SUSPENSION

Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shockabsorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and reasonably well isolated from road noise, bumps, and vibrations,etc. These goals are generally at odds, so the tuning of suspensions involves finding the right compromise. It is important for the suspension to keep the road wheel in contact with the road surface as much as possible, because all the forces acting on the vehicle do so through the contact patches of the tires. The suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage from damage and wear. The design of front and rear suspension of a car may be different.

Suspension System

Your car's suspension system allows you to ride relatively undisturbed while travelling over rough roads. It also allows your vehicle to corner with minimum roll or sway, stop with a minimum of brake dive, and accelerate with a minimum of acceleration squat. This dynamic control keeps the tyres in contact with the road. The components of your car's suspension system perform six basic functions:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Maintain correct vehicle ride height Reduce the effect of shock forces Maintain correct wheel alignment Support vehicle weight Keep the tyres in contact with the road Control the vehicle's direction of travel

However, to ensure this happens, all of the suspension components, both front and rear, must be in good working condition.

TYPES OF SUSPENSION Suspension systems The purpose of the suspension system is to isolate the vehicle body from road bumps and vibrations, while keeping the wheels in contact with the road. Solid axle The solid, or beam, axle is used in the rear suspension of many front-engined, rearwheel drive cars, and light commercial vehicles, and as the front suspension on many heavy commercial vehicles. Dead axle A dead axle only supports the vehicle and doesn't transmit any drive. With a live axle, the drive is transmitted through the final drive unit and axles to the wheels. Independent suspensions Independent suspension helps keep unsprung mass low. Also, if a wheel hits an irregularity, it won't upset the opposite wheel on the same axle. It allows wheel camber to be adjusted, or designed into the suspension geometry. Rear independent suspension For independent suspension on the rear of a vehicle, many front-wheel drive cars use a McPherson strut at the rear. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, the suspension has to allow for the external drive shafts. Rear-wheel drive independent suspension On rear-wheel drive vehicles with independent suspension, the final drive unit is fixed to the vehicle frame. Drive is transmitted to each wheel by external drive shafts. Adaptive air suspension Adaptive air suspension is an electronically controlled air suspension system at all four wheels with a continuously adaptive damping system. Adaptive air suspension operation The height sensor uses the induction principle to constantly monitor the distance between the vehicle's axle and its chassis.

SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

The basic components of a suspension system areas follows:

CONTROL ARM (a movable lever that fastensthe steering knuckle to the vehicle frame orbody) CONTROL ARM BUSHING (a sleeve, whichallows the control arm to move up and down onthe frame) STRUT ROD (prevents the control arm fromswinging to the front or rear of the vehicle) BALL JOINTS (a swivel joint that allows thecontrol arm and steering knuckle to move up anddown, as well as side to side) SHOCK ABSORBER or STRUT (keeps thesuspension from continuing to bounce afterspring compression and extension) STABILIZER BAR (limits body roll of thevehicle during cornering) SPRING (supports the weight of the vehicle;permits the control arm and wheel to move upand down)

Control Arms and Bushings The control arm, holds thesteering knuckle, bearing support, or axle housing inposition, as the wheel moves up and down. The outerend of the control arm has a ball joint and the inner endhas bushings. Vehicles, having control arms on the rearsuspension, may have bushings on both ends.The control arm bushings act as bearings, whichallows the control arm to move up and down on a shaftbolted to the frame or suspension unit. These bushingsmay be either pressed or screwed into the openings ofthe control arm.

Strut Rods The strut rod.fastens to theouter end of the lower control arm and to the frame. This prevents the control arm from swinging towardthe rear or front of the vehicle. The front of the strut rodhas rubber bushings that soften the action of the strutrod.

These bushings allow a controlled amount oflower control arm movement while allowing fullsuspension travel

Ball Joints The ball joints are connections that allowlimited rotation in every direction and support theweight of the vehicle. They are used at the outer ends ofthe control arms where the arms attach to the steeringknuckle. In operation, the swiveling action of the balljoints allows the wheel and steering knuckle to beturned left or right and to move up and down withchanges in road surface.Since the ball joint must be filled with grease, agrease fitting and grease seal are normally placed on the joint. The end of the stud on the ball joint isthreaded for a large nut. When the nut is tightened, itforce fits the tapered stud in the steering knuckle or bearing support

Shock Absorbers and Struts Shock absorbers are necessary because springs donot "settle down" fast enough. After a spring has beencompressed and released, it continues to shorten andlengthen for a time. Such spring action on a vehiclewould produce a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride.It would also be dangerous because a bouncing wheelmakes the

vehicle difficult to control; therefore, adampening device is needed to control the spring