Watts Linkage on Milanos and GTV6

[John Cecil <jcecil@domain.elided>]

This may be a duh... question, but exactly what does the Watts linkage 
accomplish on the late model De Dion Alfas? If one looks at it, it would 
appear that it does something similar to that an anti-sway bar would do, 
i.e., maintains the rear axle more or less parallel with the road when  
assymetrical cornering cornering loads are experienced.  The 
semi-trailing arms locate the De Dion tube relative to the chassis and 
neither  Alfa Milano/GTV6  have an anti-sway bar. The Lancia Flaminia 
and Aurelia, which also used a De Dion rear suspension, but with 
semi-elliptic springs, did not use an anti sway bar either. So ... 
inquiring minds would like to know the real function of the Watts 
linkage of the Alfa Milano. Incidently, the Caterham version of the 
Lotus 7 use a De Dion, a Watts linkage AND an anti-sway bar. What 
(Watts) going on here?
Regards,
John Cecil
<jcecil@domain.elided>
<jcecil@domain.elided>
<http://home.earthlink.net/~jcecil66/index.html>

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