Why do portal axles always? usually? reduce the gearing?
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 1:20 am
Why aren't they 1:1?
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The reduction boxes on the splitties were totally required for ground clearance with the engine sitting so much higher in the chassis and having only the early technology of fulcrum plates for the axle artickilation. The bays dropped the entire drivetrain a good six inches and used them fancy CVs for the first time.whc03grady wrote: ↑Fri Jun 01, 2018 1:10 pmI always assumed their main purpose was increased clearance, but with a moment's thought after reading your post, it makes sense: Splitties had to do a lot with a little, so reducing the gears means more torque at the wheel, though a lower top speed (and who cares about that in 1961). Increased clearance was a useful spandrel.