Torsion beam suspension
A torsion beam suspension is a vehicle suspension similar to a trailing arm suspension but where both trailing arms are connected by a beam.
In contrast to a torsion bar suspension, the main weight bearing springs are usually coil springs, either mounted over the shock absorbers or independently from them. Obviating anti-roll bars, the central torsion beam allows for a limited degree of freedom of each wheel when forced.
This semi-independent suspension has been very widely used for decades by the great majority of compact European and Japanese front wheel drive cars up to Golf-size. It is cheap to design and manufacture, compact with little boot space intrusion, and although ride and handling are theoretically inferior to more sophisticated designs, it has been used even in the sportier Volkswagen Golf GTI.
