Automobile Suspension System

 Automobile Suspension System 

The automobile/automotive suspension system is a major role play for a comfortable ride and it absorbs the full shock of the road to make passengers tireless travelling provided to us, from our vehicles. It may be any type of category of your vehicle even in two-wheelers (scooters and bike or motorcycles) and four-wheelers in light-duty vehicle cars and heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses. The suspension system allows the vehicle to travel over rough surfaces with a minimum of up and down body movement. Road shocks are the action resulting from the tyre moving up and down as they meet bumps or potholes in the road.

 The Suspension system is located between the wheel axles and the vehicle chassis frame or body frame of the vehicles. 

The main purpose of the suspension system:

• Its purpose is to absorb shock and jerks and to ensure a smooth ride.

• Cushion bump and hole in the road, and maintain traction between the tyres and the road.

•  To maintain properly hold the wheel alignment of the vehicles.

 Generally, two categories of suspension systems are used in all vehicles, it depends on the light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and also varied of front and rear suspension even same vehicle to vehicle. These are : 

•  Conventional (dependent) type of suspension. 

• Independent type of suspension.

The Suspension arrangement differs from vehicle to vehicle. Even the front and rear suspensions are not alike.

The following are the different suspension arrangements applicable to a different vehicle: 

• Conventional (Dependent) suspension system at both front and rear. 

• Conventional (Dependent) suspension at the rear and independent suspension at the front. 

• Independent Suspension at both front and rear.

Conventional (dependent) type of suspension system :

It is that type of suspension system in which the wheel is fitted on beam-type axles which are attached to the chassis frame through a road spring. (it's dependent on both front or rear suspension axle wheel and tyres directly affected one another). In this type of suspension effect on one wheel is directly transmitted to the other side wheel through the axles. It is most commonly used in heavy-duty vehicles trucks and buses in both front and rear suspension. Basically in the front suspension uses is rigid axle types suspension with I-section dead axle beam uses of leaves spring front suspension especially in the trucks and buses.

Independent type of suspension system:

Independent suspension, there are no axles beam running below the chassis frame like the conventional type suspension system. In this suspension system, each wheel is in an independent unit and is fully free from the effect of one another. The linkage used in the construction of this suspension comprises the basic feature of the suspension.

This type of suspension system is most widely used on light motor duty vehicles mainly particularly front suspension right or left each unit. Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs), Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUVs), Hatchback Car and Sedan cars fitted on the front fully independent suspension system even in the same vehicle using both sides front and rear independent suspension system.

Differences between Conventional and Independent Suspension system :

In conventional  (Dependent) types, the wheel is fitted on the between tyre axles which are attached to the chassis is the frame through load leaves spring. In an Independent system, there is no axle beam for each wheel assembly to hold on the stub axle the suspension for each wheel is of an independent unit and free from the effect of one another. 

The advantage of an independent suspension system: 

• In this suspension system for the front and rear axles, which permit the wheel to remain vertical even on a bumpy road. 

• When one wheel hits a bump or pothole, the other is not affected.

• The ride and handling of the vehicle are much better than the conventional suspension system. 

The main components of the suspension system are suspension Springs and Shock Absorbers for any category of the vehicle like heavy-duty or light-duty vehicles. Other related supporting components (parts) suspension arms, anti-roll bar (stabiliser bar) etc, that support the weight of the vehicle body frame on the axles and wheel assembly.

Purpose of  suspension Spring : 

When a vehicle is moving on the rough road surface shock is developed. The purpose of the suspension spring is to absorb the road shock. The suspension spring supports the weight of the vehicle and its load and absorbs road shocks.

Generally, four types of suspension springs are used in automobile suspension systems. These are Leaf spring, Coil Spring, Torsion Bar and Air spring. 

Leaf Spring suspension :

Leaf springs are made of long flat strips of spring steel (Leaf). Leaves spring is a semi-elliptic form. When the load is applied friction is developed between the leaf plate several strips are placed one on the other and held together using centre bolt and clamps and one end side spring shackle, which has to allow leaf spring length to change it connects to the spring hanger frame. The other end of the leaf connects to the chassis frame it called the spring eye of the vehicle. Each strip is called a leaf. 

The leaf spring applies to the conventional (dependent) types suspension system. Leaf spring suspension has two types, they are multi-leaf and single leaf spring and one helper spring are used in the vehicle to provide additional support for heavy load.

Coil Spring 

The coil spring is made of a length of round spring steel rod with into a coil shape. A coil spring hold with lower and upper suspension arms in the independent type of suspension system in the front and rear suspension. Mainly used in light motor duty vehicles in the front suspension.

Torsion Bar 

 

The torsion bar is the straight rod of spring steel, rigidly fastened at one end to the vehicle frame or body. The other end attaches to an upper or lower control suspension arm. As the control suspension arm swings up and down in response to wheel movement, the torsion bar twists provide spring action.

Air Spring 

The air spring is a rubber cylinder or airbag filled with compressed air. A plastic piston on the lower control suspension arm moves up and down with the lower control suspension arm. This causes the compressed air to provide spring action. Air spring is also called rubber suspension. 

Advantages of air spring (Rubber suspension) are:

• It can store more energy per unit weight than the steel suspension type.

• It has good vibration damping properties.

• Squeaking is not present unlike in the steel type suspension.

Automobile/automotive suspension system, Conventional & Independent Suspension Types of suspension Spring-Leaf,Coil, Torsion Bar, & Air/rubber spring suspension

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