Car suspension is the system by which shock produced from motion and weight of the vehicle is managed, and the stabilisation of the car is maintained. The components of car suspension are as follows:
1. Springs
Springs are the basics of any suspension system—the elastic links that store and release the energy of the shock pulses from the road. Springs offer cushioning effects by enabling the wheels to move up/down relative to the car body. Two main springs are used in car suspensions: coil and leaf springs.
Coil Springs: Coil springs are usually used in most modern passenger vehicles. They are formed of a single continuous elastic steel wire wound into a helix. They provide good comfort and control and can be adjusted to have different rates depending on the load.
Leaf Springs: Leaf springs have been primarily used in old car models and still exist in current extra-load vehicles. They are made of spring steel shaped in curves, and several are assembled to work together. They can carry weights more than coil springs and offer springing operation and axle position.
The spring rate or stiffness plays the most vital role in defining a ride's comfort and the mass's manoeuvrability.
2. Dampers (Shock Absorbers)
Another relevant electric part includes dampers, sometimes referred to as shock absorbers; they assist springs in managing the rate of the suspension movement. Although springs are excellent at absorbing energy and keeping it, a car would continue to ‘bounce’ after a hump if there were no dampers to release this energy.
A typical damper resembles a piston in a cylinder packed with hydraulic fluid. Dampers are classified into twin-tube, mono-tube, and gas-charged dampers.
Twin-tube Dampers: These are the most common, with two cylinders nested within the other.
Mono-tube Dampers: Mono-tube dampers have a single tube with a unique design for high performance.
Gas-charged Dampers: These are incorporated in which pressurised gas prevents fluid aeration and improves performance.
3. Anti-roll Bar (Sway Bar)
The anti-roll bar, commonly called a sway bar, is considered an essential component of the automobile and is mainly involved in issues related to cornering. Usually, a U-shaped metal bar links the left and right sides of the suspension and tries to counteract lateral force in case the car turns.
During a turn, one side of the suspension compresses, and the anti-roll bar relays some of the forces to the contrary side, making the car less tilted. This component dramatically boosts the two attributes, significantly benefiting vehicles with a high POZ.
4. Knuckle Arm
The knuckle arm, commonly known as the steering knuckle, is a crucial link in the front suspension system. It holds the wheel hub on the car, enabling it to spin on the spindle shaft. It is another pivot, interlinked to the lower control arm with the help of a ball joint, which performs functions like steering and the vertical movements of the shock absorber.
Another significant feature of the knuckle arm is that it houses other significant attachment points, such as the tie rods and brake callipers.
5. Ball Joint
Ball joints are spherical bearings important for the suspension as they act as essential pivot points. They permit free movement in any direction with the components while ensuring that they are firmly joined. Upper and lower ball joints allow wheels to move with the steering motion.
Ball joints carry different loads and should be well-lubricated for efficiency. There are various classifications of ball joints, some of which contain grease fittings that must be lubricated; the others do not.
