Watts Linkage on Milanos and GTV6

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

       Watts linkage keeps the axle centered under the car.  A panhard bar 
does the same, but swings in a slight arc.  The T shaped Trunnion bar upper 
link on the spiders does the same thing, plus it keeps the axle from 
rotating.  The old GTA sliding block did the same thing.  On vehicles with 
parallel rear leaf springs, the springs keep the axle centered well enough 
without an additional device.
       An anti sway bar serves a totally different function.  It attempts to 
keep the car body level in a curve.  You better look at your transaxle Alfa 
again.  Mine came from the factory with a rear antisway bar.  I just looked 
that the Milano in the driveway to make absolutely sure.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City



In a message dated 02/11/2002 11:50:30 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:



> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 19:50:52 -0800
> From: John Cecil <jcecil@domain.elided>
> Subject: Watts Linkage on Milanos and GTV6
> 
> 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

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