Technology is a Moving Target
Gary Anderson, Editor – The Star
Mercedes-Benz is justly proud of its efforts to stay at the leading edge in new technologies. The configuration of the rear axle and the suspension that supports the wheels and the connections to the drivetrain are a fascinating technological response to the challenge of getting an automobile to simultaneously absorb road bumps, go around corners, and supply power to the rear wheels. Two stories in this current issue illustrate milestones in Mercedes technology achieved in the early 1950s with the Pontons and in 2017 with the release of the new GT R.
Once again, we’ve caught up with our indomitable travelers Elisabeth and Fred Smits, temporarily halted in Santiago, Chile, as their 1957 220S Ponton “Abel” undergoes necessary maintenance. After completing 100,000 kilometers since embarking on their round-the-world tour, differential and rear suspension needed attention after traversing a pass in the Andes Mountains between Argentina and Chile at an elevation of 11,000 feet – six times in three months.
The rear differential and swing-axle independent suspension were significant advancements over the solid axles typical of the day, but few people who restore them today anticipate that their example is going to be driving rough roads day after day in a trek around the world.
With the help of mechanics at the local Mercedes-Benz dealer in Santiago, the couple is finally getting to the source of rear-end problem that has plagued them for awhile. We’ll have their detailed technical report in the next issue about the rebuilding of a W180 rear end, state-of-the-art in its day.
More than 60 years later, the challenge of managing rear-wheel slide in a turn and under power continues to be a research objective. As I experienced a few weeks ago in the GT R, Mercedes-AMG engineers have installed a refined version of rear-wheel steering that takes automotive technology one step further in stability and handling. At Daimler AG, there’s no time to rest on your laurel wreath: “The best or nothing” continues to be a moving target.