The job of your car’s suspension is to provide steering stability and a comfortable ride. The system absorbs road imperfections like cracks, potholes, and speed bumps. To learn more, look at this complete guide to different types of car suspensions.
What Is a Car Suspension?
Your car suspension system includes tires, the air in your tires, shock absorbers, springs, and the linkages that connect a car to its wheels, enabling movement between the two.
Car suspension systems and their components must work together to support road handling/holding and ride quality. The job of the suspension system is to maximize the friction between the tires and the road surface to provide steering stability.
Without a suspension system, you’ll feel unstable and unbalanced while driving. Your car may start to bounce, leading to a rough and bouncy ride. You shouldn’t drive your vehicle with a faulty or broken suspension system. It’s essential to keep things on track.
Suspension Basics
Your car’s suspension system is, for the most part, located within your vehicle’s undercarriage, where the wheels join the car. Modern cars have suspensions that include clamps, springs, dampers, wishbones, and links that work together to adjust to the conditions of the road’s surfaces to create a safe, smooth driving experience.
Suspension Parts and Functions
Car suspension systems reduce or absorb car vibrations produced from the road surface. Thus, making passengers feel safe and comfortable in the car. Every suspension system needs specific parts to ensure stability.
- Springs – Absorb shocks generated by road friction. Springs also increase the traction of the wheels on the road.
- Shock Absorber – Dampens the up and down movements caused by springs that absorb various shocks from the road surface.
- Ball Joint – Accepts lateral and horizontal loads on the car. Ball joints also work as a rotation axis when you turn the vehicle.
- Stabilizer Bar – Maintains body balance when your car turns.
- Bumper – Protects vehicle components, including axle, frame, shock absorber, and much more.
- Lateral Control Rod – Though a lesser-known part, the lateral control rod holds the axle when a load comes from the side.
- Upper and Lower Arms – Connect the knuckle arm with the car body so that the wheels can attach to the knuckle arm. Not all suspension systems have upper arms, but all have lower arms.
- Strut Bar – Holds the lower arm so the front wheels can function correctly.
- Knuckle Arm – Offers directional assistance with the inputs of the steering wheel.
What Are the Types of Car Suspensions?
It’s important to note that cars have front and rear suspension systems. The front helps with steering and traction, while the rear prevents your vehicle from lowering and hitting the ground. Here’s a deeper look at different types of car suspensions:
Suspension Types: Front
Dependent Front Suspension
Dependent front suspensions have a rigid front axle that connects the front wheels. It has a solid bar under the front of the car, kept in place by leaf springs and shock absorbers. Dependent front suspensions are common on trucks but not on modern cars.
Independent Front Suspension
With this system, the front wheels are independently supported by a coil, torsion bar, or leaf spring. Most modern passenger cars use the independent front suspension with the coil spring system. The common types of independent systems are Twin I-Beam, Single I-Beam, Struck and Link, and Parallelogram Front Suspension.
Double-Wishbone Suspension
This suspension has two wishbone-shaped arms. Each wishbone has two mounting positions to the frame and one at the wheel and features a shock absorber and a coil spring to absorb vibrations. The suspensions allow for more control over the camber angle of the wheel. They offer a consistent steering feel. The double-wishbone suspension is common on the front wheels of larger cars.
Suspension Types: Rear
Dependent Rear Suspension
If a solid axle connects the rear wheels of a car, then the suspension has a leaf spring or a coil spring. The leaf springs clamp directly to the drive axle. The ends of the leaf springs attach directly to the frame, and the shock absorber gets attached to the clamp that holds the spring to the axle. Many car manufacturers prefer this design because of its simplicity.
Independent Rear Suspension
The vehicle has a four-wheel independent suspension if both the front and back suspensions are independent. Any suspension used on the front of the car can also get used on the rear. However, the rear independent suspensions are a simplified version of the front ones.
More Car Suspensions
There are no one-size-fits-all car suspensions. Car manufacturers use different suspension systems for their vehicles. That said, here are more systems to know:
- Multi-Link – This suspension has a quality grip, making the vehicle easier to control. It has component ends that pivot on two sides of the arm. Multi-link is complex because it has separate parts held together by joints.
- Rigid Axle – Placed at the rear of the car. The main feature is that the rear left and right wheels connect to one axle.
- MacPherson – Many cars use this suspension system. It has an upright shape supported by shock absorbers.
- Trailing Arm – Usually at the vehicle’s rear, the trailing arm suspension connects from the right side to the left side.
Signs of Suspension Problems
Like all car parts, your suspension is susceptible to problems and requires occasional maintenance. Ideally, we all want a smooth ride, but suspension failure leads to unstable driving. If you notice the issues listed below, it’s time to seek help.
Loose Handling of Your Steering Wheel
If you have suspension failure, the vehicle is more likely to “wander” instead of tracking in a straight line. It can feel loose as you steer.
Your Vehicle Bounces
The suspension absorbs pavement imperfections like potholes and speed bumps, so you enjoy a balanced ride. If you’ve got worn-out shocks, springs, or struts, the vehicle may bounce over pavement imperfections.
Your Car Leans When You Park
If your car leans heavily toward one wheel when parked, the suspension likely has failed. If the vehicle leans forward or backward, the suspension on the front or back wheels may need service.
You Hear Squeaking, Clanking, or Knocking Noises
Squeaking, clanking, and knocking noises can come from the drive axles, transmission, and the brakes. However, a repetitive knocking, squeaking, or clunking noise from under the car is due to a failed suspension part.
You Experience an Uncomfortable Ride
Sometimes, the most significant indicator of suspension problems is an uncomfortable ride. The chassis and suspension work together to isolate you from harsh road vibrations. If you notice something is off, you need to service your vehicle.
Need help? No problem. Maintain a smooth ride with a functioning suspension system. Wheel and Tire Superstore offers auto suspension repair services to protect your vehicle. Come in or give us a call today!
