Influences of suspension kinematics on pitching dynamics of cars in longitudinal manoeuvring.

The pitching and bouncing responses of a generic car to step inputs of brak ing and driving torques at front and rear axle are examined via a simulatio n model. The car is represented as travelling in a straight line on a flat road surface. It has longitudinal and vertical translational freedoms and c an rotate in pitch. Front and rear suspensions include generalised anti-div e properties. The tyres are vertically compliant and they develop longitudi nal force in response to lip, according to an empirical description. Body b ounce, body pitch and tyre load transfer results are shown for a number of cases involving braking at front or tear and driving at front or rear with different anti-dive designs. Patterns in the results are established and co nclusions about anti-dive geometries and the consequences of their adoption are drawn.