US rear sway bar / anti roll bar history

[Tmoose]

I'd been thinking that the first factory installation of a rear anti-roll bar was around 1964 in the Olds 442 and possibly Studebaker Avanti.

Recently I read that the 1955 Studebaker Speedster had an ARB fitted from the factory.

Anybody know the truth?

Dan T

 

[patprimmer]

Does the self levelling feature in the "D" series Citroen introduced in 1955 count as an anti roll bar

Regards

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[GregLocock]

Dunno that they made Citreons in the USA!


This guy'll know about the Studebaker

http://www.rustyrestorations.org/gallery2/main.php

Cheers

Greg Locock

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

 

[patprimmer]

Greg

Where does he specify "made in USA"

Regards

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

 

[GregLocock]

Here ya go.

http://www.rustyrestorations.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=189&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

No sign of a rear sta bar. Also graphic evidence as to why one wouldn't work - the torsional stiffness of that frame would be very low indeed.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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

 

[Tmoose]

The pre-62 Studebaker Hawks apparently had no X member.
Not sure about rear ARB yet

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Diagrams/H5961F.JPG

Legend has it the "coupe" hawks were more solid than the hard top hawks, perhaps confirming that, intentionally or not, the body contributed to the structure.

The Avanti had a rear ARB, an X member, and looks to be a batch more body mounts, but of course the fiberglass body

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Diagrams/AV6384F.JPG

 

[patprimmer]

Opps

I just read the heading.

Clearly says US.

I will go sit in the corner for a while.

Regards

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

 

[GregLocock]

Grins. gotcha.

That X through the centre is a vitally important part for the torsional stiffness.

However, it looks to be an I beam, a rather curious choice for a torsion member - it does actually work in bending, but if you are chasing torsional stiffness, and they weren't as you can see from the other details, you make everything out of box and tube.




Cheers

Greg Locock

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

 

[Neubaten]

Wow!! Many thanks to everyone. My company manufactures this product, and I have showed the pictures and everything to my mates.

Very, very interesting.

And, on a side note, I like the Studebaker, what a cool car!!

 

[BillyShope]

Tmoose, you might have a communication problem if you start talking about an "anti-roll bar" with someone involved with dragracing. It might be better if you stick with "swaybar" or "anti-sway bar." In dragracing, they've finally realized that, with a RWD beam axle car, rear wheel loading is more equal if the ratio of front roll stiffness to rear roll stiffness can be reduced. The result is that which they call an "anti-roll bar." This is a rear swaybar with an absurdly high rate and adjustable links for static preloading. The rate is so high that the supplier strongly recommends that it be "connected" only during competition at the dragstrip.

 

[BillyShope]

And, even in the fifties, the body contributed most of the torsional stiffness.

 

[Tmoose]

Greg L wrote
"That X through the centre is a vitally important part for the torsional stiffness.

However, it looks to be an I beam, a rather curious choice for a torsion member - it does actually work in bending, but if you are chasing torsional stiffness, and they weren't as you can see from the other details, you make everything out of box and tube."

-------------------------

My well worn copy of Lincoln Electric's "Procedure handbook for ARC Welding" has a section on designing for arc welding.
The attachment is a few sections describing X members in some configurations being subjected to bending when the main frame is being twisted. I have not done any modeling to understand if a Studebaker frame-with-X-member's geometry falls in that category.

Dan T

 

[GregLocock]

I'm pretty sure it will, I did a 55 Tbird which has a fairly similar layout.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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