Design and Operation of a New Vehicle Suspension Kinematics and Compliance Facility

A Kinematics and Compliance (K&C) facility is a test rig which undertakes quasi-static testing of vehicles to measure the K&C characteristics of the suspension and steering systems. This paper describes a new K&C test facility which is a four wheel station machine designed to accommodate automobiles and light trucks. It is electromechanically operated, fully automated and computer controlled, and will complete a full suite of measurements in hours rather than days. The first installation, at MIRA England, was commissioned in January 1996. Since then it has been in almost continuous use and a variety of vehicles have been tested; typical results are presented. A second machine is now installed at the facilities of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, USA.