Outrigger Steering And Brake Line Safety?

[JEBar]

My car, which has exposed front suspension and brake lines, has been run both on and off the road for over 56,000 miles and have also done some long distance overseas touring. We use it for classic trials competitions, which are far more demanding than anything most cars ever see in their lives. There has never been a problem.

See photo below!

I was in hope you'd respond to this thread .... you have a great deal of experience in this area that I don't have .... your observations are appreciated

Jim

 

[fingers]

I agree with Gas-Powered Awesome. I believe you are looking for problems to worry about. I have found I get what I look for so I choose to not look for trouble. It makes my life much more comfortable and joyful. I hope you will enjoy this exciting adventure and journey to Elio production and ownership. Z

I tend to worry a bit more of someone using the front fender as a convenient place to rest their backside. I have seen people sitting on my trailer fender outside a club when I was playing music inside. But then when alcohol is involved, respect for other people's property is not important to them.

 

[NSTG8R]

I tend to worry a bit more of someone using the front fender as a convenient place to rest their backside. I have seen people sitting on my trailer fender outside a club when I was playing music inside. But then when alcohol is involved, respect for other people's property is not important to them.

Hmmm...good point. Might want to add some of these to make them think twice (or at least get their butts off in a hurry!)

 

[JEBar]

I tend to worry a bit more of someone using the front fender as a convenient place to rest their backside. I have seen people sitting on my trailer fender outside a club when I was playing music inside. But then when alcohol is involved, respect for other people's property is not important to them.

I believe that one of the features they are offering with the Skyz system is an alarm that will go off if someone messes with the vehicle and it records a video of who is doing so

Jim

 

[Bert]

I won't sweat it at all. Minimal surface pushing against the air is a great idea. The slop that gets swept into the fender wells of normal cars, and ends up staying there due to the fender well bouncing it around, can do as much damage as anything you'd run into while driving with the suspension and half shafts open to the air.
IMO, what to do about nothing...

 

[Smitty901]

Ever look at the front brake lines on most cars?

 

[Bert]

Ever look at the front brake lines on most cars?

Of course not! They're safely hidden inside the fender well!!

(Insert tongue in cheek smiley here)

 

[RKing]

If it looks fragile to you, don't look under a modern small car (or large car for that matter )! There is really no protection for those items on any car. I once took a 2002 Regal over a big truck tire carcass at about 70MPH . Sounded way bad ! Took out the power steering hose and dumped fluid. The rest was cosmetic. I would not expect the Elio to fare much worse. Those A arms are pretty tough and braided lines are way stronger than anything on a modern auto. he typical farm truck is exposed to far worse than an Elio will see and is really no better protected. I have "broken stuff" offroad, but never a break line and they are "hanging out there" just like an Elio. You just don't see it if ou don't look underneath. Now the vandals is another issue ...probably no real difference, they will go after paint and mirrors.

 

[Jeff Porter]

My biggest safety & reliability concern is the whole exposed outrigger linkage, especially what appears to be braided brake lines (emphasized in this view). Wind will be battering that area constantly, along with random debris. A cowl to at least partly protect it would make me a lot more confident. It could have accordion-style rubber edges if not too extreme for easy steering. Another option would be an aerodynamic blade mounted on the body ahead of the linkage to deflect debris, analogous to a train cow-catcher. Top and rear protection would be less important.

I also don't like the idea of random punks sticking crowbars in the suspension just for fun (many of us lack garages). Sure, they can vandalize regular cars but the more visible something is, the greater the temptation for those inclined. Bored teens often go around and do stuff like that.

I understand it might not be easy to engineer those protections but it would probably increase sales. In fact, it's my only real concern. I am sold on the overall low cost of ownership, even knowing that this vehicle is inherently less safe than something larger and wider. I drive very defensively in general.

Thanks for the link to that closeup of the outrigger linkage, I had not seen that one yet.

 

[Mike W]

The question about the brake lines was a good one and it looks like nothing to be concerned about. I never was but it's good to have more info to confirm there is nothing to worry about in the real world use of the car. I like to get perceived dangers out of the way, they can distract from things that are real that might really cause problems.