350i A frames

[plasticpig72]

could someone tell me when the "A" frame was added to the rear suspension. I understand that a 350i is better with an "A" at the rear
Alan

[Mike Brewer]

Hi plastic pig .I think they started in1986 .Good luck ..Mike

[adam quantrill]

Maybe the first ones but they probably weren't mainstream until 1988 - My two 1986 cars were both trailing arm.

[KKson]

And my 1986 390SE is A frame as is my 1988 350i.

[adam quantrill]

Yeah they introduced them earlier for the more powerful versions.

[Yatesy350i]

My 350i registered 01/09/1986 is A frame.

[350zwelgje]

My 350i built in August 1986 has an A-frame.
Could be that 1986 is the 'switch-over' year.

Rob

[gmw9666]

plasticpig72 said:

could someone tell me when the "A" frame was added to the rear suspension. I understand that a 350i is better with an "A" at the rear
Alan

I have to say I've had both A frame and trailing arm set ups in previous wedges

My trailing arm chassis was set up nicely and handled very very well indeed

I would not be put off buying / owning a wedge just because it had trailing arm vs A frame

[Wedg1e]

The major issue with the trailing arm is the forward pivot arrangement which is overhung on a Metalastik bush. Originals for this have been unavailable for years and the replicas tend to be of rather poorer quality than the OEM. I was fitting replicas back in the late 90s so it's not a recent problem.
Someone did work out a bodgification a few years back to have the arm pivot supported on both sides which I believe improved things; I'm sure that a good rummage through the Trelleborg catalogue (they now own the Metalstik brand but their stock gets smaller every year) might turn up something that could be adapted to suit.. I never looked that closely as I was after A-frame bushes instead (which they don't sell either).
If push came to shove (and one day it might) then some sort of spherical bearing arrangement could work albeit with the likelihood of road noise transmission into the chassis.
One thing that's worth avoiding is letting the suspension hang at full droop with the car jacked-up, this twists the rubber in the bushes and could lead to it shearing.