Car Suspension and Its Value

If you have ridden in an old horse-drawn wagon, you know how rough and bumpy of a ride it can be and maybe you have pity on the old pioneers and their mode of travel. Today, in our modes of travel, we have vehicles with what is called ‘suspension’.

Car suspension helps our travels become smooth and comfortable. Suspension also protects our vehicles from the jolts and bumps of the road. Without suspension, our cars might vibrate into pieces. Car suspension is usually comprised of two basic components. They are springs and shock absorbers. There are also a number of different types of suspension available for both front and rear axles. The main groupings are dependent and independent suspension types.

In order to understand the working of car suspension, you must understand the parts completely.

1. Suspension – Suspension on vehicles varies from front to rear, independent and dependent. Dependent systems – With these units, the front wheel's suspension systems are physically linked. There is only one type of dependent system and this is basically a solid bar under the front of the car, kept in place by leaf springs and shock absorbers. This type of suspension is still common on trucks and hasn’t been used on mainstream cars due to the shimmy it causes, the fact this kind of suspension weighs a long and because you can’t adjust the alignment of wheels. Front suspensions that are independent came into existence in 1930 and are sometimes called the MacPherson Strut. This is most commonly used in European vehicles. Other suspension units include: Double Wishbone Suspension Systems, Coil Spring; Multi-Link Suspension, Trailing-Arm Suspension, Twin I-Bean Suspension, Transverse Leaf-Spring, Solid-Axle Coil Spring, Beam Axle, 4-Bar, and the Rear Suspension Independent.

2. Springs - Springs are a major component of a car's suspension. Springs are available in three types: coil springs, leaf springs and torsion bars. The commonly known spring is coil spring. Almost all the heavy-duty vehicles had leaf spring since 1985. They appeared as metal layers, joined to axle.

3. Shock Absorbers - Along with springs, shock absorbers also play key role in the working of suspension. A shock absorber absorbs the shock. While driving car on a rough road, it dampens the induced vertical motion. The shock absorber has two major functions to accomplish. Firstly, it absorbs the shock caused by driving on a bumpy road by stopping the transmission of shock to the car chassis. Secondly, it manages the suspension in all road conditions. It makes the vehicle well planted on road. They are also known as dampeners or velocity-sensitive hydraulic damping devices. The working of the shock absorber is well conjunct with springs. The movement of the wheel is allowed by spring. Thus, lead to conversion of energy in road shock to kinetic energy of unsprung mass. Later, damper dissipates this energy. Damper performs dissipation by forcing gas or oil through a small hole or constricted valve.

Adjustable shock absorbers are also available in the market that allows modifications in the size of constriction. Smaller the size of constriction, stiffer will be the suspension. Nowadays, car manufactures are also offering different types of suspensions for both the front and rear axles. They are categorized as dependant and independent suspension types.

When you experience a wallowing motion on undulating road surface, it could mean that the suspension of the vehicle is going through excessive wear. This calls for immediate replacement, as it would not disable the car, but would lead to accident. Replacement of old worn out suspension with a new one will lead to enhanced handling, as it will minimize from end drive while braking. It also enhances safety and security of the vehicle by controlling body sway


4. Struts - A car's front suspension is also referred to as a struts which attaches directly into the front frame near the engine compartment. And a car's rear suspension system is also known as shocks, which ride independently.

Apart from your car's tires and seats, the suspension is the prime mechanism that separates your bum from the road. It also prevents your car from shaking itself to pieces.