CIH Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I read trailing arm set-ups don't enjoy dynamic camber gains but do see dynamic wheelbase changes. If so are there any real-world benefits over the cheaper and sometimes lighter torsion beam arrangement ? If anybody is wandering, Trailing-arms were used by Peugeot (before they gave up and started making tat) on halcyon FWD models like the 205GTi, where the lack of rear camber gains reduced FWD understeer tendencey by effectivly reducing ultimate rear grip levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackherer Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 Citroen used them as well (they are the same company after all) and the wheelbase change you mentioned is the reason Citroens with hydraulic suspension have the handbrakes fitted to the front wheels. When they are left parked for long periods the suspension drops all the way down to the bumpstops, the front mac struts just go straight down but the rear trailing arms travel through an arc so if the rear wheels were braked the body (and front wheels) would move to compensate for the wheelbase change. I only mention this as it helped me visualise the theoretical wheelbase change with my stiffly sprung* 205 GTI when I moved the suspension of one of my Citroens through its full travel. *not coil springs, torsion bars, big fat 23mm ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 I would say benefits either way are negligible, at the end of the day both other the same torsional properties so all that differs is the build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted November 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 so why go to the trouble on "cooking" models like Mondeo ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 so why go to the trouble on "cooking" models like Mondeo ? Mondeo's not trailing arm or torsion arm though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted November 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 oh I thought it was ? ah well, my question still stands ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 What question.... Modey's are multi-link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted November 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 why bother with trailing arm IRS in place of beamz ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 why bother with trailing arm IRS in place of beamz ? Technically the beam is live whereas multi-link is inert, suspension activity is much more less intrusive if it's actions are confined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted November 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 It occured to me today, when I was bored, that multi-link won't sufffer from toe steering issues during single wheel bump events too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 RWD will squat moving the diff forward and down, it's for this reason they use a traction rod to reduce the toe gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted November 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 so are there any genuine benefits of IRS for fast FWDs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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