Why Torsion Bar Suspension is Awesome

I talk about a system of suspension oft forgotten in modern cars.
Yeah I don't know what else to put in the description, watch the video lol
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[@aleksandrnestrato]

The whole video is a mistake in logical levels. You’ve confused the springing element with the arms’ layout. My Chevy truck did have torsion bars in the front, but it did slow down a bit on bumps. The thing here is it had longitudinal torsion bars inserted in _transversal_ arms. So the arms matter, not the torsion bars. In fact if you turn 180° the very suspension with torsion bars you show here, so that the arms point forward (and there were vehicles with such layout), the whole thing would have to slow down even more than the transverse arm suspension. At the same time there were cars with longitudinal arms facing backwards plus coil springs that had same easiness on bumps as you show here on torsion bar suspension. Thus you compare the direction of the arms, but not the two different types of springing elements as you’ve claimed. Ah, by the way. „It isn’t programmable to be progressive“-false. Do you know how coil springs are programmed? They use metal with stiffness gradient. There are two ways to do that. Either you make the metal itself less stiff from one end to the other, or you make one end thinner and gradually increase the thickness to the other end. So the giant secret is… You use the same method with a torsion bar. Parts of the bar easier to twist will twist first. So, yeah. The vid is smart, but very misleading. You literally lied to viewers. And, reading the comments, they were very glad to be confused by your clever explanation.

[@MistahFox]

That's fair and correct. I made this video when I had just started learning about suspension, and I confused torsion bars themselves with trailing arm suspension, which is what the video is more about. That said, I wasn't wrong about how torsion bars work, even though I omitted transverse torsion bars. I did not at the time know about progressive coil springs, I learned about that later, so I didn't lie I just didn't know. I should have done more research before I made the video, but it was my first (and maybe last) 'educational' video I made. This is the first really critical comment I've gotten, and I'm honored you took the time to make a fleshed out and well reasoned explanation of the things I got wrong!

[@aleksandrnestrato]

@@MistahFox Wow! I respect you a lot. Please make a follow-up vid!-Now when you've done the research.🙂

[@cavalex]

When I saw the lego model I thought to myself that if the bar was placed in front of the wheels it would behave differently and now that I see your comment I understand why. Thanks for the explanation. Also, please don't blame the guy that made the video, it was very informative to people who no knowledge in this area like myself and although it has a few mistakes it's still very helpful.

[@aleksandrnestrato]

@@cavalex Hi mate. One thing caught me in your comment. I do not blame the guy. In fact I admire him. The thing I don’t like is when opinion makers lead noobs in false directions. If you know the topic you tell the guy _‘No, sorry, but this is white, not black as you call it in your explanation’._ But if you know nothing of the topic anyone looking confident enough can take you to any shitty direction really far. Way too many people wrote in comments this vid explained a lot to them. That is really bad. That was the thing that upset me the most.

[@batmansbodyguard]

I looked everywhere for this specific difference. Like very specific. everyone has articles but this explains with real science. Thank you.

[@DarkForest86]

To better help you understand, I made a Lego model. I'm a psychopath! Totally caught me off guard and had me laughing. Good one. Love the video. I have an F -150 with torsion bar suspension and even though I am a mechanic I never had anyone explain the science behind this type of suspension. I just thought it was dark magic wizardry or something.

[@timsullivan4566]

Same quote had similar effect - except the "I'm a psychopath" non sequitur caused a coffee spit-take!😆😆😆 (and I don't know WHY I find him so likable 🤔- I just do! )

[@calumrife]

Dude, your opening segment was hilarious. I like your style. Thanks for the great information. I appreciate my Ranger a lot more now.

[@ianstewart8243]

Beautifully explained. Thank you. I bought a classic car which has longitudinal torsion bars and just wanted to know more. You've really helped my understanding of this technology. Thank you!

[@rkan2]

Torsion bar is still common in the rear for many cars.

[@Cheesedeliveryvehicle]

Great video, explained everything i wanted to know. I'm sure you have done this since this video went live, but you can buy reflector disks that you can position under the camera or off screen to diffuse the light out and make it so you don't have to squint when filming under direct sunlight. They're about $10 online.

[@joaquincueva]

Very nicely done, would be awesome to see more.

[@donventura3844]

Unfortunately torsion bars in today s trucks and suv s are set up same way as coils, they have the same upper and lower control arms pivotting perpendicular to the frame. The VW and tank swing arms systems pivot parallel to the frame. The smothness and quality of ride you are referring to is the quality of the geometry of suspension.

[@merijnvanschaik4989]

You are correct in the example given. However, torsionbar-suspension has also been used with tranversely-mounted swing-arms. Older renaults (4, 5, 16) used them in front and back with front-suspensionlinks transversely mounted. In a car with "standard" setup you will often see that the whole thing is "tilted" backward so that the wheel also still travels backwards somewhat.

[@matveyshishov]

Whoa, dude, you're a legend!

[@timcarpenter2441]

The key advantage and disadvantage seems more to be around trailing arm suspension geometry than torsion bars per se. (Rotation and space in front). Torsion bars can be fitted front to back and not require trailing arm front suspension.

[@losttoy]

Nice video, searched through a lot of videos to understand torsion bar suspension. Only flaw - at least my 100 series uses torsion bar so if you consider it modern, yes, modern cars do use torsion bars :)

[@jtresilien877]

Damn you are good. Easily digested. Thanks

[@budisutanto5987]

As you already mention, torsion bar used on many tanks. The reason, why torsion bar isn't use much on modern car, even though it's a better suspension system, is because . . it's ROBUST & less part. A modern car suspension is much . . much more fragile, and so, needs more repairs and spare parts. 💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲

[@garyschlagheck603]

Very good information. Thanks 😊, old Mopar (chargers) used torsion bars as well.

[@David-zp8rx]

‘I made legos, I’m a phycopath’ haha you too funny thanks man

[@elblitzb]

Clear as a summer sky. Thanks for sharing

[@MistahFox]

Thanks for watching!

[@jessecampbell4580]

Excellent video! I really appreciate the clarity of your explanation. You seem like a very intelligent young man. I bet you have a bright future ahead.

[@hossboss4551]

Wow! Fantastic video! Thanks for the in-depth information. I read the Wikipedia article two times but couldn’t understand. Now, with your examples, I get it!

[@Bassotronics]

Awesome info and good presentation. 👍🏻

[@pookart9893]

Next episode: why testicular torsion is obsolete

[@vollandt]

Some older models of acura and honda used torsion bar front suspension. The bars were front to back, and thus didn't have that swing back and up travel.

[@VitaKet]

This was the best explanation I could find, thanks.

[@trident1872]

Nicely done and nice Kubelwagen!

[@alfredtovar6451]

Thank you!!! Awesome video

[@tejasai4191]

Thank you for sharing about torsion bar

[@thelazy0ne]

Thanks for the info! 😁👍

[@unclematt3]

Very, very good video. Great explanation. Thank you!

[@MistahFox]

Hey that means a lot, thank you!

[@MrEyesof9]

The LEGO model is awesome

[@joellowery]

You're very smart... great details

[@prashantchaudhary3744]

awesome! man

[@Bruh-io2dd]

Quality Content ❤️

[@MistahFox]

Thanks man! Definitely was one of my better videos for sure, I'll try to do even better this summer though!

[@jaydenbrockington4525]

Great explanation. But I do want to say this, solid axles are very overhated. Better body yaw control than most setups, best for off-road in passenger cars, most durable setup by a long shot, plenty of room for trunks or passengers, can be made very comfortable, low complexity and is good for racing if set up correctly. Almost every M4 has been matched or beaten in track times by the equivalent spec mustang of the same generation.

[@MistahFox]

Very true! I made this video before the more nuanced understanding I have today, definitely nothing beats solid axle for its strength and the rocks jeeps with solid axles can climb when modified for greater travel are ridiculous!

[@danreed7889]

Well done! Drive this guy to MN now for some snow off roading.

[@chrisdavidson3180]

Nice Job Sir. I now feel educated about my VW torsion bars. I sincerely hope you go into teaching at some level. Beautifully explained!!!!!!

[@lordtyroxx]

Not an engineer and barely a car enthusiast here: If a vehicle has independent in the front and torsion in the rear, it wouldn't remove the negative attributes when going over bumps from the independent suspension, but the rear would feel more smooth to back seat passengers?

[@MistahFox]

Yes

[@dushanrathnayake5007]

lovely vid, everything is perfect...

[@StretchOnYT]

My ford ranger 1999 has torsion bars. Cool

[@AbuBakar-Ironwood.]

Me too, dude! Ford ranger 2002 Malaysia

[@Nikkk6969]

Exactly why I’m here. Finished up another day of abusing my ford ranger on nearly 4 wheeler trails, trying to understand how it’s even still holding together at this point LOL

[@forward876]

Great video, torsion bars across the width make sense to me now. But what about torsion bars that run along the length of the vehicle?. I have wondered why vehicles with these torsion bars have that sort of "ugly" maybe chaotic response to bumps compared to conventional springs?

[@MistahFox]

Torsion bars along the length of a vehicle just strengthen the conventional spring design with no change to movement, so I assume they just make it stiffer and therefore bumpier.

[@brianjuffs4662]

Look at the Chrysler (Mopar design) the torsion bar takes the place of coil springs. Drive a coil car without shock it will bounce up and down like crazy. Drive a Mopar with out chock absorbers and this affect is barely There.

[@grantmathews690]

I have a 2011 pk ford ranger with front suspension torsion bars and shock absorbers. I think its great,any comments? Grant

[@TheNumber146]

I wonder if I can put torsion suspension on my hearse?

[@MistahFox]

It might help it travel smoothly over potholes, I know our Colorado roads are bad enough to wake the dead!

[@eresonance]

Neat video! The other way to use torsion bars is like on the Land Cruiser 100 or the Ford Explorer, which used a "normal" lower control arm like on a coil spring setup but has the torsion bars (one on each side) extending along the side of the frame. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6Wco4etl7mohas

[@MistahFox]

Thanks for mentioning that! I was going to talk about it in the video but didn't have time.

[@jyothish7378]

Watching from INDIA, Kerala God's own country....🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 💜🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜

[@oler777]

That's not a good thing