Suspension rebuild question

[wally]

Heya.

I specifically signed up for this BB to get one question answered and hopefully you guys can help.

How often are the suspensions on the F1 cars rebuilt? I figured they were rebuilt every race and perhaps even more often (during a race?) depending on the track situations but my friend seems to believe that they (F1 teams) never have to.

Anyone care to shed a little light on the subject?

Thanks,

Wally

[donskar]

Your friend is very wrong.

But maybe I should ask "Define "rebuilt"???"

They are NEVER rebuilt during a race.

They are rebuilt and reset before every race to suit track configuration and condition.

Remember: each race is a max of 200 miles (plus practice and qualifying). The components are designed and built for light weight, not long life. (Exceptions of course: engines and transmissions)

[bazanaius]

Many of the parts in the suspension aren't adjustable as such - they just have a range of each part for different setups. In this way a rebuild is essential in order to change the setup for the next track.
I'm not sure of the lifetime of suspensions components but I wouldn't imagine wishbones or the like last much more than one weekend.

[flynfrog]

I remember seeing I think Renault using a bar code system on parts to track their life times. They could tell how many cycles each part had been through and the computer told them when parts needed changed out.

[ZBimmerfan]

I remember seeing I think Renault using a bar code system on parts to track their life times. They could tell how many cycles each part had been through and the computer told them when parts needed changed out.

that is smart

[modbaraban]

As far as I know, many parts have quite longer lifetime than 1 grand prix. But usually after the race they are used only for testing. That's the way to have fresh parts for every race and yet some economy during test days.

[flynfrog]

Now that I think about it it might have been rfid tags not barcodes

its was on inside grandprix or some show like that.

But yes Modbaraban The did have a life of > 1 gp but not necessarily used for more than one gp

[pitlaneimmigrant]

Almost all of the components on an F1 car are 'lifed'. Each part has a unique identifier which allows it's usage to be tracked. Parts will have specified service intervals and retirement ages, normally measured in the distance which they have been used on track.

The suspension is, as rightly pointed out, stripped between events, components are checked, serviced if required and if they are inside their lifing allowance will go racing or testing again.

Components will (mostly) have lives in excess of one GP, but the entire car is stripped after each event and a fresh set of components used while the used parts are turned around.

In short, the suspension is rebuilt after EVERY event, but the parts may be used for several events before their life is up.

[scarbs]

Certainly the suspension is rebuilt between races, No service work goes on during a race weekend

• Parts with a service life not much longer than a race after fitted new, and replaced after the race. The old parts have their remaining mileage used up in testing. These parts are mainly spherical bearings and fasteners.

• Carbon fibre Wishbones are rigorously tested for damage and crack between races but the actual wishone will last a full season.

• Wheel bearings can last a couple of races, which is just as well at cost of £3000 per set!

• Hubs, Uprights and rockers have a longer service life and undergo testing between races. I am told their life is between 2-4 races

[Belatti]

I remember seeing I think Renault using a bar code system on parts to track their life times. They could tell how many cycles each part had been through and the computer told them when parts needed changed out.

Interesting, one of the things many don´t pay attention in F1 (me included)

It´s the same as in any modern industry distribution center. I work on a chemical plant that has it´s distribution center for all Argentina. Every product that moves in or out has a bar code tag and with a scanner and SAP you can know the history of that product (where and when it comes from, where it should go, etc).
That helps you to analyze lead times to your customers or from your suppliers and also trace dangerous/hazardous products way.

I think that this kind of well organized system is a must in F1 teams, as any mistake could transform in a failure and retirement.

[scarbs]

Honda run SAP, they have a specially developed MRP module (manufacturing) which ties in with their part-lifing system. The creates the demand for more parts to be bought or made.

Curiously the Race Engineers specify the car and optional components (i.e. different wing specs) through SAP. For those forum members into their business systems, for each race each race car is effectively a BOM (Bill of materials) in their ERP system. In the same way as a kit of parts for another manufacturer creates BOMs (i.e. BOM for a sandwich, 2 x slide of bread, 1 x slice ham, 1 x slice cheese, 5g butter).
No longer is it ‘pop over to the store department and pick out random components’ each part is planned, booked out to the race team, its life monitored by the lifing system (each part is laser etched with a unique number \barcode), when the car returns to the factory each part is scanned back into to stores for disposal, re-use or QA testing.

[Belatti]

It works as I have imagined, but thanks for the info Scarbs!

Also I suppose McLaren use SAP, too, because they are sponsors.