Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Mercedes-Benz Suspension Innovations During the 1930s: The Trapezoidal Link Front Axle

World’s first trapezoidal link front axle at IAMA

  • The premiere vehicle is the Mercedes-Benz 380 (W22) presented at the trade fair.
  • The convincing design becomes the new industry standard
  • Two further vehicle innovations, each with a different front axle design

The Mercedes-Benz 380 (W 22) is one of the innovations of the then Daimler-Benz AG at the International Motor Show (IAMA) in Berlin in 1933. Its front axle design becomes the new global standard in automotive engineering: the trapezoidal link front axle. It has individually sprung wheels and on both sides two parallel, trapezoidal wishbones and a friction-free, maintenance-free, vertical coil spring. It is used in various Mercedes-Benz passenger cars as well as in racing cars. The principle convinces with driving comfort and safety, and numerous other manufacturers adopt it.



Front axle of the Mercedes-Benz 380 (W 22, 1933 to 1934). The design becomes the new global standard in automotive engineering: the trapezoidal link front axle. It has individually sprung wheels and on both sides two parallel, trapezoidal wishbones and a friction-free, maintenance-free, vertical coil spring. This axle is used in various Mercedes-Benz passenger cars as well as in racing cars. The principle convinces with driving comfort and safety, and numerous manufacturers adopt it. (Photographic nature of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: 14386)


Front axle of the Mercedes-Benz 380 (W 22, 1933 to 1934), close-up. The design becomes the new global standard in automotive engineering: the trapezoidal link front axle. It has individually sprung wheels and on both sides two parallel, trapezoidal wishbones and a friction-free, maintenance-free, vertical coil spring. This axle is used in various Mercedes-Benz passenger cars as well as in racing cars. The principle convinces with driving comfort and safety, and numerous manufacturers adopt it. (Photographic nature of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: 14504)




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