Ackerman

[Dafni]

Can somebody please explain to me what (steering) Ackerman is?

[MetalMan]

http://www.compgoparts.com/technical/001/Ackerman.asp

Hope that helps!

This is the "no scrub" steering geometry that allows the wheel on the inside of the curve to be at a higher angle than the outer wheel.

http://www.rctek.com/handling/ackerm...principle.html

http://www.auto-ware.com/setup/ack_rac.htm

-- Dave

[coolhandcountry]

I bet that would help in turns and make it run free in the straights. that is cool. does it work great for off road too?

[Gustav]

For a good visual example,take a look at a mini or a london taxi cab on full lock.Both these cars use a lot of ackerman to give their tight turning circles and it's very pronounced .

Basically,take any car (one of your RCs) and turn to full lock.You'll notice that the inside wheel turns tighter than the outside.This is because the outside wheel has further to travel than the inside so ackerman reduces how much they fight each other (scrub) particularly when turning tightly.Think of it as having a similar effect to your front diff(diff allows outside wheel to spin faster than inside as it has further to travel).Without the diff and ackerman the front tires will fight each other to turn and turn in and turning circle will be poor.

[coolhandcountry]

That is why a center diff works to. If you turn a vehicle the front takes a wider path than the rear. In turn even with you regular diffs you have a slight push. That is cool. I under stand it all so clearly now. I feel smarter thanks. :)

[Serum]

Yeah Dafni! your Lego car allready had it!! (think deep, you'll remember)

[Dafni]

The inner wheel at a steeper angle? Doesen't "toe-out" do the same thing?

Thanks for the links and help, guys.

How about our Maxxes or Revos?

I'd think Traxxas would build it into at least the Revo, I've seen Maxxes up close, and still aren't sure.

[Serum]

No, it doesn't do the same thing. (it is not what it's meant for) the geometry of the steering system makes it an Ackerman. (more relevant than a toe in/out adjustment) it is about the angle the lever is mounted to the knuckle (and the incoming angle of the turnbuckle, divided in two in the middle of the truck)