Bearings help fastest gravity roadster steer clear of trouble
This extraordinary looking vehicle swept the field in its class at the
recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Lotus 119B gravity racer has a
steering system based on iglidur G self-lubricating polymer bearings from
Igus, and these played a vital role in its success when the roadster
needed to take avoiding action as four other competitors became involved
in a collision.
The bearings used in the 119B steering system weigh just 4.44g apiece -
an important consideration for this weight-sensitive application - yet
they have a static load rating of 80MPa, and a radial load capacity of
4,800kg. And as they are made from polymer materials, they also provide
good vibration damping characteristics.