Tenneco Lands A Double Axle - Brief Article

Automotive Industries,  April, 2000  by Gerry Kobe

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Tenneco is making the rounds to the OEMs, touting a new axle technology that could revolutionize rear suspensions. The company's elastomeric torsional axle is the same technology found on DaimlerChrysler's ESX3 PNGV car (see page 71 this issue), but Tenneco says it has gone a step beyond the trailing axle found on the DC concept car and now adds a semi-trailing version, shown here for the first time.

"We are pursuing three or four different applications," says Ed Kraine, development engineer for the torsional axle system. "We expect to be on a vehicle platform by the end of the year and expect high volume production on trailers by next year."

Kraine says the system offers the most advantages in flat floor applications like minivans, since the entire suspension is easily packaged below the floor. The axle is practically a bolt-on replacement for a twist beam design, but offers the advantage of a fully independent suspension. It is also configured for doing a station wagon variant of a sedan, particularly a small car where packaging space is at such a premium. Kraine says regardless of application, handling improvements are very noticeable and the opportunity for weight and NVH reductions are considerable.

The design functions similar to a torsion bar suspension, but instead of wheel movement loading the torsion bar, it loads self-contained elastomeric elements within the axle tube. Tenneco claims there is only moderate sensitivity to cold temperature and that the elastomer warms quickly, even in the coldest weather. The company has over three years of development work in the axle, and holds patents on the system.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Cahners Publishing Company
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group