Introduction - REAR SUSPENSION

The rear suspension has a 'torsion axle' (semi-independent wheels).

The advantages of this solution are:

similar kinematic behaviour to independent wheels with the relevant functional advantages

stabilizer function of the crossmember

lighter

pre-ftting of the suspension before installing it on the vehicle.

The 'torsion axle' suspension is fixed to the bodyshell by two brackets and the shock absorbers.

The torsion beam rear suspension (dependent wheels) includes the following components:

Rear axle consisting of two steel tubular longitudinal arms (diameter 75 mm and thickness 3.5 mm) with a circular element welded at one end into which the flexible bushes are press-fitted (conventional rubber-steel parts), a 'v' beam connecting the the arms (in Fee420 pressed steel, thickness 4.0 mm) and two wheel side mounting plates (one on each side) in FeP13 steel (4mm thickness, type 188).

The body retaining brackets are in pressed steel (steel FeE355, thickness 3.5 mm); they are secured to the body by 3 bolts.

The shock absorbers are dual pipe type with a horizontal lower bush (y axis) and an upper bush that is also horizontal for fastening to the rear rail (the fastening system is derived from the Punto).

The coil springs rest between a lower plate on the axle and an upper mount welded to the rail; a rubber element is interposed between the upper mount and the spring.

The end travel buffers are in rubber. For this reason, due to their shape, they are secured to a mount welded to the rear rail that also acts as an upper mounting surface for the spring.

The spindle is a Punto-derived forcged steel component and is fastened to the wheel side mount plate by 4 bolts.

The bearing is single-flanged and a Punto-derived component.