Suspension system fundamentals

The suspension has several important functions. They are:

1) Support the weight of the frame, body, engine, transmission, drive train, and
passengers. Also called sprung weight.
2) Provide a smooth ride with minimal car body movement.
) !llow rapid cornering without body roll.
") #eep the tires firmly planted on the road surface for ma$imum control at all
times.
%) Prevent e$cessive body s&uat during acceleration.
') Prevent e$cessive body dive during deceleration.
() !llow the wheels to turn from side to side for steering.
)) *or+ with the steering system to help +eep the wheels in correct alignment.
Basic suspension components
1) Control arm,is a movable lever that fastens the steering +nuc+le to the vehicle
frame or body. -ne end contains a ball .oint and the other contains a rubber
bushing.
2) Steering knuckle,spindle or bearing support for mounting wheel hub, bearings,
and wheel assembly.
) Ball joint,swivel .oint that allows the control arm and +nuc+le to move up and
down and from side to side.
") Spring,supports the weight of the car. Permits up and down suspension
movement.
%) Shock absorber,+eeps suspension from continuous bouncing after going over
bumps.
') Control arm bushings,sleeves that allow suspension movement of the control
arms and dampen some road shoc+.
Suspension types
Nonindependent,contains both the right and left wheels attached to the same, solid a$le.
*hen one wheel hits a bump it causes the other wheel to tilt up on an angle. This type
does not usually have a smooth ride.
Independent,contains separate suspension components for the right and left wheel. !s
one wheel hits a bump it will not affect the other wheels ride or alignment angle.
Suspension spring types
Suspension springs must jounce /compress) and rebound /e$tend) with bumps and holes
in the road surface. They support the weight of the car while still allowing suspension
travel.
Coil spring,is a length of spring steel wound into a spiral. 0t is the most common type of
vehicle spring used on a modern suspension system.
Leaf spring,is made from flat spring steel, or fiberglass. 1any leaves can be stac+ed to
provide greater stiffness and ride height. 2elow is picture of the disadvantage of the leaf
spring on a rear wheel drive car.
Air spring,is a two,ply rubber cylinder filled with air. !ir pressure inside the cylinder
allows the unit to have a spring action. The system will usually have an air pump with a
ride height sensor to pump up or deflate the cylinder for a proper ride or height of the car.
Torsion bar-is a long bar made of a spring steel rod. -ne end is attached to the frame and
the other end is attached to the control arm. The up and down movement of the
suspension twists the bar which will be resisted by the spring action.
Spring rate,refers to the stiffness or tension of a spring. The rate of a spring is
determined by the weight needed to bend it.
Sprung weight,refers to the weight of the parts that are supported by the springs and
suspension system. Sprung weight should be +ept high in proportion to unsprung weight.
nsprung weight,is the weight not supported by the suspension or spring system. 0t is
the tires, wheels, wheel bearings, steering +nuc+les, or a$le housings. The unsprung
weight should be +ept to a minimum when designing a car.

Strut rod,is used to hold and prevent the control arm from swinging towards the front or
bac+ of the car.
Ball joints,are used to permit swiveling and tilting action in the control arm while going
over bumps and turning.

Shock absorbers,limit spring oscillations to smooth out the vehicle3s ride. Shoc+s can be
filled with oil, gas, or air. The most common being the oil filled shoc+. The shoc+ wor+s
by resisting the oil movement through a valve inside the body of the shoc+. The valve is
connected to a rod that is attached to the car frame and the body of the shoc+ is attached
to the suspension system.
Shock compression,occurs when the vehicles tire is forced up when hitting a bump.
Shock e!tension,occurs when the car returns to normal height after hitting a bump.

"as charged shocks,use a low,pressure gas to help +eep the oil in the shoc+ from
foaming. The gas used is usually hydrogen and is enclosed in a separate chamber from
the main oil. The hydrogen is used to maintain a constant dampening rate at all times.