Vehicle

Dynamics
Suspension
Suspension system

- the term given to the

system of springs, shock
absorbers and linkages
that connects a vehicle to
its wheels
Contributes to the cars
handling and braking
Protects the vehicle and
any cargo from damage
and wear

FUNCTION

Supports the weight.

Provides a smooth ride
Allows rapid cornering
without extreme body
roll.
Keeps tires in firm contact
with the road.
Prevents excessive body
squat.
Prevents excessive body
dive.
Allows front wheels to
turn side-to-side for
steering.
Works with the steering
system to keep the
wheels in correct
alignment.

PARTS:

Control arm
Steering Knuckle
Ball
Shock absorbers or
Control arm bushing
Coil spring
Leaf springs Torsion bar
Strut assembly
(MacPherson struts)

DIFFERENCE
SUSPENSTION
SYSTEMS

1. Dependent
suspension system
Two wheels are mounted
on either side of the rigid
axle
When one wheel
encounters the bump,
both the wheel do not
execute parallel up and
down motion
So it gives rise to
gyroscopic effect and
wheel wobble
2.Independent
suspension system
Both the front and the
rear wheel are utilized
Design incorporated in
the front wheels
One wheel goes down
,the other wheel does not
have much effect
1.
MacPherson
Strut
2.
SLA
3.
Multi link
3. Air suspension
system
It helps to reduce the load
while the vehicle in
motion i.e. the dynamic
loading as the spring rate
variation between laden
and unladen weight is
much less.
It gives smooth and
comfort ride of the
vehicle.
The stiffness of the
system increases with the
increase of the deflection.
4. Hydro elastic
suspension system
a system where the front
and rear suspension
systems were connected
together in order to
better level the car when
driving.
Damping of the system is
achieved by rubber
valves.

when the front wheel

encounter bumps ,the
piston moves upwards
pressurising the fluid to
enter into the rear unit.
Hydroelastic was
eventually refined into
Hydragas suspension..
Advantages
( independent front )
Bigger deflection of front
wheels, no reaction on
steering
Greater distance for
resisting rolling action
Front axle (small-stub),
improves road holding
tendency of tires.
Minimum vibrations
DISADVANTAGES
Better shock absorber
required.
Expensive
Tire wear increases due
to transmission of torque.
Advantages
( independent rear
suspension)
Lesser unsprung weight
improves ride , reduces
tyre wear.
Increased passenger
space
Rear wheels remain
stable ..
DISADVANTAGES
Increased cost
Complicated design
Steering action is not
proper
Advantages of air
suspension
These maintain a
constant frequency of
vibration whether the
vehicle is laden or
unladen.
Constant frame height is
maintained.
It helps to reduce the load
while the vehicle in
motion i.e. the dynamic
loading as the spring rate
variation between laden
and unladen weight is
much less.
It gives smooth and
comfort ride of the
vehicle.
The stiffness of the
system increases with the
increase of the deflection.
Common Air
Suspension Problems
Air bag or air strut failure
- due to old age, or
moisture within the air
system that damages
them from the inside.
Compressor failure
- Primarily due to
leaking air springs or air
struts
- Compressor burnout
may also be caused by
moisture from within the
air system coming into
contact with its electronic
parts.
Dryer failure
- which functions to
remove moisture from the
air system eventually
becomes saturated and
unable to perform that
function

CHECKING SHOCK
ABSORBER
CONDITION
Bounce test
Push down on one corner
of vehicles body.
Release the body and
count the number of
times the vehicle
rebounds.
Good no more then two
rebounds.
Leaking Shocks

Check for signs of

leakage.
If oily and wet, replace it.
Replacing Coil Springs
Need to compress the coil
spring, before removing
it.
Checking Ball Joints
If spring on lower control
are, jack stand goes
under the control arm.
If spring on upper control
arm, jack stand goes
under frame.
Tie Rod Inspection
Move the wheel side-toside, should be no play.

VEHICLE
HANDLING
Steering Geometry
Ackerman Linkage
wheels turn at different
arcs when turning
Steering Axis
Inclination
-> self-righting steering
Caster/ Trailing Action
-> wheel returns to
straight position when
turning

Steering Parts

Steering Wheel/
Steering Column
-> 4 to 9 or 10 turns of
steering wheel translates
to approx. 50 deg of
wheel turn
> collapsible steering
olumns decrease hazard
during collision.
Steering Wheel/
Column
-> collapsible steering
columns decrease hazard
during collision.

Steering
Mechanism

*Steering Gears
-> convert rotary motion
to linear motion
-> recirculating ball, rack
and pinion
1.Recirculating Ball
1 - rolling instead of
sliding friction
mechanism
2 - light steering
3 - reduced wear
4 - greater reduction ratio
(suitable for heavier
vehicles without power
steering, now defunct)
2. Rack and Pinion
It converts the rotational
motion of the steering
wheel into the linear
motion needed to turn
the wheels. It provides a
gear reduction, making it
easier to turn the wheels.

DIFF bet RP and

RB

Rack and pinion steering

uses a round gear at the
end of the steering
column (the pinion) to
turn against a straight
piece (rack) with gear
teeth on the side - pinion
goes round, rack travels
in line, linked to the
wheel steering arms.
Recirculating ball
basically uses the balls to
replace the teeth, but the
way it does it allows a
more compact
construction. The output
is a swing arm. Generally,
the recirculating ball is
thought to offer less
precise control.
Rack and pinion are used
on frount wheel drive
vehicles. The use of the
rack and pinion allows
cars to be more compact.

3. Power Steering
-> hydraulic or pneumatic
systems aid steering
making turning lighter
-> arranged such that
system may also be
operated without oil
-> Recirculating Ball,
Rack-and-Pinion, Vickers,
Ross

TRACTION
A physical process in
which a tangential force is
transmitted across an
interface between two
bodies through dry
friction or an intervening
fluid film resulting in
motion, stoppage or the
transmission of power.
Coefficient of Traction
defined as the usable
force for traction divided
by the weight on the
running gear (wheels,
tracks etc.)
Usable Traction =
Coefficient of Traction x
Normal Force
Factors affecting
coefficient of friction:
Material composition of
each surface.
Normal force pressing
contact surfaces together.
Contaminants of the
material boundary
including lubricants and
adhesives.
Relative motion of
tractive surfaces - a
sliding object (one in
kinetic friction) has less
traction than a nonsliding object (one in
static friction).
For low-friction surfaces,
such as off-road or ice,
traction can be increased
by using traction devices
that partially penetrate
the surface.
Traction Coefficient in
Engineering Design
In the design of wheeled
or tracked vehicles, high
traction between wheel
and ground is more
desirable than low
traction, as it allows for
higher acceleration
(including cornering and
braking) without wheel
slippage.
In some applications,
there is a complicated set
of trade-offs in choosing
materials. For example,
soft rubbers often provide
better traction but also
wear faster and have
higher losses when flexed
thus reducing efficiency.
Choices in material
selection may have a
dramatic effect.
Each wheel is equipped
with a sensor which
senses changes in its
speed due to loss of
traction.
The sensed speed from
the individual wheels is
passed on to
an electronic control unit
(ECU).
The ECU processes the
information from the
wheels and initiates
braking to the affected
wheels via a cable
connected to an
automatic traction control
(ATC) valve.

FUNCTION:TRACTIO
N

The ECU continually

checks whether some
wheels are spinning faster
than others - an indicator
that the wheel is losing
traction. When possible
wheel slippage is
detected, the ECU directs
the hydraulic modulator
to apply and release the
brake in rapid succession
("pump the brake") to the
problem wheel to reduce
the speed of its rotation.

Electronic Stability
Control
- also referred to
as electronic stability
program (ESP) or dynamic
stability control (DSC), is
a computerized
technology that improves
a vehicle's stability by
detecting and reducing
loss of traction.
- When ESC detects loss
of steering control, it
automatically applies the
brakes to help "steer" the
vehicle where the driver
intends to go. Braking is
automatically applied to
wheels individually.
- Some ESC systems also
reduce engine power until
control is regained.
- ESC does not improve a
vehicle's cornering
performance; instead, it
helps to minimize the loss
of control.
An anti-lock braking
system (ABS) is
an automobile
safety system that allows
the wheels on a motor
vehicle to
maintain tractive contact
with the road surface
according to driver inputs
while braking, preventing
the wheels from locking
up (ceasing rotation) and
avoiding uncontrolled
skidding.
ABS generally offers
improved vehicle control
and decreases stopping
distances on dry and
slippery surfaces.
The ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System) monitors the
speed of each wheel to
detect locking. When it
detects sudden braking, it
will release braking
pressure for a moment
and then provide
optimum braking
pressure to each wheel.
By repeating this process
in a short period of time,
it enhances steering
control during sudden
stops. As a result, it will
also help improve the
ability of stopping the
vehicle.

ENGINE
SUPPORT AND
BRUSHINGS
ENGINE MOUNT
It is the part that holds
the engine to the body or
to the engine cradle (subframe) of the car.
In a typical car, the
engine and transmission
are bolted together and
held in place by three or
four mounts.
The mount that holds the
transmission is called
the transmission mount,
others are referred to as
engine mounts.

Engine mounts are filled

with rubber.
To further dampen the
vibration, some engine
mounts are filled with
liquid.

Engine mount
problems

The most common

problem with the engine
mount is when the rubber
part breaks
There is increase in
engine noise and
vibration felt inside the
car.
The excessive vibration is
more noticeable at idle
with the transmission
engaged.

What are bushings

on a car?
A bushing is a type of
vibration insulator that
provides an interface
between two parts.
Bushings help dampen
the energy transmitted
between moving parts
through the bushing.
This helps drastically
reduce the transfer of
vibration to the
passenger cabin in the
car.

Where are my
bushings?

BRAKE SYSTEM

Types of Bushings

How it works
A brake is a mechanical
device that inhibits
motion by absorbing
energy from a moving
system.
It is used for slowing or
stopping a moving
vehicle, wheel, axle, or to
prevent its motion.

Alternator bushings
Control arm bushings
Shock absorber
mountings
Sway bar links
Transmission shifter
Motor mounts
Sub frame mounts

OEM Replacement: for

predictable NVH and
smooth operation
Heavy Duty: for upgraded
performance and
improved durability
Polyurethane: For
ultimate performance and
durability

Basic parts and

functions
Brake Pedal
Hand brake
Brake Booster
Master Cylinder
Brake FluidHydraulic Lines
Proportional Valve
Pressure Differential Valve
Combination Valve
BRAKES(DRUM AND DISC)
Disc Brake
Drum Brake
Anti-lock braking
system (ABS)
The Antilock Braking
System is located
between the brake
master cylinder and the
wheels. Its purpose is to
prevent instability of the
vehicle under extreme
braking conditions.
ABS modulates the
pressure of the brake fluid

that is applied to each

front and rear brake,
preventing the wheels
from locking up
ABS rapidly pumps the
brakes whenever the
system detects a wheel
that is locked up. This
effect allows you to stop
in the shortest amount of
time while maintaining
full steering control even
if one or more wheels are
on ice. Signs of trouble
in brake system
A red brake-warning light
that stays on on the
instrument panel
An amber-warning light
that stays on,
indicating potential
problem with ABS
Small leak of brake fluid
at parking spot
A low or spongy brake
pedal
A brake pedal that is
harder than usual
A shaking brake pedal or
vehicle
An emergency brake light
that stays on on the
instrument panel
An ineffective emergency
brake
A grinding noise coming
from the rear of the
vehicle

A squeaking noise from

the front of the vehicle
An oily residue on the
inside of the wheels
Residues in brake fluid
reservoir
L level of brake fluid in
reservoir
Maintenance
Check brake fluid level
every 10,000 miles
Check friction material
every 10,000 miles
Check brake cables every
10,000 miles Check brake
cables every 10,000 miles
When doing a complete
brake job, refinish rotors
and drums, replace brake
pads or shoes, inspect,
clean and repack wheel
bearing and replace
grease seal.
With a second brake job,
replace calipers, wheel
cylinders and brake
hardware
replace pads with the
same type of friction
material (organic or semimetallic)
Replace brake drums or
rotors if they are under
minimum specifications
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