Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tito Sobrinho on June 29, 2014, 09:23:08 AM

Title: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Tito Sobrinho on June 29, 2014, 09:23:08 AM
I have two questions:
When did Cadillac introduce front wheel independent suspension?
As a matter of fact, when the 4 wheel independent suspension was introduced to the Cadillac car?
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: 936CD69 on June 29, 2014, 09:27:21 AM
1934 for the "knee-action" independent front suspension. 1979 for the 4 wheel independent suspension (Eldorado)
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Steve Passmore on June 29, 2014, 03:53:42 PM
That was 1934 across the board for GM cars in general.
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Doug Houston on July 01, 2014, 09:27:59 PM
I seek to elucidate!!

In 1934 there were two candidates for IFS. GM wanted to test the two systms, so on Chevrolet and Pontiac, they installed the "Dubonnet" IFS. It was a monstrosity, full of highly stressed components, and in high need of good maintenance (which never happened). Pontiac dumped it very quickly, but Chevrolet held on through 1938.

The system that won out was the wishbone IFS that is like what was used for many years.

GM went to all coil about 1958, hoping that the new ElDorado design would carry over, but quality problems doused that.
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Steve Passmore on July 02, 2014, 03:37:00 AM
Then I must seek to educate you!  The question was about IFS in general not just "Dubonnet" and Buick had  wishbone IFS in 1934.   Buick also went to all coil in 1938!
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Jay Friedman on July 02, 2014, 12:59:13 PM
I think Oldsmobile adopted all coil suspension at about the same time.  I know the '49 Olds I had in the '50s had coil springs in the rear
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Doug Houston on July 02, 2014, 07:00:58 PM
My apolopgies for being so verbose.

Inde3ed, Buick (maybe Cadillac too) had the "other" candidate suspension at the same time as Chevy and Pontiac had the "knee action".
Title: Re: Cadillac trivia.
Post by: Tito Sobrinho on July 03, 2014, 09:12:34 PM
I appreciated  all the received answers.