Watts Linkage

[jerrytr5]

Whilst the axle is out of the 7 Sprint to fit coil overs and an LSD, is there any value fitting a Watts linkage as used on the SD1?

Presume the axle cover is identical (5 speed) and the arms may need shortening.

As far as I can see from drawings the SD1 didn't have the top tie bars used on the 7 so would this be duplication of lateral control?

Thought I'd remove the rear ARB too.

The car is used in the roadsports category of our hillclimb championship.

Jerry

[Motorsport Mickey]

Jerry,

The TR7 along with it's family relatives Dolomite Sprint etc, has a poor rear axle location. The axle is located by rear trailing arms which carry the rear springs fixed to the rear of cockpit firewall, it's attempt at rear axle location is to use shorter than trailing arm radius arms also fixed too the rear of cockpit firewall and they connect  mid way between dff and rear trailing arm location points to the axle. 

It definitely benefits from positive axle location, my race car TR7V8 had an A frame with large spherical bearing and a 5/8"th (from memory) Unbrako capbolt through it which attached to a bracket holding a welded nut on the diff casing. The A frame attached at the same point of the rear trailing arms to the rear of cockpit firewall utilising the same brackets and were the same length as the rear trailing arm. This located the axle through the diff preventing any across car movement, I also removed the rear anti roll bar...but then again, I didn't use an anti roll bar on the front either. !   

Mick Richards       

Edited December 7, 2024 by Motorsport Mickey

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

Do we know what locates the axle on Christian Marx’s car?

I always like the big trailing A frame design as used on the hopped up Cortina’s.  Work well on an otherwise roque handling car. As viewed every weekend at Brands Hatch in my youth.

http://www.lotus-cortina.com/photos/ex-hans/hans2.htm

 

The Watts linkage system is a very good axle location system too    Reducing wind up and keeping the axle located laterally.

What about a very long torque tube from the front of the axle with prop shaft inside?

All very SD1

https://www.aronline.co.uk/opinion/i-was-there/rover-sd1-suspension/

Or what the MGB mods could be?

https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/modernized-mgb-begs-be-driver/
 

I guess the priority is get the weight out 

Edited December 7, 2024 by BlueTR3A-5EKT

[jerrytr5]

All very well chaps, but not within the regs for Tuned Roadgoing - not even sure a panhard rod would be.

Think I'll stick to one thing at a time - it was just a thought.

Cheers,
Jerry