Why does a torque arm have to slide?
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From: Ancaster, ON - Where F-bodies are rare!
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
You would think that it only needs to pivot and not slide ahead.
What would happen if it didn't slide?
Thanks
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: South Alabama
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 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!
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.
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.
