All the below points out the "over engineered" part of the magazine's remark. The W115 looked a lot like a '55 Chevy, but that's where the similarity ends.
On 7/15/07, Peter Frederick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yeah, if you really push one, a swing axle Benz will start to jack in > the rear -- at well over 100 mph. The low scrub front end (better > after 1962) does give minor bump steer and some understeer, but nothing > like the floating rear axle and zero caster front end on a 55 Chevy, to > say nothing of the lack of an anti-roll bar and a flexible frame to > boot (Benz was unibody after '53). My 280 SE has very neutral > handling, fading into understeer as fast as I've driven it (not that > fast, it's a bit wobbly from age and deteriorated rear suspension > mounts). A '55 Chevy plows horribly, until the inside rear tire lifts > and it rolls over. > > The Benz rear axle is the prime example of a LOW pivot swing axle > design -- the pivot is below the differential. Not very exciting > today, but in 1953 it was the cat's meow. > > Not much comparison -- those old Detroit Lead Sleds ride nicely (as in > very soft), but handling is, well, scary. A swing axle (camber > limited, you will note -- oversteer on a VW is due to really bad weight > distribution, not the axle design) IS an independent rear suspension, > compare with a floppy live axle! No spring wrap, no bunny hop, no > oversteer from the rear axle moving around under the car, and believe > me, you can SEE them move from behind one of those '50's cars. > > The 6.3 was grossly overpowered for the chassis -- no way it was a good > match, but it was at the end of the chassis design life, not the > beginning! > > Peter > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." -Benjamin Disraeli '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC, '97 Ply Grand Voyager _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
