17-02-2023, 02:16 PM
(This post was last modified: 17-02-2023, 02:20 PM by Nick Lettington.
Edit Reason: Smelling mistakes
)
The links are there because the fixed length of the damper arm moving in a radius about the mounting point on the chassis would otherwise prevent the axle moving up and down without following the same arc. Howard may be correct about the arm sitting level, but it isn't going to affect the damping
I suspect the later shorter damper arms require a longer link so they don't reach the end of travel with extreme articulation of the axle, or there's a risk of them going over-centre. That would also explain the reason for longer ones on the sports models. The fronts are further inboard so don't need the same length to achieve the same degree of twist on one axle.
if you were to jack under one side of the axle and lift the car as high as you (safely) dare, you could check whether there is a risk of reaching the limit on the short links, but as Howard (and I) said, they aren't expensive. If it troubles you, I can supply one second hand.
Does this scribble explain it better?
I suspect the later shorter damper arms require a longer link so they don't reach the end of travel with extreme articulation of the axle, or there's a risk of them going over-centre. That would also explain the reason for longer ones on the sports models. The fronts are further inboard so don't need the same length to achieve the same degree of twist on one axle.
if you were to jack under one side of the axle and lift the car as high as you (safely) dare, you could check whether there is a risk of reaching the limit on the short links, but as Howard (and I) said, they aren't expensive. If it troubles you, I can supply one second hand.
Does this scribble explain it better?