Suspension design of '86 911?

[SlowToady]

Hi,

I'm writing a history report on the evolution of the Porsche 911 (yea, I have the coolest teacher on the planet), and I need a bit of help understanding how Porsche designed the suspension. Forgive me for my ignorance:-X I've been searching google, but most of what I am finding is suspension upgrades; I need completely stock specs. Like, I know an 86 911 had trailing arms not multi-link, but that's about it.

I need to know the design of both an 86 and 96 (I'm comparing how a certain sports car has evolved in a decade). I was actually supposed to DRIVE an example of each, and write about the comparision, but I can't find anyone to let me have a go in one:-/ Didn't need to be rough with it, just drive it.

I'm going to the bookstore, but if anyone can offer some knowledge on this subject, I'd be quite grateful.

Thank you,

~Slow

[Wil Ferch]

For one thing, the idea of using a semi-trailing arm suspension ( banana arm) that attaches to a longitudinal spring plate...powering transversely located torsion bars ...goes back ( for Porsche) to the 30's and is the same principle used in the beetle. The "semi" trailing arm gives some lateral and longitudinal resistance and also som location functions, but the camber curve ( camber change with respect to full-range of suspension movement) is not the greatest. The sem-trailing arm type also shows changes in toe as it moves up and down.

OTOH...any 5 bar link design can do a much better job of planting the tires squarely on the ground...with the 5 links properly designed to not cause binding. In 95 Porsche (separately) used a sub-carriage design that allowed the geometry of this 5 link to be good, while mounting the sub-frame in rubber for noise control. The earlier car did not have as much focus on noise control.

This is a fairly complicated issue to discuss in a report, and I would search out old Road and Track magazines ( look to the intro of the 914 as one example)...and also suspension design by Milliken or Society of Automotive Engineers...SAE....


---Wil

[Sonic dB]

Pick up the cheap Haynes manual for about $15 plenty of diagrams in there.

[Chuck Moreland]

Check the PET diagrams. Wayne has the early stuff here:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911_Parts/parts_index.htm

Be resourceful and I'm sure you find the 996.

Check "how to make your car handle" by Fred Puhn for diagrams of basic suspension types and an explanaition of the function, benefits, and weaknesses of each.

Good luck.

[Randy Webb]

and be sure to read Paul Frere's book on the 911, also Bruce Anderson's Performance Handbook may have some material.

See if your teacher will help you write a grant proposal to buy a 911 for research purposes....

[jluetjen]

As far as the execution and design aspects I'd get a copy of "Competition Car Suspension" by Allan Staniforth.

[masraum]

Exactly, find Paul Frere's book, Porsche 911 Story. It covers everything pretty well, at least probably well enough for your report.