Car suspension: what it is, types, principle of operation

Imperfection of the roadway creates shaking, vibration and prevents you from maintaining an even course when driving a car. To avoid such unpleasant consequences, engineers have provided a functional part - car suspension. It provides a soft and confident running of the vehicle in any road conditions. Let's consider the types and features of car suspensions.

Structural features of the car suspension

Each car suspension has a certain structure. It is arranged in such a way as to reduce vibration. As a rule, the suspension consists of such parts:

• Stroke limiters control the amplitude of sway.
• An elastic device compensates for shaking from unevenness on the highway.
• Rubber-metal joints (silent blocks and bushings) provide an elastic connection between each suspension element and the body. They reduce the intensity of the recoil.
• Shock absorbers dampen body shake when crossing uneven road sections.
• Transverse stability stabilizer protects the vehicle from tipping over.
• The axle beams consist of levers, transverse and reaction rods, springs. They act as body guides and provide a given trajectory of movement of the wheels relative to the plane of the body. In sports suspensions for these purposes are used rockers.

The suspension is extremely important for the stabilization of the vehicle. It is designed specifically for this purpose. It is important to monitor its serviceability.

Types of car suspensions

Suspensions are divided into several categories. All of them have their own features and are used to achieve narrow-profile goals. Types of automobile suspensions:

Dependent

Dependent suspensions rigidly fix the opposite wheels. In this case, the movement of one wheel entails the movement of the other wheel. The structure of the part is elementary and reliable. For this reason, it is widely used in trucks and on the rear axle of passenger cars.

Non-independent

In independent suspensions, each wheel moves independently of the other. If one wheel hits an obstacle, the other side of the car will not react to it. Such a design is convenient for passenger cars, but has a lot of elements in the composition. They will sooner or later begin to fail and the cost of replacing them will be significant.

Semi-independent

Semi-independent suspension is a type of suspension with a torsion beam. It gives the wheels some degree of freedom. The mounted beam moves and dampens rolls that occur in corners.

Pneumatic

Pneumatic suspensions work due to cylinders with compressed gas. From the pressure values in the cylinders depend on the characteristics of the suspension. Put such parts mainly on expensive cars.

Torsion

Torsion suspensions are suitable for oversized vehicles. Longitudinal torsions twisting, equalize the vehicle when it hits a bump in the road.

Absorber

Torsion bar suspensions are common on trucks and buses. The springs play the role of a shock absorbing component to dampen the force of shocks.

Hydraulic

In hydraulic suspensions, shock absorbers control the ground clearance and the stiffness of the suspension. The latter can adapt to the owner's driving style and road conditions.

MacPherson

The peculiarity of the MacPherson suspension is in the attachment points. And also this detail significantly reduces the cost of construction.

Multilever

One of the most complex designs - multilever suspensions. Due to its features, it provides the softest and most comfortable ride compared to other suspensions.

Electromagnetic

In electromagnetic suspensions, magnets are responsible for the stability of the car's position on the road. They effectively and quickly change the vehicle's stiffness, ground clearance and handling.

Different types of car suspensions are designed for specific tasks. This improves and softens the movement of the car. It all depends on the model of the car, the peculiarities of the road surface and the budget available to the car owner.