A Guide to Understanding How Vehicle Suspension Works
Most drivers have little to no idea how the suspension in their vehicle works. If the parts of the suspension are failing, you’ll certainly feel it with a rougher ride and more challenging time keeping the vehicle on the road. Once you understand what type of suspension is in your vehicle and how it works, you’ll want to keep a closer eye on those moving parts going forward.
Here is a complete guide to understanding how your vehicle suspension works.
Typically, the suspension system in a vehicle with rear-wheel drive has a rear axle that is set on leaf springs, while the independent front suspension is designed to allow for adequate steering.
With so many different type vehicles on the market, there are a number of ways the wheels are attached to the vehicle so that they can freely move up and down on the springs and dampers. The suspension works quietly to maintain as little change as possible between the wheels and angles, so the tire maintains the same contact with the road surface.
The wheels on the front of the vehicle need to be free so they can freely pivot on steering swivels. Whether the driven wheels are in the back or front of the vehicle, need to be free to rotate in sync with the drive shaft. To that point, there are two types of suspensions in vehicles.
Here is a brief explanation of the non-independent and independent suspension systems.
The Non-Independent Suspension System
The non-independent suspension system consists of an axle that is live, a long tube that contains two drive shafts, and the differential gears. If the vehicle is four-wheel drive, then it may contain a live axle in the front too. A rigid beam, or dead axle, is used in the front of trucks and vans, while many front-wheel-drive vehicles have a rear axle that is dead. In order to prevent sideways moving, the rigid axle will have links and springs.
The Independent Suspension System
Unlike the non-independent suspension, the independent suspension does not share a common axle. Each wheel on the vehicle is independently attached to a sub-frame of the car body. In this instance, different springs and combinations will be used. Due to the wheels being suspended independently, a differential will be fixed to the car frame to drive the wheels by the shaft.
These are the five (5) different types of suspension systems commonly used in vehicles.
1. The Double Wishbone – The double wishbone suspension is commonly used in the front of a vehicle. There will be two wishbones, stacked on top of one another, keeping the wheels upright as it falls and rises.
2. The MacPherson Strut Suspension – The MacPherson strut suspension could be used in the rear or front of a vehicle. The wheel hub will be rigidly fixed to a telescopic, upright, tubular strut, with the top end being anchored to a reinforced wing or frame. On a front-wheel driving system, the strut will swivel so the driver can steer the car.
3. Trailing Arm – The trailing arm will be attached to the hub of the wheel at one end, then extends forward and pivots on the frame. The trailing arm can be broadened to a V-shape that has two pivots, with inner pivots or side-by-side. The trailing arm is typically found only in the rear.
4. Leading Arm – The leading arm will only be used in the front of the vehicle. The leading arm is the opposite of how the trailing arm functions. The wheel is placed in front of the pivot.
5. The Swing Axle – The swing axle can be used in the rear or the front of the vehicle. The swing axle works like a beam that is cut in half and is attached to different pivots on the car frame. In order to keep the axle from twisting, the half-axle is widened into a V-shape and has rear and front pivots.
Now that you understand how important the suspension is to your vehicle, be sure to keep up with maintenance appointments at the local service center so small issues can be addressed in a timely manner before they become serious roadside emergencies.
