Are 172's rear suspension fully dependent? If so, why need rear anti roll bar?

[shiyan]

172's rear suspension fully dependent? If so, why the need for a rear anti roll bar?

Hoping to hear from those of you with a better technical understanding of the rear of the Clio 1*2...

The first time I saw my car jacked up, I was quite shocked to see that the rear seemed to be fully dependent. I also did not notice a rear anti roll bar (perhaps I did not look carefully enough).

I take as reference a picture from Yozza's blog:

It seemed like the 2 rear wheels were attached to a H shaped frame (think of a horizontally stretched out H) at the H's feet, and the 2 tops of the H frame were attached to the chassis. From what I could see, both wheels must move up and down simultaneously by the same amount, making them fully depedent.

If this is the case, then I don't see why there would be the need for a rear anti roll bar kit such as the one from Whiteline http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=58832, or the need for rear strut braces.

I'm guessing that the rear is not fully dependent but somehow semi independent? If that's the case can someone briefly explain how that's achieved?

 

[Riley!]

there not independent there on a beam which isnt very strong. It felxi's quite a lot, which is what I assume the whiteline kit helps. The one on the trophy is re-enforced

 

[.GAZ.]

Fixed rear axle mate!

 

[shiyan]

there not independent there on a beam which isnt very strong. It felxi's quite a lot, which is what I assume the whiteline kit helps. The one on the trophy is re-enforced

woah

Fixed rear axle mate!

so, if that H shaped frame was perfectly stiff, the 2 wheels would be fully dependent on each other?

 

[Tigger]

What does the Whiteline ARB kit claim to achieve?

Read some good reports about it on here last week but for the life of me I can't mind what it was meant to do lol

 

[shiyan]

What does the Whiteline ARB kit claim to achieve?

Read some good reports about it on here last week but for the life of me I can't mind what it was meant to do lol

Well I know that if a car had fully independent rear suspension (like the Ford Focus, new Minis, BMWs, etc), a stiffer rear anti roll bar would make it easier to rotate - better turn in, among other things

I was confused as to why that would also be the case for the Clio if the rear suspension is fully dependent (in effect, same as having an extremely oversized rear anti roll bar)

 

[Riley!]

yep you read it right. It is a common known fact that the rear beams arn't that strong

 

[shiyan]

yep you read it right. It is a common known fact that the rear beams arn't that strong

Is the rear beam a very expensive part? I have a rather high mileage car :dead:

 

[Riley!]

new, yes. If anything try and get hold of a second hand one off a trophy

 

[.GAZ.]

Is the rear beam a very expensive part? I have a rather high mileage car :dead:

U can pick them up cheap from breakers yards..

 

[shiyan]

new, yes. If anything try and get hold of a second hand one off a trophy

Oh bugger me :dead:
edit:

U can pick them up cheap from breakers yards..

:hail:

 

[shiyan]

From the last alignment I know my rear wheels are still pointed not out of alignment, but the suspension is very worn, and there's a lot more body roll than is normal for a 172, I'm in the process of replacing all the bushings, springs, and dampers, but I'm also wondering whether the old rear beam is flexing a lot more than a newer one...

 

[.GAZ.]

Get ur old beam strengthened!!!

 

[Riley!]

depends how hard its been driven and on what kind of roads. See what its like after doing all of what you said then decide

 

[shiyan]

Get ur old beam strengthened!!!

hmm, that might be a good idea

depends how hard its been driven and on what kind of roads. See what its like after doing all of what you said then decide

Cool. Well garage work hours are a lot too, so if I can find it for cheap I might just change it just to be sure.

Is it the same rear frame on all Clio 2s (besides the Trophy)? Or do the 1*2s have a stronger rear frame compared to regular Clio 2s?

 

[davebem]

The rear suspension is semi-independent, the rear trailing arm is designed to flex a little. The rear axles are the same on all Clios 2s except on the 182 where they thickened the roll bar and strengthened the bit around the shocks and the springs.

 

[Fred@BTM]

torsion beam (note NOT torsion bar) ie the rear ARB works in the same way a torsion bar does (in simple terms)

the whiteline rear ARB works well, i tested it for a magazine a while back

PS - who's that sexy beast under that trophy?

 

[shiyan]

The rear suspension is semi-independent, the rear trailing arm is designed to flex a little. The rear axles are the same on all Clios 2s except on the 182 where they thickened the roll bar and strengthened the bit around the shocks and the springs.

thanks for clearing that up!

torsion beam (note NOT torsion bar) ie the rear ARB works in the same way a torsion bar does (in simple terms)

the whiteline rear ARB works well, i tested it for a magazine a while back

PS - who's that sexy beast under that trophy?

cool, I'll try to find out how a torsion beam works

no idea who that is... yozza?

 

[Fred@BTM]

i'm insulted! yozza is a beast of a man, i was the good looking one at YS!

 

[Beef-Mc]

Lol Yoz is hairier

 

[shiyan]

i'm insulted! yozza is a beast of a man, i was the good looking one at YS!

haha, my apologies