01 · Driveline
Measure driveshaft movement
Use the same U-joint center-to-center measurements as we cycle the EVO suspension, then check slip travel and clearance with the new drivetrain in place.
05 / Build Lab
Inside the shop.
Our custom four-seat Yamaha YXZ has straight axles front and rear and serves as the primary test vehicle for EVO 2.0T. Here’s what we measured on the front end and what we’re taking into the next chassis.
Yamaha YXZ 4S Build · Front axle conversion
Triangulated four-link
The front straight-axle conversion brings the suspension links, driveshaft, steering ram and brakes together in one package. We used the current buggy to check how that package moves between compression and droop and how the tires fit at compression.
See the YXZ build and shop gallery
- Front axle layout
- Straight axle with a triangulated four-link
- Front links
- Summit Machine Inc. 7075 aluminum with Johnny Joint ends
- Link diameters
- 2.25 in. lowers · 1.75 in. uppers
- Front locker
- ARB RD132
- Brakes
- Wilwood
- Steering
- Full hydraulic with a PSC 8.75 in. ram and orbital valve
- Pump used in testing
- Volvo electrohydraulic pump
- Planned steering upgrade
- Engine-driven PSC pump
Yamaha YXZ 4S Build · Team measurements
Front-end test results
With the Volvo pump and PSC ram in the test setup, the team checked steering and tire clearance. Measuring between the front driveshaft’s U-joint centers at compression and droop captured how much the shaft length differed between those positions.
- Front suspension travel
- 11.5 in. measured
- Front driveshaft at compression
- 24.75 in. U-joint center to center
- Front driveshaft at droop
- 25.50 in. U-joint center to center
- Driveshaft length change between endpoints
- 0.75 in.
- Steering
- Approximately 4 turns lock to lock
- Tire clearance at compression
- Zero tire contact observed with 37 in. tires
EVO 2.0T · Next chassis
What carries over
02 · Front suspension
Check tire and steering clearance
Mock up the front axle, steering and coilovers together. Cycle the suspension and sweep the steering to see where the tires and hardware come closest.
03 · Steering
Package the hydraulic system
Use the YXZ front steering setup as a reference for ram and hose placement. Check routing and service access with the EVO powertrain in place.
Schneider Motorsports
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