotten in a couple hours of work:


I mocked up a couple of axles to go under the chassis. Next thing on the list is taking measurements of the chassis in real life to get them all exaclty right so I can actually design stuff with it.

Once the dimensions of it are right I'll post it up on some site and post a link here so whoever wants it can download it for himself 

Once I get it as close to reality as possible I'm planning to build the body as well but that's a bit much to start with right away.

I'll try to update this thread as I go by but progress is probably pretty slow because I can only spend small amounts of time on the project.

Greetings!!!

Saw someone doing something similar over on the Zu a short while ago, & there was a post with dimensions linked... so I searched & found this:

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,85812.0.html

Save you some measuring anyhow...

Two observations on your current drawing; your front & rear tires are different sized, can't do that on 4x4 it would cause torque bind... & your front pumpkin needs to be offset to the passenger side.
Looks like a fun project though, keep us posted.

Fuzz

Are you going to model a working suspension system as well?

Saw someone doing something similar over on the Zu a short while ago, & there was a post with dimensions linked... so I searched & found this:

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,85812.0.html

Save you some measuring anyhow...

Two observations on your current drawing; your front & rear tires are different sized, can't do that on 4x4 it would cause torque bind... & your front pumpkin needs to be offset to the passenger side.
Looks like a fun project though, keep us posted.

Fuzz

Thanx for the link, I hadn't found that myself yet.
Tire sizes look different but are the same, has to do with some settings in the program, they do sit to far inwards though and they're 33" so they look a bit off to stock ;-). Hadn't thought about the pumpkin yet thanx! 

Are you going to model a working suspension system as well?

That's the goal yes, but that's a lot of work 

Nice, what CAD package are you using?

Nice, what CAD package are you using?

Thanx, Autodesk inventor 2011 cos I had easy acces to that