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THE CWRU MOTORSPORTS SR5
The 2019 CWRU Motorsports competition vehicle, the SR5, is the culmination of nine months of continuous work by the team and has been developed to compete in the 2019 Baja SAE Collegiate Design Series competitions. Work on the SR5 began in June 2018, immediately after the end of the last 2018 Baja SAE competition, and involved the most significant change to CWRU Motorsports vehicle design in three years.
The SR5 features several new and innovative design features, notably the first successful implementation of carbon fiber control arms and frame bracing in the Baja SAE series. The most significant change in design from the 2018 competition vehicle is the rear suspension, which was fully re-designed into a system that is integrated into the drivetrain. The drivetrain features new axles and a strengthened gearbox, which support axial forces from the rear wheels, and a modified and re-tuned CVT that results in appreciably faster acceleration. Despite several dimensions of the frame being reduced to save weight, including a height reduction of 2.5 inches, cockpit space was increased by adjusting the placement of tube bends and weld locations. Refinements were made to the braking system to improve performance and reliability, and a new shock damping setup was developed to improve stability over large obstacles.
The result of these improvements is the lightest, fastest, and most nimble car the team has made. Hundreds of hours were dedicated by team members to this project, and several personal sacrifices were made to make this accomplishment possible. Browse the gallery below to appreciate the effort that the team has put into this vehicle.
GALLERY
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
FRAME
Material:
4130N CrMo tubular structure with carbon-fiber composite tubes used for additional bracing in select locations
Joining Method:
Body Panels:
GTAW with ER70S-2 filler material at CNC-notched joints
Molded carbon-fiber and carbon-Kevlar composite body panels with aluminum firewall and front skid plate
FRONT SUSPENSION
Suspension System:
Double wishbone with carbon-fiber composite upper control arm, steel lower control arm, and CNC-machined aluminum upright and hub
Springs and Dampers:
Steering System:
FOX Float 3 adjustable air springs with custom-valved damping
Unassisted rack and pinion steering with carbon-fiber composite tie rods and steering wheel
Wheels:
DWT A5 aluminum wheels
REAR SUSPENSION
Suspension System:
Suspension integrated into drivetrain with upper "A" arm and axial load-bearing half-shaft connected to CNC-machined aluminum upright and hub
Springs and Dampers:
Wheels:
FOX Float 3 adjustable air springs with custom-valved damping
DWT A5 aluminum wheels
BRAKING SYSTEM
Braking System:
Unassisted hydraulic disc braking system with dedicated front/rear Tilton master cylinders operating dual outboard front brakes and single inboard rear brake
Calipers:
Pads and Rotors:
CNC-machined aluminum fixed dual-piston calipers
EBC brake pads and coated steel slotted rotors
POWER AND DRIVETRAIN
Engine:
Power Transmission:
Gearbox:
Briggs and Stratton Model 19, in stock configuration as mandated by Baja SAE
Gaged Engineering CVT outputting power to final drive gearbox
Final drive reduction gearset with spooled output to rear wheels cased in a CNC-machined aluminum shell
Axles:
Axle Joints:
Aluminum axles with CNC-machined aluminum end yokes
Dana Spicer universal joints
OVERALL DIMENSIONS
Weight:
Length:
Width:
Height:
285 pounds
Less than 80 inches
Less than 60 inches
52.75 inches at normal ride height
Tech Specs
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