Suspension system

Harshitha
 Introduction

• The suspension system of an automobile is one which

separates the wheel/axle Assembly from the body.

• The primary function of the suspension system is to

isolate the vehicle structure from shocks and
vibration due to irregularities of the road surface
and keep all the wheels in contact with the ground
at all road conditions.
 Objectives

• To prevent the road shocks from being transmitted to

the vehicle frame.

• To preserve the stability of the vehicle in pitching or

rolling or yaw.

• To safeguard the occupants from road shocks.

• To provide good road holding while driving,

cornering and braking.
Difference between yaw and pitch
 History
• 1903 Mors from Germany fitted a car with shock absorbers.

• 1920 Layland used torsion bars in its suspension system.

• 1932 By this year ,the independent front suspension become more

common in popular cars.

• 1948 Triumph Mayflower introduced the combined coil

spring/damper unit.

• 1959 Use of independent rubber suspension.

• 1962 Introduction of hydrostatic suspension.

 Requirements of a suspension
system

• Low initial cost.

• Minimum weight.

• Minimum deflection consistent with required stability.

• Minimum tyre wear.

 Elements of suspension system
• Spring - It absorbs road shocks or impacts due to bump in road by
oscillating. Tires also provides spring effect , but to a smaller extent.
Springs used for suspension system should absorb road shocks
quickly and return to the original position slowly.

• Damper- They reduce the tendency of the carriage unit to

continue to “bounce” up and down on its springs . Oscillation due
to road shocks are restricted to a reasonable level by damper.

• Shock absorbers or dampeners keeps the suspension from

continuing to bounce after spring compression and extension.
 Components
• Tires
• Wheels (rims)
• Shock Absorbers (dampers)
• Springs
• Control Arms (A-arms)
• Control arm bushing
• Strut rod
• Ball joints
• Stabilizer bar
• Sway Bars (anti-roll bars)
• Torsion Bars
• Axle System or drive shaft
 Basic components
• Control Arm:- movable
lever that fastens the
steering knuckle to the
vehicle’s body or frame.

• Steering Knuckle:–
provides a spindle or
bearing support for the
wheel hub, bearings and
wheel assembly.
 Basic components
• Ball Joints:– swivel joints
that allow control arm
and steering knuckle to
move up and down and
side to side.

• Springs:– supports the

weight of the vehicle;
permits the control arm
and Wheel to move up
and down.
 Components and description
• Tyres - which are mounted on your
vehicle’s wheels (or rims) - are the most important and
visible components of the system.
• Wheel- a circular object that revolves on an axle and is
fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to
move over the ground.
• Shock absorber-when driving over a bumpy road,
shocks are absorbed by the combined work of a shock
absorber (or damper) and a coil or leaf spring mounted
on each wheel.
 Components and description
• Control arm bushing - A sleeve, which allows the
control arm to move up and down on the frame
• Strut rod- prevents the control arm from swinging
to the front or rear of the vehicle.
• Stabilizer bar - limits body roll of the vehicle
during cornering.
• Sway bars (or anti-roll bars)- control body roll
motion during turns. They are made of steel and
attached between the left and right wheels, at the
front and rear of your vehicle.
 Components and description
• Torsion bars - act like springs, twisting with varying
load forces. The suspension with torsion bars is
slightly faster than with springs and there is no
bouncing effect.
• Axle system or driveshaft- that the power from the
engine is transmitted to the wheels and tires.
Types of suspension system

Non-Independent suspension

Independent Suspension
 Types of springs
• Leaf spring
• Coil spring
• Torsion bars
• Air and gas spring
• Rubber spring
 Leaf spring
• A leaf spring is a simple type of suspension spring commonly
used in heavy duty vehicles.
• Referred to as Laminated springs since they use steel strips.
They are also called as Semi elliptical springs as they are bent
in that form.
• Used in many early applications .
• Leaf springs are now limited to some cars
Leaf spring
 Helper spring
• A helper spring is just like a semi elliptical spring but without
eyes at the ends.

• Its ends touches the brackets fitted on the frame when the
truck is heavily loaded .

• These springs allow for a wide range of loading.

• Generally it is used on rear suspension only.

Helper spring
 Coil springs
• Mainly used in independent suspension systems.
• Energy stored per unit volume is almost double in case of coil
springs than leaf springs.
• This is the most common type of spring and is, in essence, a
heavy-duty torsion bar coiled around an axis.
• Coil springs compress and expand to absorb the motion of the
wheels.
• Little to no internal damping
• Low cost
• Compact Size
• Coil spring is the most common type of spring found on modern
vehicles.
Coil spring
 Torsion bars

• Torsion Bars don't flatten out like a leaf spring or

compress like a coil spring. Torsion bars are typically
mounted in a front-to-rear position on the vehicle,
 Air And Gas Springs
• Rubber cylinder filled with air.
• Air pressure in the rubber cylinder gives the
unit of spring action.
• Special rubber compounds are used so the air
spring can operate properly in cold weather.
• In these springs compressed air or gas is filled
in the cylinder or bellows against which the
wheel movement is transmitted through
diaphragm. As soon as the wheel passes over
a road irregularity the compressed air returns
the system to its original position.
 Shock absorbers
o A shock absorber is a
mechanical device designed to
smooth out
or damp shock impulse, and
dissipate kinetic energy.
o Limits spring compression-
extension movements to smooth
the vehicle’s ride.
o Without shock absorbers, the
vehicle would continue to
bounce up and down long after
striking dip or hump in the
road.
TYPES OF SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
 Conventional suspension system
 Independent suspension system
 Air suspension system
 Hydrolastic Suspension System
TYPES OF SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
• Conventional Suspension System:-
– It has both right and left wheel attached to the
same solid axle. When one wheel hits a bump in
the road, its upward movement causes a slight
tilt of the other wheel.
• Independent Suspension System:-
– It allows one wheel to move up and down with
minimal effect to the other.
 Independent suspension
system
• Front wheel suspension system
– Wishbone type

– Mac pherson strut type

– Vertical guide type

– Trailing link type

– Swinging axle type

• It consists of two arms called as upper wishbone arm and lower
wishbone arm. The open ends are pivoted to the chassis frame. The
close ends are connected to the stub axle, with the help of
connecting arm and king pin.

• The coil spring with a shock absorber is placed in between the lower
wishbone and the frame member. When the wheel hits a bump the
control arms move up compressing the coil spring. The upper arm is
smaller than the lower one to cause less traction.
MACPHERSON STRUT
•Consists of a shock absorber, a coil
spring, and an upper damper unit with
lower wishbone arm connected to the
chassis. The other end is attached to the
strut.
•The steering gear is either connected
directly to the lower shock absorber
housing, or to an arm from the front or
back of the spindle.
•When you steer, it physically twists the
strut and shock absorber housing (and
consequently the spring) to turn the
wheel.
 Vertical guide suspension

• It consists of a cross member and king pin of the stub axle

attached at one end.
•The coil spring and the shock absorber are attached on the stub
axle. The other end of the kingpin is fixed to an upper spacing bar.
•The disadvantage of his suspension is decreased stability of
automobile.

Vertical guide suspension

 Trailing link suspension
• In this type a horizontal torsion spring with shock absorber is
attached to a trailing linkage which is attached to the shaft
that carries a wheel hub.

• The other end of the coil spring attached to the frame size
member. When the wheel moves up or down it winds or
unwinds the spring.
 TYPES OF SUSPENSION
SYSTEMS
 Air Suspension System:-
– It used in place of conventional steel springs in
passenger cars, and heavy vehicle applications
such as buses and trucks.

 Hydrolastic Suspension System:-

– The system replaces the separate springs and
dampers of a conventional suspension system
which are interconnected between the front and
rear wheels on each side of the vehicle.
 conclusion
• From the whole discussion in suspension system, it is
observed that suspension system provides the
energy to a vehicle to protect itself from damaging,
increasing life of the vehicle, handing and comfort of
passengers and many more.
• So, if the suspension system is removed, then ride
in an Audi or Mercedes will feel like a bull-cart ride.
But the only difference is speed. So, the scope of
suspension system is too bright