Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
(OP)
...this is more of an informational question, but what 'real' beneft(s) is there to the Watts Z-Link rear suspension that GM has installed in their North American Cruze cars?
...it's an economy car, so "high-performance" road handling seems rather dubious.
...any "real-world" users have comments?
...it's an economy car, so "high-performance" road handling seems rather dubious.
...any "real-world" users have comments?
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
It may help to a virtually non-perceivable extent re fuel economy by reducing sideways movement over bumps and tracking straighter.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
It's more related to controlling rear-wheel bump steering effects than anything else.
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
In useful objective terms it should give less compliance oversteer than a basic twistbeam.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
Sounds like a stability control benefit.
Norm
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
Probably due to packaging by adding a Watt's link they could improve location while improving ride by using lower rate bushings. They could also maximize track width within the body panels pushing the wheels out as far as possible adding visual appeal. Don't laugh this stuff is important to selling cars, ask Bob Lutz.
Why they mixed a torsion bar in the twist beam tube and added coil springs is beyond me though unless there was some sort of IP issue they wanted to cover themselves on.
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
...oh, by the way, we own a 2011 Cruze, but the Z-link (from what I've read) seems out of place, being more commonly used on racing and slalom & gymkhana racing cars.
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
Norm
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
But the coil springs?
I think GM had a twist beam in the J series chassis in the mid 80s, so IP should be well and truly public domain by now. I think VW had it in a Golf or Passat even before that, like maybe late 70s.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
A twistbeam is not a brilliant suspension, but it is good enough. To my mind the major failing is that the twist beam cuts right across the car, making packaging of the exhaust and brake lines and fuel filler and tank and spare tire more difficult than they might be. It is also a bit heavy, offset by the simplicity of the body structure that can be used.
The dynamic deficiencies are real and measurable, but for a town/commuter car I doubt they really matter to many customers.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
70AAR
Sorry yes I meant intellectual property. This is what you get when your wife of 30 years is a lawyer. For a lateral locating linkage for stick axles the Watt's link is hard to beat IMO.
I think the Z-link name is marketing hype. Watt's links have been around a long long time. Crown Vics have had them for many years and is part of why those monsters handle so surprisingly well for what they were. Heck I installed a Watt's link in my S197 Mustang GT.
Norm!
Yeah I figured that out after I posted and had a few minutes to ponder it on the throne. Thanks.
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
byte - now you've got me curious about whether that Watts link on your Mustang happens to be "brand F", "brand S", or somebody elses.
Norm
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
It's a while since I saw a torsion beam rear end. I was imagining the beam acted as a torsion bar spring, but I guess it acts as the anti roll bar and you still need springs.
In that case, I guess if you want not to much ARB, you end up with a flexible torsion beam and a lot of lateral compliance, then the watts link fixes that issue.
I still think it's a snazzy sounding name for marketing spin though.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
With a dedicated lateral locating device, you have better control over roll steer and compliance steer effects than when the only lateral axle location comes from some sort of arm or link acting in cantilever bending. The only car I can think of that used a cantilevered anything for lateral axle location is the Mk I Sprite, and that car had a reputation for being a bit "twitchy".
Norm
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
"It has race proven Z-link rear suspension that can out corner a 2011 BMW328i."
htt
RE: Watts Z-Link on GM Cruze
The only other car using cantilever springs for location I can recall is the early MkI Jaguar sedans circa 1960 / 61.
Yes the Sprigets were a little "twitchy"...downright treacherous if you really want to be honest... but a great fun drive and all at or below the legal limit in most places too.
Peter.