Torsion bars are found on trucks and SUVs around the world. Common automobile manufacturers that they are found on are GM, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
Torsion bars are used as automobiles suspension. They offer easy adjustment on ride height depending on the weight of the cars engine package.
Torsion bars are a durable form of suspension. Torsion bars do not take up a lot of space in the car, which allows for room for passengers and interior space.
A set back when dealing with torsion bars is that they usually cannot provide a progressive spring rate like its competitor, the coil spring. They also have been seen to crack where the diameter of the bar changes.
Torsion bars have been around since the 1930's. They have been used for personal automobiles as well as for the military. They were first designed and implemented by Professor Hans Ledwinka in the early to mid 1930's.
There are a few front-wheel drive automobiles out there that use a similar type of suspension. The most common name for it is the twist beam rear suspension. The rear wheels are carried on trailing arms connected by a laterally mounted rosion beam. This type of suspension was first used on the Volkswagen Gold in the early 1970's.
