Quote:
Originally Posted by goddom
Im not sure if anyone brought this up yet or not, there are 4 pages of posts, but carbon fiber is expensive and is best used in an application that take a load. Replacing body panels or hoods would be cheaper with fiber glass since they aren't load bearing. Just paint it to match then no one would know your 50 lbs lighter or more (depending on the # of panels replaced). I was planning to do my hood and engine cover in fiber glass, paint it and save me 75 lbs or so (this is probably a terrible estimate).
I would like to see some CF sway bars with steel inserts for were the bushings are, and at the ends to bolt the drop links to. Or replace cross-members with CF and aluminum, aluminum wrapped with CF for strut braces. This is getting difficult but do-able. Hell, I think you could replace control arms with tubular carbon fiber using steel inserts for bolts and bushings and such.
But, if it for looks, then carbon fiber body panels would be cool, and they are a lot easier than trying to make sway bars or control arms.
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I was going to say the same thing, and then I read your post. Cosmetic carbon is all well and good, but it really is a waste. Carbon fiber crossmember and suspension pieces, now that could save some SERIOUS weight, not to mention some of it could be unsprung weight even. The downside is some serious analysis and testing would be necessary... don't want a wheel falling off
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