Re: multilinks

[ckuo@sprynet.com]

I agree multilinks have certain advantages, especially if specific tuning 
alignments are required (racing or whatever). Up front, multilinks can be 
awesome, but BMW, Porsche, Audi and others have been pretty successful with 
MacPherson struts. So I would say execution usually matters more than concept. I 
think in the back, the main advantage for multilinks is better ride, when not 
using a stiff stabilizer bar, and the ability to adjust and control camber. The 
VW/Audi rear twist beams usually don't allow for this adjustment. The VW/Audi 
twist beam does allow for some independent action left and right, being 
essentially a big stabilizer bar implementing a trailing arm concept. However, 
if you start putting a stabilizer bar which matches the stiffness of a VW/Audi 
setup on a rear multilink, I believe the ride begins to suffer in the same way. 
One of VW's tricks for good FWD handling has been to dial this stiffness in the 
rear to compensate for the inherent understeering of FWD. Our Honda Civic has 
multilinks (no stabilizer bar) in the back and a pretty decent ride, but the 
rear is soft, the handling isn't there, and the understeering is. 

By the way, I've been looking at the Road and Track test for the Audi TT, and it 
appears to be based on the new Golf chassis, MacPherson struts up front, twist 
beam in back. And the TT appears to have pretty good handling numbers. Could it 
have been better with multilinks? Maybe, maybe not. I think improving the weight 
distribution over the 64/36 ratio could have more of an impact.

My .02

Chauncey Kuo

85 5000S wagon
84 VW Scirocco


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As for the multilink suspension, one can tune a strut /twist beam
to outperform/handle a multilink car, but has to compromise too much ride 
quality.
This is the beauty of multilink suspension good handling (camber and roll 
control)
and good ride, not like my 86 GTI stiffly sprung to handle good with terrible 
ride
quality. If a multilink car is tuned using the same stiffness as a strut/beam 
axle
one I seriously doubt their handling will be even comparable. After all why did 
BMW,
Porsche, Audi, MB start to implement various types of multilink suspensions in 
their
cars. I doubt it is only for marketing reasons. And Audi's front and rear 
multilink
design is one of the best (if not the best) out of the bunch. 
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Stilian

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