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Swing axle suspension characteristics: Camber change on bumps, "jacking" on rebound
A swing axle is a simple type of independent (rear wheel) suspension designed and patented by Edmund Rumpler in 1903. This was a revolutionary invention in automotive suspension, allowing driven (powered) wheels to follow uneven road surfaces independently, thus enabling the vehicle's wheels to maintain better road contact and holding; plus each wheel's reduced unsprung weight means their movements have less impact on the vehicle as a whole. The first automotive application was the Rumpler Tropfenwagen, later followed by the Mercedes 130H/150H/170H, the Standard Superior, the Volkswagen Beetle and its derivatives, the Chevrolet Corvair, and the roll-over prone M151 jeep amongst others.
Some later automobile rear swing axles have universal joints connecting the driveshafts to the differential, which is attached to the chassis. Swing axles do not have universal joints at the wheels — the wheels are always perpendicular to the driveshafts; the design is therefore not suitable for a car's front wheels, which require steering motion. Nevertheless, a simplified variant, wherein the differential remained fixed to one of the halfshafts, was offered optionally on the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer's front axle, upon its market introduction.
Swing axle suspensions conventionally used leaf springs and shock absorbers, though later Mercedes-Benz applications used coil springs.
It was also used in early aircraft (1910 or before), such as the Sopwith and Fokker, usually with rubber bungee and no damping.
A swingaxle is a simple type of independent (rear wheel) suspension designed and patented by Edmund Rumpler in 1903. This was a revolutionary invention...
An exception to this rule, is the independent (rear) swingaxle suspension, wherein the half-axles are also load-bearing suspension arms. Independent drive-trains...
the swingaxle, Hotchkiss drive, or live axle. Because it plays no part in transmitting power to the drive wheels, it is sometimes called a "dead axle"....
between the geometries of swinging arm and swingaxle. In semi-independent suspensions, the wheels of an axle are able to move relative to one another,...
Nader's claim that swing-axle rear suspension was dangerous, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Tatra, and Volkswagen all used similar swing-axle concepts during that...
Standard-Triumph in 1959. Rear suspension was by a single transverse-leaf swingaxle, an arrangement, that unless ameliorated by any of several options, can...
Nader's claim that swing-axle rear suspension were dangerous, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen all used similar swing-axle concepts during that...
all wheels, albeit the front axle was designed with double longitudinal trailing arms, whereas the rear axle was a swingaxle. Light alloy forms the Beetle's...
was delivered to the rear wheels by the 4-speed manual transaxle and swingaxles from the Type 1. The tires were 5.60 x 15 on all four corners. Brakes...
automatic came a CV-jointed independent rear suspension (IRS), replacing the swingaxle (also IRS) set-up. This 1968 mid-year introduction was only available...
lies with William Stout's 1932 Stout Scarab. This rear-engined car used swingaxle independent rear suspension, with long near-vertical coilover struts from...
the Scarab was one of very poor "blackjack-like" handling). The rear swingaxle suspension with long coil spring struts was inspired by aircraft landing...
Type 1 Karmann Ghia, which had a wider floorpan than the Beetle. Rear swingaxle suspension with reduction gearing from the discontinued split-screen Volkswagen...
1960-69 Chevrolet Corvair Z-body up to 1964 used a variation of the rear swing-axle suspension and a transaxle similar to that found on the 1961-63 Pontiac...
independent suspension on all wheels. Some early independent systems used swingaxles, but modern systems use Chapman or MacPherson struts, trailing arms,...
only major criticism was of its rear suspension; the GT6 inherited the swing-axle system from the Spitfire, which in turn was copied from the Herald small...
distribution, together with independent rear suspension for nimble handling (a swingaxle design similar to the Chevy Corvair). A Slant-4 engine connected to the...
tubular torsion bars used on the German Type 3. The rear suspension is a swingaxle system with transverse torsion bars, trailing arms, and a "Z bar" transverse...
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