What was the last mainstream CAR with a solid rear axle..

[Beyond Rational]

...sold In the U.K? - ignoring imports such as the Mustang and obviously 4x4s and pickups.

No reason other than curiosity. I'm thinking Volvo 240, but am I miles off?

[edo]

Can you still buy a Westie or Caterham with a live rear axle? Certainly a few built not that long ago that have them...

[tog]

Bristol Blenheim still uses a live rear axle.

[kambites]

Don't some modern hatchbacks still use solid rear axles?

ETA: Maybe not, looking at a few.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th April 08:34

[Dunk76]

Both the Manta and Capri had live axles, and both ended sale in 1988.

[Beyond Rational]

Westies and Bristols aren't really mainstream, I'm thinking more of cars that were contemporary when they were sold.

Just remembered the Volvo 960, I think the Volvo 240 made it to 1993.

[Chr1sch]

kambites said:

Don't some modern hatchbacks still use solid rear axles?

ETA: Maybe not, looking at a few.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th April 08:34

They use a Torsion beam - i.e a fixed bar between the 2 rear trainling arms that twists and acts as a giant damper, nit strictly a solid rear axle - indicating that the rear wheels are fixed together and hop all over the place mid bend!

[kambites]

Surely a torsion bar acts as a giant spring not a damper?

[Chr1sch]

I am no mechanic, but the idea as far as i understand it, is that its a specially formed beam (a t-peice on my old astra) the idea being it has limited flex to dampen down erratic suspension travel and control body roll.

[kambites]

doogz said:

Astra's have coil springs.

So (sorry to take this so far off topic) how is an Astra damped?

[[AJ]]

kambites said:

doogz said:

Astra's have coil springs.

So (sorry to take this so far off topic) how is an Astra damped?

It also has regular dampers.

[Chr1sch]

Ahh ok, yep with you on the Peugeot thing, the Astra has trailing arms which have a separate spring and damper units each side with a beam in between to control body roll etc

[tog]

Chr1sch said:

Ahh ok, yep with you on the Peugeot thing, the Astra has trailing arms which have a separate spring and damper units each side with a beam in between to control body roll etc

Isn't that an anti-roll bar?

[CDP]

Is the Hindustan Ambassador still available?

The Ford Mustang isn't generally sold but they're really common.

Failing that you're looking at FSOs and Lada Rivas.

[Chr1sch]

tog said:

Chr1sch said:

Ahh ok, yep with you on the Peugeot thing, the Astra has trailing arms which have a separate spring and damper units each side with a beam in between to control body roll etc

Isn't that an anti-roll bar?

Yeah of sorts i guess, a bloody big one lol

[HellDiver]

Hyundai Stellar? More or less a Mk5 Cortina rip-off if I remember correctly. Sold until '97 according to Wikipedia.

Edited by HellDiver on Thursday 15th April 09:06

[Chr1sch]

Are you talking Pugs now, my Mk3 astra certainly didnt have a tube, does the latest incarnation?

[JB!]

MK4 Golf still had a solid rear beam.

Hence why the MK1 focus ran rings round it handling wise.

[jbi]

Volvo 850/V70 used to use a semi-independant suspension set up that was not too far removed from a solid rear axle.

One of the reasons it was such a good tow car.

[DrTre]

Thought a solid rear axle was only applicable on RWD cars? As in, it's the shafts that comprise the axle, not a beam.

Edited by DrTre on Thursday 15th April 09:18