A car suspension system is one of the most critical parts of your vehicle. The importance of it often goes unnoticed as it operates in silence. It is undoubtful that driving a car without suspension is hard to imagine.
The primary role of the suspension system is to maintain the vehicle’s stability by negating external forces. The external forces refer to the potholes, bumps and rough patches on the road that cause the automobile to counter roughness in the drive. Furthermore, the suspension keeps the car stable at higher speeds and delivers superior handling.
Without a suspension system, the tyres may lose contact with the bumpy road, losing control of the entire vehicle. In a nutshell, a suspension system is a car component that shields the vehicle from forces while driving on the road.
Apart from negating the external forces, another major responsibility of a suspension system lies in providing stability in handling the vehicle. Therefore, driving a car with a reliable and trusted suspension is only possible.
You must sell your vehicle for immediate cash for cars Darwin if it has a damaged or broken suspension that cannot be repaired anymore.
Car Suspension Parts
There are several parts in a suspension system that work together to achieve the objective of its manufacturing.
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Springs
The spring in the suspension system enables the vehicle to resist any bumps you encounter while driving. It also provides support to the vehicle to hold extra weight without bending. The spring in the car suspension stores energy generated when a car drives over any bump or pothole.
Similarly, if you drive over a bump, the function of the spring is to compress and keep the tyres in contact with the road. There are two main types of springs in the suspension system:
- Coil Springs
- Leaf Springs
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Shock Absorber
A shock absorber, or damper, is a fluid/gas-filled reservoir enclosed within a tube. The upper mount of the shock absorber is attached to the frame, while the lower one is attached to the axle.
The function of the shock absorber is to reduce the action of suspension springs and vibrations simultaneously. During the process, it transforms the kinetic energy into heat energy which is released using hydraulic fluid.
When the wheel goes over the bump on the road, it causes the spring to compress/extend, which lets the stored energy in the spring get transferred to the damper via the upper mount. The energy is then scattered into the piston through the piston rod, which enables the piston to move through the oil. The different types of shock absorbers are:
- Single Tube
- Twin Tube
- Gas Filled
- Exterior Reservoir Damper
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Struts
Suspension struts are seen as shock absorbers forced inside the coil spring, so they are not an individual component of a car suspension system. A strut is used to integrate different suspension components into one compact assembly.
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Bushings/bearings/joints
These parts are responsible for keeping the linkages linked to a larger component. With these parts, specific suspension parts’ movement, sliding and twisting are possible.
However, proper lubrication is essential to prevent these parts from falling early.
Car Suspension System Types
The growing technology in the automotive industry is evolving with each passing day, resulting in car manufacturers designing different types of suspension with more advanced systems.
There are two broad suspension categories independent and non-independent. Let’s walk through some of the common suspension systems used in vehicles.
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Independent Suspension
In this system, the left and right wheels are not connected and can move independently. Although the system of this structure is complex, they offer a more damping effect. When part of the wheel is stepped over a bump on the road, it will not affect the other wheels of the vehicle, giving the drivers a comfortable driving experience.
Over the years, various automobile industries have used different independent suspension systems when manufacturing automobiles.
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Macpherson Suspension Strut
The MacPherson strut is the most effective yet low-cost, independent suspension system due to its fewer parts. The main reason behind its availability and common usage is its simple design & easy control, providing extreme comfort to its passengers. It doesn’t consume a large space and is a perfect vehicle option.
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Double Wish-bone Suspension
This system consists of two arms that are wish-bone-like and are connected to the wheel. One of the arms is at the vehicle’s frame, while the other is at the wheel. The double wishbone suspension ensures the vehicle’s stability and offers passengers a comfortable ride, even at higher speeds, due to the great control ability.
This system is mainly designed to be used in sports cars and luxury cars.
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Multi-link Suspension
The main reason behind the popularity of this system is the element of quality grip, making it a perfect choice for vehicles. This system uses three or more arms connected to the wheel, which makes it easier to balance almost every shock the vehicle encounters during the journey.
Since they are complicated to manufacture, the cost of their purchase is comparatively higher than MacPherson and the wishbone suspension system. Since producing this type of system is more expensive, it is mostly found in premium-quality cars.
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Dependent Suspension
It is the type of car suspension where the rigid axle connects the left and right wheels. It combines coil springs and shock absorbers or leaf springs and shock absorbers. The system is durable and affordable and can be seen on trucks and SUVs.
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Leaf Spring Suspension
It is one of the types of non-independent suspension, and the leaf springs are attached to the solid axle. This type of structure is mostly used in heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks. One of the many benefits of this system is the low manufacturing cost, and it can withstand a lot of weight. That is why it is commonly used in commercial vehicles.
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Torsion Beam Suspension
Torsion beam suspension is also commonly known as twist-beam suspension. It is a dependent system and quite easy to manufacture and afford. This system uses trailing arms integrated with the cross member that turns as the wheel is in motion. The location of the torsion beam is usually between the independent suspension and the solid axle.
The design offers a spacious cabin, mostly used in smaller hatchbacks and sedans.
Why Is The Suspension So Important?
Every modern automobile is equipped with a suspension system due to the benefits it offers.
The system maximizes the friction between the car tyres and the road. With maximized friction, you can steer the vehicle with more stability and experience comfort while driving. The more contact your tyres will have with the road, the safer and more secure driving will be.
The suspension system adds comfort to your driving. Transferring limited kinetic energy from the road bumps ensures that the passengers enjoy a smooth, bounce-free ride.
The suspension system also helps improve the vehicle’s durability and lifespan.
Car Suspension Problems & Their Identification
Below are some signs indicating that your car suspension needs a proper inspection or repair.
- If you start to feel every bump on the road or your car bounces due to road irregularities, there is a mechanical fault in the suspension.
- If your car pulls to one side when cornering, the possibilities are that the shock absorbers are failing.
- The faulty suspension results in difficult handling of steering.
- The repetitive knocking, squeaking or clunking noise from under the vehicle is mostly due to the failing suspension system.
