"Suspension Evolution" or "Did Darwin Screw Up?"

[BillyShope]

Was thinking again of my youth, as old men do, and recalled how all the Chevies and Fords of the time had torque tube suspension. Even the Corvette had it for the first 3 years. But, eventually, 'most everyone went to open drive shaft and leafs. The next evolutionary step was to coils and here is where I think the ape might have stumbled over his tail.

The torque tube was simple, effective, and relatively cheap. How did it get lost in the evolutionary scheme of things? No, it can't be used with an open driveshaft, but there's nothing to prevent it from disgorging the driveshaft and moving a few inches to the right. Why didn't our friend who dreamed up the torque arm realize that he could get rid of those lower links by merely reviving use of the front ball?

http://www.racetec.cc/shope

 

[GregLocock]

Well Billy, the curves say that the transient response due to changing rear roll steer is very similar in character to that that I got by changing the cornering stiffness of the tires. I've posted my data.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[BillyShope]

Hey, guys, I've never said there were no transient effects induced by changes in roll steer. All I've said is that roll steer is unique in that it produces effects (including transients) which replicate those produced by other conditions (such as a weight bias), but that it does this without changing tire loadings. So, while both a rearward weight bias and roll oversteer can produce the undesirable transients you describe, only the rearward weight bias brings with it the extra baggage of a critical speed.

http://www.racetec.cc/shope