Torsion Bar Suspension

[ChrisV]

Noted under website allf1.info that all cars lately specify Torsion Bar suspension. Does this mean they have done away with normal coil springs and are actually now suspending the car by torsion bar?

[Scarbs]

Chris,
Yes, Torsion bars have been standard on the front suspension of F1 cars for many years. At the rear jordan and Jaguar (RedBull) were the last to drop coil over springs about two years ago.
I have been told torsion bars are easier to package and that coil spirng have no mechanical disadvatages. It used to be the case that the coil spring would indue a bending moment into the damper, causing the damper rod to bind in its bearings. This has been developed out by the damer manufacturers and wasnt a problem for Jordans coil spring set up.
Having said that, coil springs are stil commonly used for the thrid spring in each end of the car.

Scarbs

[Jeff]

Gents,
I would say that, like indicated by Scarbs, the reason is mainly packaging as torsion bar show great advantage when optimizing suspension installation around a G/box case or chassis front bulkhead.
Obviously coil spring are cheaper to produce and run by fairly all other series apart from F1, and so no reason to "swap" to torsion bar if you have space available like on GT cars.
But having play with F1 settup for more than 10 years, I did found sometimes more "powerfull" torsion bar adjustment when they were linked with compound tube or other stiffnes adjuster with fairly more precision.