Project: Build a Baja vehicle
Product used: iglide® Q plain bearings

The University of Sherbrooke is the May Spotlight!

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When presented with the challenge to build a marketable, rugged, single-seat, recreational vehicle that must be safe, easily maintained, easy to transport, and fun to drive, the team representing the University of Sherbrooke, in Canada, stepped up.

The team presented an SAE Baja vehicle, over a year in the making, complete with igus’ iglide® Q plain bearings. iglide® Q, made to handle high, shock, and impact loads, is also dirt resistant, which makes it a perfect fit for any off-road vehicle. Sherbrooke was able to use these bearings to create a torsion bar integrated in the pivot of the trailing arm rear suspension. By comparison to use of metal ball bearings, the team was able to lessen the weight of the vehicle, making transport that much easier, and also gaining a maintenance-free pivot joint. The iglide Q bearings were also used on the throttle and brake controls of the vehicle, key parts that require wear-resistant components, such as iglide.

Clearly this was a formula for success. The team exhibited their vehicle at SAE competitions in Ocala, FL. and Rochester, NY., with the following results, respectively:

1st position: Overall
1st position: 4h Endurance Race
1st position: Design (overall)
2nd position: Suspension-traction-maneuverability
4th position: Acceleration
4th position: Water Maneuverability

2nd position: Overall
1st position: 4h Endurance Race
1st position: Suspension-traction
2nd position: Design (overall)
4th position: Land Maneuverability

To learn more about the SAE team of the University of Sherbrooke, visit www.mecano.gme.usherb.ca/~baja/.