Rear Suspension

Rear Suspension





Rear Suspension Components
The independent rear suspension uses coaxial spring and damper units, an 'A' frame, wishbone tie, pendulum assembly, wide mounting frame, monostrut and cast wishbones. Positive location of the suspension is provided by the "A" frame, wide mounting bracket and monostrut. Each wishbone inner is pivoted on a fulcrum bolt which passes through the wishbone tie and pendulum assembly.

The wishbone tie and pendulum assemblies are installed at the front and rear of the final drive housing. The monostrut is also attached to wishbone tie assembly and two further tie rods are installed between the front of the "A" frame and the top of the final drive housing.

The outer end of the wishbone is bolted to the hub carrier assembly using a pivot bolt, allowing for toe-in adjustment. When the pivot bolt is correctly seated in a groove on the wishbone arm, it has small clearance at the sides but full clearance at the top and bottom. Rotation of the bolt, with the eccentric constrained between vertical faces, causes the bolt shank to be moved in the horizontal plane, thus moving the hub carrier and effecting wheel alignment adjustment.

The axle-shaft acts as the upper wishbone and the hub carrier as a vertical link.

A snubber is installed above the hub carrier to prevent the carrier contacting the vehicle body.

The suspension spring is coaxial with the damper unit and is installed between the wishbone integral spring seat and the upper spring seat mounted on the vehicle body. The damper lower end is attached to the wishbone by a bolt which forms the damper lower pivot.

A stabilizer bar is mounted at the rear of the wishbone tie assembly and its outer ends are connected to the wishbones by short links.

As the road wheel rises, the movement is transmitted through the hub carrier assembly to the wishbone and axle-shaft, which also rise. As the wishbone rises, it causes the suspension spring to be compressed and the damper to move through part of its travel. The spring absorbs the shock and the damper damps any unwanted spring frequencies.

When cornering, weight is transferred to the outer wheel with a natural tendency for the inner wheel to lift. The stabilizer bar helps to minimize this by transferring some of the apparent rise of the outer wheel to the inner wheel through the links to the wishbones, helping to provide a more level ride. Adaptive damping may also be specified as an option.