RE: Zamani's suspension

["Bergman, Micke" <M.Bergman@domain.elided>]

Hmm.....

You don't seem to have much understanding for suspensions do you?

I too run coil overs in front for several and good reasons.

a) Availability of springs
b) Price of sprigs
c) LESS WEIGHT (both total and front)
d) Easily adjustable ride height
e) Anti dive
f) Roll centers

The DeDion isn't perfect but works great (after some modifying). No need to
change that.

Torsion bars aren't bad. A spring is a spring - it doesn't matter if it is
wound to a coil or straight. Just the Alfa design isn't very good. This is
not a fault of torsion bars in general.

Micke
Alfa GTV - transaxle + torsion bars
Porsche 944S2 - transaxle + torsion bars



-----Original Message-----
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 23:03:42 -0500
From: Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>
Subject: Zamani's suspension

Well, I've been inspired to throw in my two cents on 75 suspension 
upgrades (that's suspension upgrades for the Alfa 75 that I'm 
referring to, not some kind of remix of "76 Trombones" or 
something...).  I think Zamani is nuts to want to install coilovers 
on his Milano.  How 'bout throwing out the deDion for swing axles 
next?  Not to be harsh, but aren't there stiffer torsion bars 
available that will suit your purposes?  For coilovers not to induce 
massive chassis flexing, you'd have to reinforce stuff like was done 
to the Beninca Alfetta.  It seems to me that the SZ, with its 
unfortunately coilover front suspension, lacks 50/50 weight 
distribution and weighs more than a GTV6.  I blame the coilover 
suspension and necessary changes made to the structure of the front 
of the car.  Transaxles are great but face it, the torsion bar 
suspension is the real reason that our Alfas have 50/50 weight 
distribution.  Consider the 928, C5 Corvette and new Maseratis...all 
w/transaxles, all with 52/48 weight distribution.  Jaguar E-type was 
50/50 w/ a conventional drivetrain, but it had a torsion bar front 
suspension.  I realize that Zamani just wants to augment the existing 
system, but I'm guessing it's not a good investment to do so with 
coil springs.

Joe Elliott
'82 GTV6

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