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Brief Introduction on Car Suspension

Car suspension is a device that forms a linkage of springs that bond between the vehicle and its wheels. The springs are developed in a variety of shapes, types, sizes, and capacities. Some of the common types of springs used in the suspension system are the leaf springs, air springs, coil springs, and the torsion bars.

The key function of the car suspension is to deliver a smooth ride and maintain an excellent control. It does this by maintaining the tyre position at an optimum angle that eventually maximizes traction control, steering control, braking, and even the acceleration.

When acceleration transforms into force or when vehicle runs down on a bumpy road, the vertical energy travels through the frame of the vehicle. This forceful energy is trapped by the car suspension system that reduces the tyre friction, eventually preventing the car from jumping of the road. In absence of suspension springs, the car comes bounding back with a greater force, resulting in a dangerous and uncomfortable ride.

To have best results from the car suspension system, it is important to adjust the position by doing wheel alignment. The four basic alignment adjustments are toe in/out, camber, caster, and ride height. Toe in/out is the direction in which the tyres point, camber is the angle of the tyre with the road surface, caster is the axis line of the steering wheel, and ride height is the height of the car’s chassis. All these adjustment points should be properly aligned in order to have maximum performance of the car suspension.

Traditional cars in the Indian car market were equipped with simple springs and suspension system where mainly the driver had to work the functions of the suspension. As technology and innovation crept in, modern suspension system came into existence which made the cars safer and the ride more peaceful.

Some of the modern suspension systems are hydraulic suspension, air suspension, electronic suspension, and active suspension.

Hydraulic suspension is a linkage of four independent dampers that are filled with hydraulic fluid and controlled by a controlling unit usually fitted inside the vehicle. The main control unit enables the damper to be pressurized and de-pressurized with just a flick of switch. Air suspension is a simple type of suspension that is driven by an electric pump or compressor. This pump uses air as a medium of spring and pressurizes the air to provide a smooth and comfortable ride quality. Active suspension controls the vertical movement of the car wheels through an onboard system and helps to pitch variation in cornering, accelerating, and braking. The electronic suspension uses electronic devices and engineering to improve the vehicle chassis, delivering safer drive quality and sportier handling.

In short, whichever suspension system a car uses, it plays a vital role in safer, better, and comfortable driving as well as handling.