Aiden's Car Blogs

An automobile’s suspension system is a protective structure of shock-absorbing components such as springs and dampers. The system ensures a safe and smooth drive by absorbing the energy from bumpy roads or other impacts, supporting the weight of the vehicle, and allowing rapid cornering without extreme body roll. The key components of the suspension system are the springs, shock absorbers and struts, control arms, and ball joints. 

The springs are coiled metal parts that support the vehicle’s weight and absorb initial impacts from road shocks. The shock absorbers and struts then work with the springs to dampen the spring action, reducing the bouncing of the car and improving the car’s handling. Control arms connect the wheel hub and steering knuckles to the vehicle frame, and ball joints acting as a pivot point between the control arms and steering knuckle.

There are four types of suspension systems: independent suspension, dependent suspension, semi-independent suspension, and air suspension. 

Independent suspensions are systems that have each wheel move without affecting the movements of other wheels. This design provides a safe, stable and comfortable riding experience, especially on uneven roads, as the right side of the car may have different bumps than the left. Another important aspect of the independent suspension is the fact that each wheel has better contact with the road, improving braking performance and traction. Most modern cars, especially sedans and sports cars, are built with an independent suspension system due to the enhanced ride comfort.

Dependent suspensions, also known as solid axle suspensions, have the wheel on each axle connected; the movement of one wheel affects the other wheel on the opposite side of the axle. Benefits of this system include durability, price, and off-road capabilities. The straightforward design with fewer moving parts allows for simpler maintenance. 

Semi-independent suspensions usually offer better ride comfort than dependent suspensions because they include features of both independent and dependent suspension systems; semi-independent suspension systems have the wheels connected on the same axle but have wheels that can still move independently. The benefit of the semi-independent suspension is the cost efficiency in having a suspension system that is more comfortable than the dependent suspension system. Also, the space occupied by semi-independent suspension systems are smaller than independent suspension systems, making them suitable for small cars.

Lastly, the fourth type is air suspension. Air suspension uses adjustable air springs instead of traditional coil or leaf springs, which allows the adjustability in the height and stiffness of the car. The benefit of air suspension is the customizability in the ride height, comfort, and load leveling. Air suspension systems automatically adjust the vehicle’s ride height based on the vehicle’s load. The air suspension is commonly used in high-end and luxury vehicles by companies such as Audi, BMW, and Land Rover.