I.

Characteristics and Components of Suspension System

The suspension system on a vehicle

is between the frame and the road.
The suspension system’s primary
function is to maximize the overall
performance of a vehicle as it
cruises down the road. The
suspension system also helps to
absorb bumps in the road and
provide a safe and comfortable ride.

If you want to know more about

your vehicle’s suspension system,
discover the answers to four
frequently asked questions.

1. What Parts Make Up the Suspension System?

The suspension system on your vehicle consists of the following parts:

• These are the only part of the suspension system that touches the ground.
• Coil springs. These are the part that absorbs the impact when a vehicle hits a bump
in the road.
• Shock absorbers. Sometimes called the shocks or dampers, this part supports the
coil spring to further reduce the impact of a bump or pothole.
• Rods/linkages. These parts work together to link different parts of the suspension
system together.
• Joints/bearings/bushings. These parts allow certain components of the
suspension system to make sliding actions.

Some vehicles do not have shock absorbers. Instead, these vehicles come with struts. A
strut is similar to a shock absorber, as it provides support for the suspension as well as
the coil springs.

The steering system is also important as it works with the entire suspension system to
make the car turn. The entire suspension system sits on top of the vehicle’s frame, which
carries the weight of the vehicle.

2. What Signs Indicate a Problem with the Suspension System?

Your vehicle’s suspension system sustains a lot of wear and tear. When you drive over
potholes, hit bumps in the road, crash into the curb, or get into a fender bender, these all
take a toll on the suspension system. Because of this wear and tear, your suspension
system requires regular maintenance.
SUSPENSION TYPES
Springs and dampers are the basic suspension components that, along with other parts,
are used to form various types of suspension units used on different cars. Many vehicles
have different suspension set ups for their back and front wheels.

NON-INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION
Non-independent (dependent) suspension is where the left and right wheels share a
single, solid axle. It’s still common with rear suspension on cars and still found up front
in trucks. The problem with non-independent suspension is the jarring is felt across the
entire rear axle if one wheel hits a bump and it’s not great with preventing body roll.

INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS
As you’d expect, each wheel is independent of the other which means any jarring is
contained to one side or wheel. There are different types of independent suspension
systems in modern cars, the most common of which include:

MACPHERSON STRUT
This is a very common front independent suspension system which is effective and
simple. It combines a shock absorber and a coil spring into a single strut to provide a more
compact and lighter suspension system that is particularly useful for front-wheel drive
vehicles.
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DOUBLE WISHBONE SYSTEM
Another common front suspension type, double-wishbone suspension (pictured top), also
known as an A-arm suspension, typically uses two wishbone-shaped arms with two
mounting positions at the frame and one at the wheel. The coil spring and damper are on
a strut linked to the bottom wishbone and chassis. Double-wishbone suspension helps
reduce roll and is common on larger cars.

MULTI-LINK SUSPENSION
This uses three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms which can be
angled in any direction allowing for better compromise between ride and handling. These
are more likely to be used on performance cars.
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INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION
The above front independent systems can be found on the rear axles. Rear independent
suspension is simpler because the wheels aren’t connected to the steering rack.