The axle spring is arranged concentrically around the damper. With its forked end, this spring-and-damper assembly is supported over a rubber-metal bearing by the front lower link, the supporting link. The rearward lower link, the guidance link, only supports the link forces and essentially determines elastokinematic longitudinal control of the wheel. For optimum tuning of the tire comfort and vibrational behaviour of the axle, it features a technically complex rubber-metal bearing with hydraulic damping.
The rack-and-pinion steering along with the external end of the tie rod is rigidly bolted to the body above the transmission and thus very close to the plane of the upper link. This allows a relatively precise geometric arrangement between tie rod and link for precise toe-in kinematics.
The virtual steering axis → narrow kingpin angle →located near the wheel center and supports a small disturbing force lever arm for driving forces, which plays an important role in FWD automobiles.
While multilink suspensions are still the exception on the front axle, they are more widely used on the rear axle. Figure shows the five-link rear axle of the Chevrolet Corvette in a rear view from below.
In the "Corvette", longitudinal forces and braking torque are essentially supported over two tension/compression members arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The appropriate dimensioning of the components facilitates the realisation of lightweight design.
The angular position of the links in relation to each other in the vehicle longitudinal plane decisively determines the position of the longitudinal pole, i.e. the magnitude of anti-dive or anti-squat.
The transverse guidance of the wheel carrier is realised over another tension/compression member arranged in vehicle transverse direction and the axle drive shaft, which is also used as a tension/compression member and features joints both on the body end as well as the wheel carrier end.
The positions of the transverse centers or the roll center are essentially determined by the angular position between the jointed shaft and the transverse strut in the vehicle transverse plane.
A fifth adjustable strut arranged behind the axle performs the same function as the tie rod on a steering axle. A plastic transverse leaf spring, which is decoupled from the forces of wheel guidance by means of a short tension/compression member, is employed for body suspension. In order to suppress undesired elastokinematic toe-angle changes, the rubber mounts at the joints of this suspension must be relatively stiff. The associated negative effects on riding comfort are accepted in view of the intended purpose of the axle (sports car).