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Why did GM use Torsen bars?

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Pookster

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So I keep thinking to myself....

Ford uses Leaf Springs for the front axle. (250+)
Dodge uses Coil Springs
GM uses Torsen bars (4wd) and now using springs in the rear of their 1/2 tons.

ok, other than "thats what they decided to do"... it would have seemed like springs (proven) woulda worked better and smoother than torsen?
 
/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif Which two wheel drives ? all the FS trucks in 2wd I've seen use only coils. Though there are the random Solid front 2wd models with.. leafs...
 
Well since GM went to Independent front suspension, and its four wheel drive, seems to me if they used coil springs , you couldn't have an axleshaft in that space . And as for rear of the trucks, I believe only the Hummer and Tahoes etc got rear coils. Most pickups and the Colorado for sure have rear leaves /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif
 
The 2wd trucks changed to torsion bars for '99 in the re-styled Silverado/Sierra. 2wd vans changed to torsion bars for '03.
EDIT:

Torsion bars makes production easier. Now a 2wd is just a gutted 4x4.

Avalanche and Suburban 1500 are rear coil as well for improved ride.
 
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Well since GM went to Independent front suspension, and its four wheel drive, seems to me if they used coil springs , you couldn't have an axleshaft in that space .

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You wouldn't have an axle shaft in that exact place but that doesn't make it impossible.

Check out a hummer H1 sometime or a HMMWV.
 
For one thing, springs don't have to go in the center of the upper/lower arms. There are a variety of ways to do it, one of the most common alternatives being on top of the upper.

T-bars are simple, inexpensive, compact, easily tune-able, and robust. They also have a natural tendency to increase rate as lever angle increases (assuming starting near horizontal) due to changes in rotational force (think component vectors) as the lever gets more vertical.
 
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You wouldn't have an axle shaft in that exact place but that doesn't make it impossible.

Check out a hummer H1 sometime or a HMMWV.


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It may be possible, but those trucks you mentioned were not designed for the general public. I may not be an expert , but I do know that GM would of took the easy way out and made the trucks as cheap as they could , including R+D money, they are a business you know. /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif
 
There are others, those are just the examples I can think of. I believe the newer toyota trucks use coils up front with IFS. I don't much care for IFS so I don't research it very much at all....but I know there are plenty of rigs on the market with a arms and coils.
 
Thats one of the reasons I can never a buy a new truck (for wheeling), IFS is fine for the wifes car, but not my truck. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
I have an IFS rig for a daily driver, but I never expect to do anything with it. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
The new F150s have Coil spring A arm 4wd setups. My daily driver has IFS as well, no transfer case or front diff either /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif Which two wheel drives ? all the FS trucks in 2wd I've seen use only coils. Though there are the random Solid front 2wd models with.. leafs...

[/ QUOTE ]

1960-62 Chevy and GMC were torsion bar front suspension on the 2wd's /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Even used them all the way up to the large 2 ton and bigger trucks. Makes one heck of a smooth ride compared to leaf spring front suspensions and alot easier to package together than the coil springs on 4x4 IFS trucks.
 
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And as for rear of the trucks, I believe only the Hummer and Tahoes etc got rear coils. Most pickups and the Colorado for sure have rear leaves /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hummer H1 was the only truck, sonce 1972 to come with rear leaf suspension. the H2 is just built on a K2500 chassis, so nothing special there.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hummer H1 was the only truck, sonce 1972 to come with rear leaf suspension.

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/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
The 2wd trucks changed to torsion bars for '99 in the re-styled Silverado/Sierra. 2wd vans changed to torsion bars for '03.
EDIT:

Torsion bars makes production easier. Now a 2wd is just a gutted 4x4.

Avalanche and Suburban 1500 are rear coil as well for improved ride.

[/ QUOTE ]

My 2001 Chevy regular cab shortbed has coil springs /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
a coil spring is just a bent up torsion bar
the torsion bar is the best spring design
lowest friction loss
 
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