312001892 - 4420 REAR SUSPENSION

Introduction

The torsion beam rear suspension (semi-independent wheels) has coil springs and dual-acting, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers.The front and rear wheel hubs on versions equipped with A.B.S. have a special bearing for active sensors which replaces the phonic wheel on previous systems.

The advantages of this solution are:

• Similar kinematic behaviour to independent wheels with associated functional advantages.
• Crossmember stabilizing function.
• Reduced weight.
• Pre-assembly of suspension before installing it on the vehicle.

There are two rear axle versions depending on the vehicle version. The following diagrams show that the structure of the rear axle is similar for both versions, the difference is the presence of:

• Drum brakes for the 1.2 8V petrol engine and 1.3 Multijet versions
• Full disc brakes for the 1.4 16V petrol engine version.

1.2 8V petrol engine/ 1.3 Multijet versions1.4 16V petrol engine version

The torsion beam suspension is secured to the body with:

• two pressed-steel fastening brackets; each bracket is secured to the body by 3 bolts.
• Non-structural dual tube shock absorbers with horizontal lower bush (y axis) and horizontal upper bush for fastening to the rear rail.

The coil springs are lodged between the lower plate on the axle and the upper mount welded onto the side rail; there is a rubber element between the upper mount and the spring.The end stop buffers are made from Cellasto, for this reason, because of their shape, they are secured to a mount welded onto the rear rail that also serves as the upper support surface for the spring.