HONDA ACCORD

SUMMARY OF HONDA ACCORD

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour leverages the benefits of a premium chassis design for rewarding and sophisticated handling dynamics. A double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension allow for both a smooth ride and world-class levels of performance that is equally at home on a curvy road, long stretches of interstate highway or in inclement weather. Ground clearance of 6.0 inches enhances capability in snowy conditions and broadens access to more roads off the beaten path. Standard features include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA™), commonly referred to as Electronic Stability Control; 4-wheel disc brakes; and stabilizer bars front and rear.

  Accord Crosstour Chassis Highlights :

• ·         Double wishbone front suspension
• ·         Multi-link rear suspension
• ·         Vehicle Stability Assist
• ·         4-wheel disc brakes
• ·         6.0 inches of ground clearance
• ·         Front and rear stabilizer bars

Front Subframe
A front "floating" subframe design is used on the Accord Crosstour. A welded-steel subframe secured to the unit body's longitudinal rails supports the Accord's engine, transaxle, transfer case, steering gear and front suspension. The front of the subframe assembly is designed for enhanced stiffness with minimal weight penalties and uses four tuned rubber mounts to isolate the subframe from the main body structure, i.e. it is "floating."

A stiffener located under each subframe attachment fastener helps to further stabilize the assembly, thereby achieving linear handling and braking performance. The subframe includes two Active Control Engine Mounts (ACM) that counteract the inherent vibration created by the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, plus one rubber isolator transmission mount. (See the body section for more details on ACM). The "floating" mounts are strategically positioned to counteract noise and vibration while reducing the transmission of engine noise and vibration to the passenger compartment.

Double Wishbone Front Suspension
Widely spaced upper and lower wishbones give precise suspension action, with the coil-over spring and shock absorber units free of the binding caused by the side-loading inherent in some less sophisticated strut-type designs. The Accord Crosstour's front suspension is a modified version of the double-wishbone system used on the Accord Sedan and Coupe. Stabilizer bars, springs and damping rates have been optimized to provide the best combination of ride and handling. The front lower control arms are forged steel and connect to a stamped steel box-section sub frame. The stamped-steel upper control arms connect to a forged-steel knuckle.

Progressive valve nitrogen gas-filled coil-over shock absorbers integrate an internal rebound spring. When cornering, the internal rebound spring allows the shock absorber to exert additional force on the inside wheel's coil spring to help counteract wheel lift in certain situations. This premium shock absorber design helps to improve both ride comfort and responsiveness. Ultimately, tire-to-road adhesion is enhanced.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour front double wishbone suspension

Rear Subframe
The rear subframe, which supports most of the rear suspension and the rear axle drive unit, is made of high-strength steel for high stiffness and minimal weight. The shape of the rear subframe is equally important - it must accommodate the drivetrain components for the available Real Time 4WD system and the multi-link rear suspension. For excellent ride and handling characteristics, the subframe attaches to the unit body at four widely spaced, rubber-isolated, mounting points. Rear-suspension components, especially the springs and shock absorbers, are as compact as possible to facilitate a wide, flat, load floor and to leave room for both a spare tire and a fuel tank. The rear axle drive unit (if equipped) is mounted to the subframe by means of rubber isolators to block powertrain noise and vibration from the passenger compartment.

Multi-link Rear Suspension
The Accord Crosstour's rear suspension is a compact, multi-link layout for excellent ride and handling, minimum weight and optimum packaging. Wheel travel is a generous 4.3 inches in compression and 3.7-inches in rebound. The three links that position each rear wheel laterally run between the knuckle assembly and the subframe. Progressive valve nitrogen gas-charged shock absorbers attach from a low point on each knuckle to a highly rigid attachment point on the unit body.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour rear multi-link suspension

The knuckles are an "in-wheel" design to optimize suspension geometry and packaging efficiency. Bushing compliance provides a modest toe-in effect in response to substantial cornering and braking loads to enhance overall stability. The rear knuckles are made from aluminum and help to reduce unsprung weight for quick suspension responsiveness. Optimized high rigidity bearings accommodate the additional forces of the four-wheel-drive system. Coil springs, dampers and a stabilizer bar are tuned for the best combination of ride and handling. Rear subframe mounts and lateral control link bushing rates were adjusted to create a discrete level of lateral force steer at the rear axle.