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IRS, SWING-AXLE, DOUBLE-JOINT & SO ON.
HappyDaze - September 2nd, 2010 at 06:22 AM

It's probably my fault :blush:, but the VW rear suspension terminology has become a bit confusing. As both 'early' and 'late' designs are IRS, and both have trailing arms, the main difference is the drive shaft - or axle.

For the sake of clarity - particularly in the case of 'newbys' - perhaps this should be cleared up. How about we try here?

I propose that :-

1.... Early design is swing-axle, or SA.

2.... Later design is double-joint, or DJ.

Any ideas?

Cheers, Greg


Phil74Camper - September 2nd, 2010 at 07:36 AM

Sounds great to me Greg, let's stick to either swing-axle rear or double-joint rear.

Can anyone think of any Volkswagens that are NOT IRS on the rear? I can think of of two; there are probably more. Not sure about the Amarok yet.


Sides - September 2nd, 2010 at 08:04 AM

Greg I see your point, but won't it just get more confusing if on this forum there are different terms used than what's common use on other forums, in magazines etc ???

Yes - both swing-axle and "double joint" designs are technically IRS... but growing up reading Volksy mags just exactly what 'IRS Rear End' meant became pretty clear to me pretty quickly... swinger/swing-axle and IRS are pretty good terms IMHO...

:tu:


Aussie Dubbin - September 2nd, 2010 at 08:55 AM

Yeah Sides i agree, IRS is the 'understood' term for boubble joint and SA or Swing axle is the other... I'm sure there is not too much confusion. While SA may infact utilise Independent rear it adversely effects the other side while changing through its arc. Therefore i find that the doubble joint works better as an IRS. Does that make sense. I think for clarity just stick with the lay terms SA and IRS.:)


mactaylor - September 4th, 2010 at 05:13 AM

my vote, IRS and Swing axle.


vlad01 - September 4th, 2010 at 07:44 AM

Let me put it this way. swing axle wasn't a very good irs and back then irs was the bee's knees. So i guess people just disowned swing for the trailing arm irs as it worked much like other sports car irs's at the time.

So other words.

IRS=means good in peoples eyes.
Swing axles didn't work so well, so people disregarded it as being an IRS. :lol::lol::lol::lol:


HappyDaze - September 4th, 2010 at 08:19 AM

What I had in mind was to discuss the 'correctness' of the terminology, not which one is better or worse.:smilegrin: Maybe that could be done in another thread?


vlad01 - September 4th, 2010 at 08:35 AM

Ok according to the workshop manual its closed drive and open drive shaft.

thats another to the mix :crazy:


HappyDaze - September 4th, 2010 at 08:44 AM

Sounds OK, but haven't CD and OD already been 'taken'? :smilegrin:


1500S - September 4th, 2010 at 09:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by HappyDaze
Sounds OK, but haven't CD and OD already been 'taken'? :smilegrin:



I'll have to stick with HappyDaze! We like our VWs and have different thoughts about technology but in the end, if Volkswagen themselves thought it good enough to call it "double joint" then it's good enough for the rest of us. That way there's no confusion. Read what they put in their sales docs!

DH


sander288 - September 4th, 2010 at 11:36 AM

When in doubt refer to VW, love it, I think 1500S has the answer


matberry - September 4th, 2010 at 03:05 PM

I like double joint

mmmmmm