Transverse Leaf Spring Research

crj_lll · Jan 30, 2018

I have been researching my 2018 XC90 and found the rear suspension to be a challenge to say the least. In this research I have found that the 30+ years of corvettes have the same suspension we have in the XC90. There is no question here. I am just posting this for everyone and to establish a place to post anything else we find about Transverse Leaf Springs.

Before anyone starts in, the article is about corvettes but we will have some of the same characteristics in similar situations. One main difference is that we will not drive them on track day as hard if at all. But at the end of the day, the more knowledge the better.

Enjoy!!

http://tech.corvettecentral.com/2012/10/c5c6-corvette-suspension-tech-coilovers-vs-leafs/

xc90_2018 · Jan 30, 2018

Yes, it's a not very common solution. They used it back on the Volvo 960 I think.
960: https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/ImagesProcedures/960MultilinkLeafSprings.gif
XC90:

I choose it instead of the air-suspension (due to cost) and it works fine so far. Less complex than an air-system but I'm not 100% sure of the durability of a glassfibre leaf spring. But so far I have not read anyone that has problems with it.

Is it the same solution for V/S90 and XC60?

Nickshu · Jan 30, 2018

Interesting information, thanks for posting. I had no idea how unique the rear suspension setup was on the T8. One thing I was not clear about on the videos is the difference between Air suspension and Standard. I assume both are identical on the rear except one has shocks and the other has air bags? It appears there is no need for coil springs in this setup, even without airbags.

Is the T6 the same or is it a standard coil spring rear?

openwheelracing · Jan 30, 2018

It is your lucky day. See link below for leaf spring discussion. Great posts in there.

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?526458-Leaf-spring-rear-suspension

Nickshu · Jan 30, 2018

openwheelracing said:
It is your lucky day. See link below for leaf spring discussion. Great posts in there.

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?526458-Leaf-spring-rear-suspension

Interesting. Does the transverse leaf spring serve as the anti-roll bar at the same time?

My restored 1964 Corvair uses a transverse leaf spring, they used it to correct the potential jacking issue with the swing arms on this car as pointed out by Nader et al. I believe in the same era the Porsche 356 added one for the same reason as well, but using torsion bars instead of springs.

Transverse Leaf Spring Research

crj_lll

xc90_2018

Nickshu

openwheelracing

Nickshu

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