What Is Better Live Axle or IRS? Compare features such as grip, price, and ease of construction. Thanks very much
Then i can decide what to make.
What about De-Dion, not even getting a mention?
Col
Arrrp, De-dion. Gets my vote too, best of both worlds. Probably the hardest to make yourself accurately though.....
Live axle - better grip, cheaper and easier to build!
IRS - better choice of diffs, easy to get Sierra, move comfy ride...
having done my own irs suspension i can tell you that using a live axle would have saved masses of time!
atb
steve
A live axle is the easiest, simplest and cheapest. The book dscribes a five link setup but a four link with two upper links as in the book and two
lower links angled inwards from the outer ends of the axle to mounts on the back of the transmission tunnel would be simpler, cheaper, lighter and
just as capable.
In theory the advantages of independent suspension get smaller compared to Deon as a car gets lighter. The Strathcarron and Caterham cars use Deon.
I would suggest that a decent Deon and four link layout would be best for a Seven type car.
yep a de-dion with a satchell linkage wins my vote and is what i am using
I presume a satchell linkage is like a watts linkage or am I getting mixed up? Taking the place and doing a better job than a panhard rod. My car has
the 5 link rear end and I've never had a car that responds to steering input like this one does. Get out of shape and a little bit of opposite lock
and all's well. Get's my vote!
Just as an aside many think that a live axle is the heaviest of the three. Nope, it's usually the lightest. it's just that it's a lot of unsprung
weight bcause the weight of the diff is carried by the axle, not so with IRS or de-dion.
[Edited on 2/11/02 by locodude]
Any one that can explain/compare the the satchell linkage Vs a watts linkage
I am buliding a de-dion with some thing i use to call an inverted watt link .
Is this the same as satchell !
A satchell link consists of two upper links parallel to the car centre line (like the four trailing tubes of the lowcost book) and two lower angled links. The angled links normally run from the ends of the live axle or Deon tube forwards and inwards, at about 45 degrees to the centre line, to mounts at or near the rear of the transmission tunnel. This is the least number of links that can be used without making one link an A frame as on a Caterham. The Satchell link can give good handling, as on the Strathcarron, and can handle big power, as on many US live axle race cars. I can't see any reason why a five link would be preferable unless you own shares in a bushing or rod end company. A Watts linkage seems more complex for no obvious benefit.
quote:
Originally posted by cymtriks
I can't see any reason why a five link would be preferable unless you own shares in a bushing or rod end company.
quote:That was one of the best things about it- front of the Hicost in our lane and the back heading towards the oncoming traffic! Can you imagine the look on their faces:
I would hate to loose that backend breaking away though in the wet, especially when traffic is coming toward you, ask James from the other day at box hill!
