Technology in conversation (2) - Axis rigidity or the De Dion axis

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Technology in conversation (2) - Axis rigidity or the De Dion axis

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Created on April 5, 2020

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Martin Schröder

3

Opel / PSA

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Daimler AG

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Archiv Martin Schröder

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Goddard

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Archiv

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - with De Dion rear axle

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De Dion-Bouton Type E (1899) - Depot exhibition of the German Museum of Technology Berlin

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De Dion tube of the inventor on the De Dion 3.5 CV from 1899

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De Dion Bouton Vis-à-Vis Series D (1899) - naturally with the DeDion rear axle, which was still used on many a sports car until the 1970s - at the ZCCA 2016

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De Dion tube classic, under the axle - Auto Union D from 1938

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Sokol 650 (1950) - Auto Union elements - front axle with transverse torsion bars, side tanks, 12-cylinder mid-engine, De-Dion rear axle with longitudinal torsion bars

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Classic De Dion tube, behind the axle on the Mercedes W125 from 1938 - the vertical slide rail on the differential is clearly visible

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Mercedes Benz W 154 (1939) - technical work of art rear axle - the split De Dion tube with the flanged center section guided in the sliding block

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Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1937) - De Dion rear axle, trailing arm and torsion bar suspension

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Classic De Dion tube, above the axle on the Alfa Romeo Tipo 512 from 1940 - the special feature here is that the trailing arms lead to the rear due to the wide 180-degree V12 engine

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De Dion tube classic, behind the axle on the Maserati Tipo 151 from 1964

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De Dion tube in box form, above the axle on the Chaparral 2H from 1969 - special here, that the horizontal swivel joint is guided between the two "tube" halves

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De Dion tube as 3D tube lattice on the test monoposto Ferrari T2 from 1975 - especially here that the additional lower wishbone works like an independent suspension

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Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (1953) - The De Dion rear axle of the Disco Volante [Le Mans 1953]

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ISO-Rivolta (1964) - View of the De Dion rear axle

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Gordon-Keeble GT (1964) - De Dion rear axle for good road holding

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Peerless GT 2-Litre (1959) - the tubular frame chassis was aligned to the Triumph mechanics, rear with De Dion rear axle

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Alfa Romeo Alfetta (1973) - instructive illustrative model shows the transaxle design of the car equipped with a De Dion axle - at the Geneva Motor Show in 1973

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Auto Union Type D (1939) - rear axle with trailing arms and the De Dion tube routed under the gearbox

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Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1936) - rear axle of the record-breaking car with transaxle with Z-drive, de-Dion tube with sliding block guide, drive shafts, quarter elliptical springs, rear support

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Lotus 11 (1958) - the powerful version has a DeDion rear axle - Geneva Motor Show 1958

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - De Dion rear axle - Geneva Motor Show 1969

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An odd but successful couple - Count Albert De Dion and his technician Georges Bouton

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Summary

Back in the 19th century, Count Albert De Dion invented a rigid axle that offered many advantages without the disadvantages normally associated with it. However, the De Dion axle experienced its heyday in the sixties and seventies. It is still used in cars today and yet many people are unaware of its characteristics. But let's let the two buddies Albert and Exbert clarify the topic in conversation ...

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Colleagues Albert and Exbert are once again discussing cars and their technology, more specifically rigid and non-rigid rear axles ... Albert: Yesterday we had a huge row with Robert. He stubbornly claimed that a De Dion axle is not a rigid axle. That's just silly . Exbert: Albert, that's not silly. It's complicated. A: I don't like complicated. E: I know. You prefer "silly" or "not silly". But sometimes it'sjust complicated. A: Is it simple or complicated now? E: Don't be silly. Let's start from the beginning. A rigid axle consists of a differential and a tube in which the left and right drive axles run. This axle is sprung either with leaf springs, which in simpler cases also take over the longitudinal and transverse guidance, or with coil springs and trailing arms.

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