Title: The influence of limited-slip differentials on the stability of rear-wheel-drive automobiles running on even road with dry surface

Authors: G. Mastinu, E. Battistini

Addresses: Ricercatore, Politecnico di Milano (Technical University), Dipartimento di Meccanica, Sezione Veicoli Terrestri - Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci, 32, Milano, Italy. ' Ferrari Automobili, S.p.A., Modena, Italy

Abstract: A study on the horizontal stability of rear-wheel drive automobiles fitted with various types of limited-slip differentials is presented. The investigation refers to the ease of even road with dry surface. It is shown that the limited-slip differential plays a very important role in determining the understeer/oversteer behaviour of a vehicle. The suspension parameters should be tuned according to the limited-slip differential characteristic. Ground experimentations have confirmed the theoretical results from numerical simulations.

Keywords: limited slip differentials; tyres; vehicle stability; vehicle dynamics; rear-wheel drive; horizontal stability; dry surfaces; vehicle understeer; vehicle oversteer; vehicle suspension; suspension parameters; numerical simulation; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1993.061832

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1993 Vol.14 No.2/3, pp.166 - 183

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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