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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 04:40
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Hello, i've heard the term De Dion Rear Axle before, but don't quite understand it.
Can someone bring me up to speed on it? I heard it can help if you are trying to get less unsprung weight in the rear axle.
Many thanks
Joel
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Toymods Vice President
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 06:03
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This design runs a transaxle (combined gearbox and differential) at the back of the car in an IRS arangement. There is a clutch at the back of the engine and this clutch drives the tailshaft which connects back to the transaxle.
The most common place I've seen this setup in road cars is in Alfa's.
I really don't think it's a feasible way of reducing unsprung weight in any car that wasn't designed for it from the start. You'd be far better off going for a normal IRS setup, unless for some reason you find a car with a transmission tunnel that is big enough to hold a transaxle in the rear most section.
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I supported Toymods
Banned User
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 06:50
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The Alfa also has the brakes in that center arrangment too doesnt it?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 10:37
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I've heard a different definition of DeDion axles. The way I heard it explained, it's sort of a cross between IRS and live axle. The wheels are solidly connected by a beam, just like a live axle setup, but the diff is bolted solidly to the floorpan just like IRS. I don't think the drivetrain has anything to do with it, but I could be wrong...
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Location:
Finland
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 11:50
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Norbie is right! De Dion is half live half IRS setup and has nothing to do with gearboxes and clutches. First car with De Dion setup that comes to my mind is Daf 66.
Here's a pic of sierra with De Dion conversion.
http://www.simoni.co.uk/car/pics/mkdedion.jpg
BTW. nice avatar Norbie.
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Toymods Vice President
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 22:46
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Yep the Alfa has inboard disc's which is a handy way of further reducing unsprung weight.
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 23:04
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Thanks everyone for all the info  learn't something new now.
Was there much or any advantage over De Dion compared to IRS?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Can someone explain De Dion Rear Axles?
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Tue, 22 July 2003 23:16
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I believe the idea behind DeDion is to keep all the advantages of live axle (ie no camber changes during squat/dive) without the large unsprung weight penalty of having the diff and axles integrated into the suspension. Of course it loses the advantage of having the wheels completely independant, but for racing purposes (ie very smooth roads) this is less important.
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