7 Post Shaker - Uses

Uses

The 7 post shaker is used for many vehicles in different driving conditions. Earlier versions were the 5 post shaker and the 4 post shaker. The 4 post shaker is commonly used by vehicle manufacturers to investigate squeaks and rattles. Manufacturers do not normally use a 7 post rig for road cars because these vehicles are not normally subject to the same aerodynamic effects as a race car operating at high speeds. This technology was first used in Formula 1 in the late 1990s, and is now also used by other series such as NASCAR and the Indy Racing League. NASCAR teams with 7 post rigs include Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Roush Fenway Racing. The car driven by Jeff Gordon is shown on a 7 post rig in this video.

Vehicle designers use the results of the testing on the 7 post shaker to adjust specific aspects of the vehicle. They can adjust spring rates, shock valving, steering ratio and many other factors. Also, the driver will use the results to vary how they drive on that particular track. It is like being able to drive a racetrack ahead of time and be able to change variables instantly without having to wait until the next pit stop or after qualifying. When testing on a particular track the testers can choose a different line when going around a corner and see how it affects the race car.