What is the suspension of the car, know everyone who has received at least a little experience in driving, and only beginners have only a vague idea about this important unit. But exactly this set of details creates those driving conditions, which we got used to calling comfortable. However, it can become the reason for some inconveniences on cross-country terrain. So, what is a suspension? And what top 6 signs your car suspension needs repairing?
The Car’s Suspension as Its Foundation
So it is, this node or, as mentioned above, the construction of a number of parts, connects the car body to the wheels, and this connection can be both rigid and elastic, depending on the installed elements. For example, the rear dependent suspension of the car, the device of which is characterized by simplicity, keeps on two cylindrical springs and is additionally attached to 4 longitudinal levers. However, such a design has considerable weight and therefore will affect the smooth running. But let’s be consistent. The assembly we are considering is divided by a number of features into the following types: multilever and double lever, active, torsion, dependent and independent. In addition, there is a division into the front and rear suspensions.
To begin with, let’s look at the double wishbone and multi-lever types of car suspensions. The first version has short upper and long lower cross-arms, on which it is attached to the body. In addition, there is a cylindrical elastic element between the fasteners, which softens jolts on rough terrain. However, this scheme has significant disadvantages – the lateral movement of the wheel is too small, which affects the lateral stability and, consequently, accelerates the wear of the tires. The plus side is that each wheel is independent, and due to this the car is more stable on irregularities, maintaining quality traction with the road.
The multilever scheme is a complicated version of the two-lever with all its advantages and differs by the presence of ball joints, which increase the softness of movement, and silent blocks (pivot bearings), which it is attached to the frame. These blocks provide noise isolation of the body from the wheels. Among other things, add here the longitudinal and transverse adjustments possible for each independent element separately. However, all these advantages increase the cost of the device, as a result of which such units are put only on executive class cars, which explains their perfect control on the road, as well as the softness of contact with the road surface.
Active and Torsion Types of Car Suspensions
A very interesting suspension, the name of which speaks for itself – torsion, which in French means twisting. It is this property that best characterizes the torsion scheme. Its elastic element is made of alloyed steel, which after a number of treatments acquires a very interesting ability to twist around the longitudinal axis of the rod. It can have a square or round cross-section, be solid, or assembled from separate plates, in any case, the result is similar to the straightened spring, but with better characteristics.
Torsion is installed both longitudinally and transversely, and in the first case on trucks, and in the second – on cars. The advantages of torsion types of car suspensions have the following: the lightness compared to spring-mounted elastic elements, compactness. Thanks to these elastic parts, you can easily adjust the height of the road clearance by pulling on the torsion rods with a special motor and thus raising the body. A similar device is available in many vehicles, and it allows the vehicle to be lifted on three wheels to replace the fourth wheel without the need for a jack.
What Is Better – A Dependent or Independent Suspension Scheme of The Car?
In fact, today the dependent scheme is becoming increasingly obsolete and is used in those few brands and models of vehicles, which have been produced for many decades and have not yet been removed from production. If we talk about Jeep suspension, its main feature is that when you hit a bump with one wheel, you get a change in the angle of the entire axle. The comfort of driving in such conditions is minimal, and the advantage is the simplicity of such design and, accordingly, its low cost. Another option is the dependent scheme de Dion, which exists almost since the beginning of the automobile industry. In it, the main gear crankcase is attached independently from the axle.
The independent scheme of car suspension has clear advantages in the sense that each wheel moves on rough terrain on its own, without affecting the other. One such option we have already considered is a double-wishbone system. Another, no less interesting example is the McPherson scheme, used since 1965 when it was first installed on the Peugeot-204. This suspension is based on one single lever, a block stabilizing transverse stability, and another block consisting of a telescopic shock absorber in conjunction with a coil spring. This variant is worse than the double-wishbone since the McPherson scheme changes the camber quite appreciably at high suspension travel, as well as there is no isolation of road vibrations.
Suspension Malfunctions: Signs
All existing types of suspensions are subject to failures, especially if we talk about the operation of cars in harsh conditions of our homeland. Malfunctions arise from overloading of the car, poor adjustment, and elementary wear and tear. Careless driving is often the cause of failure.
Signs
- Noises and knocks in the suspension can be called the main signs of failure. They occur with faulty shock absorbers or hydraulic struts, worn silent blocks, also with worn hub bearings.
- Stability and the need to constantly steer when driving straight ahead, uneven tire wear, too much draft, and many other things are also symptoms of problems with the car’s suspension.
- The most common problem with a car’s suspension is broken silent blocks.
- Disrupted operation of the shock strut due to overloading or overheating in hot weather, contributes to the loss of the shock absorber fluid.
- Strong shocks to the body when driving over bumps indicate failure of both the telescopic shock absorber strut and the elastic element.
- The best tool for adjusting suspensions is the accelerator pedal. On any car, it is the competent work on the accelerator pedal that allows you to perfectly control the weight distribution on the curve arc. If you have a problem with the pedals, change your suspension and pedals immediately.
Bottom Line
From an engineering standpoint, traction depends primarily on the proper operation of the vehicle’s suspension. How can a driver improve the suspension of his car? Is it necessary to put sports shocks on your car? Is it possible to drive a car efficiently with factory suspensions? What is “efficient driving”? Today we found that out and we hope that it is clear to you. And if you have more questions, be sure to write them in the comments!