Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Why does a torque arm have to slide?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-27-2005, 09:32 PM
  #1  
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
CanuckSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Ancaster, ON - Where F-bodies are rare!
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Why does a torque arm have to slide?

I am wondering why this is the case?
You would think that it only needs to pivot and not slide ahead.
What would happen if it didn't slide?
Thanks
Old 09-27-2005, 11:05 PM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (18)
 
DONAIMIAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NW Houston, TX
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

If it didnt slid it would either limit the rear suspension travel, or bind and break the arm. When your TQ arm moves up and down, it moves in and out of the mount.
Old 09-28-2005, 07:34 AM
  #3  
TECH Resident
 
Weezzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: South Alabama
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by CanuckSS
I am wondering why this is the case?
You would think that it only needs to pivot and not slide ahead.
What would happen if it didn't slide?
Thanks

You need to study some Euclidean geometry, then you will understand!

Old 09-28-2005, 08:05 AM
  #4  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (9)
 
Fulton 1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: WA
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Imagine (while looking at the side of the car) that the rear axle is the weight on the end of a pendulum, the LCA's are the arm of the pendulum, and the forward attachment of the LCA's is the pivot point. As the rear suspension moves up and down it actually swings in an arc (as would the pendulum) thus causing some fore and aft movement in the axle. This fore and aft motion requires anything attaching on a different axis from the forward LCA pivot to "slip" or it could bind the whole system. This is why both the torque arm and the driveshaft must be able to slip forward and aft.

Note that the pendulum analogy isn't 100% correct since there is also a pivot at the axle end and the TA actually keeps the axle from rotating about this point, but for illustration I think the analogy holds up pretty well.



Quick Reply: Why does a torque arm have to slide?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:49 AM.