Diploma in Long-Travel Suspension for Baja
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in long-travel suspension for Baja racing: 8 modules covering desert racing demands, long-travel architectures, desert dampers, springs and bump stops, simulation and design, on-track set-up and race reliability, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the demands of desert racing.
Design long-travel suspension architectures.
Select and tune bypass dampers.
Set up springs and bump stops for jumps.
Simulate suspension behaviour.
Carry out on-track set-up.
Ensure reliability during the race.
Who it's for
- Off-road suspension engineers
- Damper technicians
- Motorsport engineers
- Desert race vehicle builders
- Race data engineers
- Chassis designers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into off-road motorsport
What you'll work with
- ISO 8608 (reporting of road surface profiles)
- ISO 2631-1 (evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration)
- SCORE International Rulebook (technical and sporting rules for Baja desert racing)
- FIA Appendix J, Article 283 (general safety prescriptions for cross-country vehicles)
- Directive 2002/44/EC (minimum health and safety requirements regarding exposure to vibration)
- MSC Adams
- MoTeC i2 Pro
- SolidWorks
- Ansys Mechanical
8 modules
1.1Terrain: sand, whoops, rock and dry riverbeds1.2Speeds and loads in a race1.3Trophy trucks and unlimited classes1.4Demands on the suspension1.5Reference technical regulations1.6Desert off-road culture1.7Reliability versus performance1.8Lessons from major races1.9Race data and telemetry1.10Workshop: analysis of a Baja terrain profile
2.1Long front wishbones2.2Four-link solid axles2.3Trailing and semi-trailing arms2.4Travel of more than 600 mm2.5Mounting points and reinforcements2.6Roll centre and anti-dive2.7Suspension motion ratio2.8Integration with steering2.9Unsprung mass2.10Practical: kinematic study of a long wishbone
3.1External bypass dampers3.2Coilover dampers3.3Hydraulic bump stop dampers3.4Remote reservoirs3.5Oil cooling3.6Damping fade due to temperature3.7Compression and rebound adjustment3.8Multiple dampers per wheel3.9Maintenance between stages3.10Laboratory: damper curve on a dyno
4.1Tandem coil springs4.2Dual-rate springs4.3Hydraulic bump stops4.4Limit straps4.5Torsion bars and anti-roll bars4.6Preload and ride height4.7Progressive rate4.8Selection according to vehicle weight4.9Managing jumps and landings4.10Case study: spring set-up for whoops
5.1Kinematic modelling in MSC Adams5.2Jump simulation5.3Damper models5.4Road profiles to ISO 86085.5Driver vibration to ISO 2631-15.6Travel optimisation5.7Loads for structural design5.8Finite element analysis of components5.9Validation with race data5.10Practical: simulating a landing after a jump
6.1Set-up procedures6.2Testing on representative sections6.3Reading vehicle behaviour6.4Data acquisition with potentiometers6.5Analysis in MoTeC i26.6Driver-engineer communication6.7Adjustment by terrain type6.8Recording set-ups6.9Safety during testing6.10Workshop: set-up session on a sand section
7.1Typical suspension failures7.2Inspection between stages7.3Bearings and rod ends7.4Fatigue of arms and mounts7.5Rapid component replacement7.6Critical spare parts7.7Service planning7.8Lessons learned7.9Continuous improvement7.10Case study: analysis of a broken arm
8.1Definition of the vehicle8.2Travel and load requirements8.3Suspension architecture8.4Selection of dampers and springs8.5Simulation8.6Set-up plan8.7Reliability plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MSC Adams, MoTeC i2 Pro, SolidWorks and Ansys Mechanical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for suspension set-up on sand and whoops sections, damper dyno testing and analysis of race travel data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: ISO 8608, ISO 2631-1, SCORE International Rulebook, FIA Appendix J, Article 283, Directive 2002/44/EC.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MSC Adams, MoTeC i2 Pro, SolidWorks and Ansys Mechanical, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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