Swing axle

The swing axle (formerly also swing axle ) is a simple form of independent suspension in motor vehicles.

When driven swing axles, the differential gear may be fixed to the chassis ( double-joint swing axle ) or it sits laterally on a drive shaft and a fork-like receiver on the car body fixed ( single-joint swing axle, manufacturer Mercedes -Benz). In hingeless swing axles Tatra during compression roll the ring gears onto the sprockets in the (rigid built ) differential.

The wheels are the drive shafts fixed flange-mounted or mounted on the axle without joints. This distinguishes them from other types, where a joint between the drive shaft and the wheel is still installed. Therefore, changes to the swing axles and rebound the fall and track width. This has an unstable cornering result, particularly during rapid changes of direction can tilt the vehicle. With a so-called compensating spring between the two semi-axles can improve the driving safety.

In official parlance of Daimler -Benz " diagonal swing axle ", which was a bit misleading was the rear axle of the then (1968 ) new Mercedes / 8, because it was a normal trailing link axle. This had marketing reasons; you did not want to seem outdated, the pendulum axis of the still current S-Class ( W108 ).

Today ( 2008) finds swing axles practically only in off-road trucks.