Materials and manufacturing technologies for lightweight construction in the development of passenger car axle components

In terms of performance and economy, rear twist beam axles will remain an attractive solution in the development of suspensions for smaller compact cars. But components for more modern, more comfortable multi-link suspensions also make high demands on design and manufacturing precision. Requirements for the coming generation of axles show a trend toward lower weights and higher stresses with a simultaneous reduction in the available packaging space. Specific development work must take in new materials and manufacturing-methods in order to guarantee the levels of performance required.