The three-wheeled vehicles have a special mechanism that prevents falling over during braking. This anti-dive device is a connection mechanism with four rods. The main hub at this connection is guided by an iglidur RN56 self lubricating plastic bearing. Oscillating movements occur during use. The load on the bearing is the load of the vehicle plus the weight of the passengers and the inertia forces, making around three tonnes in total.
Previously, a bronze bushing with lubrication grooves and punched holes with graphite filling at the edge were being used.The drivers reported that lubrication regularly failed, which meant the bearings wore out quickly and the clearance increased. Other problems prevalent were loud noises, heavy juddering of the handle bars or even tilting of the rick shaw during braking. igus developed a comprehensive new concept to solve this problem, both in terms of the wear parameters and a lubricant-free solution for use on dirty and uneven streets. Comfort for both the driver and the passengers have been significantly improved at the same time.
