Automotive Suspension System

Suspension System Contents

 Introduction
 Suspension types
i) Rigid (solid) axle suspension
ii) Independent suspension system
 Suspension Spring
a) Metallic Springs
b) Non-metallic Springs
o Computer controlled suspension
System
 Introduction
Location
The suspension system is located
between the wheel axles and the
vehicle body or frame.
 Main purpose
 To prevent the road shocks from
being transmitted to the vehicle
components and occupants.
 Support the weight of the
vehicle.
 Maintain traction between the
tires and the road (while driving,
cornering and braking)
 Hold the wheels in alignment
(keeps stability of the vehicles)
 Prevent excessive body squat
 Prevent excessive body dive
Sprung and unsprungweight
 Effect of sprung and unsprung weight on
riding comfort
the greater the sprung weight of an
automobile, the better the riding
comfort becomes.
E.g. body, cargo, internal
components, frame and the parts
attached to the frame.
With large unsprung weight, it is
easy for the body to be jolted.
• E.g. Wheels & tyre, wheel axles,
axle shafts, rear axle housings and
differential.
 Main components ofthe suspensionsystem
The basic components of a suspension
system are as follows:
 Springs: neutralizes the shocks from the
road surface.
• Dampers: keeps the suspension from
continuing to bounce after spring
compression and extension. Limits free
oscillation of the springs.
 Stabilizer: (sway bar, anti-roll bar): limits
body roll of the vehicle during cornering
 Linkages: hold the above components in
place and to control the longitudinal and
lateral movements of the wheels
Suspension System Layout
Oscillations of sprung weight
Suspension operating principle
(Movements)
 Suspension types
There are of two basic types:
i) Rigid (solid) axle suspension
ii) Independent suspension system
Rigid axle suspension
 a wheel is mounted at each end of a solid, or
undivided axle or axle housing.
 has the advantages of strength and low cost.
 it provides less efficiency and comfort than
independent suspension.
Types of rigid axle suspensions
1. Parallel leaf spring type
2. Leading arm and trailing arm types
with lateral rods
Link type

This type is used for the rear suspension. It

provides the best riding comfort of all the
rigid axle suspension.
 b. Independent Suspension systems
allows one wheel to move up and
down with minimal effect on the
other wheels.
movement of one wheel does not
cause direct movement of the
wheel on the other side of the
vehicle
provide a separate mounting for
each wheel.
there is no tilting of an axle, that
in turn might tilt the entire car.
 Condt…
Types
1.Macpherson strut type
2.Double wishbone type

Macpherson strut type

It is the most common type of suspension found on
late-model cars.
It may be used on both the front or rear wheels.
It reduces the number of parts in the suspension
system.
uses only one control arm and a strut assembly
(spring, and shock absorber unit) to support each
wheel assembly.
A conventional lower control arm attaches to the
frame and to the lower ball joint.
The ball joint holds the control arm to the steering
knuckle or bearing support.
The top of the strut is fastened to the body
structure.
 Double wishbone type
 It consists of upper and the lower wishbone
arms pivoted to the frame member.
 The spring is placed in between the lower
wishbone and the underside of the cross-
member.
 The vehicle weight is transmitted from the
body and the cross-member to the coil
spring through which it goes to the
Wishbone type independent suspension with
coil springs.
 double-wishbone suspension uses a pair of
triangular forked wishbone members.
Equal upper and lower arms
•Wheels would not lean as
they move up and down
over bumps.
•This would cause the
tread (the distance b/n the
left and right wheels) to
vary resulting in poor
cornering and excessive
tire wear.
•But camber does not
change
 Neither parallel nor equal
 This causes the wheels to
lean inward slightly as they
go over bumps. So that the
tread does not change.
 It improves cornering
because the outside wheel,
which carries the greater
load and therefore exerts the
greater cornering power of
the two, remain more or
less at right angles to the
road surface, thus
improving road holding.
avoids the tyre scrub thus
minimising tyre wear.
 Main components of the suspension
system
Spring which neutralize the shocks
from the road surface.
 A spring is defined as an elastic
body, whose function is to distort
when loaded and to recover its
original shape when the load is
removed.
The very important function of
springs in car is to cushion, absorb or
control energy due to either shock or
vibration.
 Spring
Types:
a. Metallic Springs
Leaf Springs
Coil springs
Torsion bar springs

b. Non-metallic Springs
Rubber springs
Air springs
 Leaf spring
 It is a simple type of suspension
spring commonly used in vehicles.
 constructed of one or more flat, thin,
flexible steel strips that are joined
together in order to work as a single
unit.
 The steel strips of a leaf spring are
curved into an arc and attached at
each end to the underside of a
vehicle to help position and support
the axle, and also to absorb shock.
 Parts of a leaf spring

• A leaf spring commonly used in

automobiles is of semi-elliptical form.
 Equalised Stress in Spring Leaves
• The stress in the full length leaves is 50%
greater than the stress in the graduate
leaves.
• In order to utilise the material to the best
advantage, all the leaves should be equally
stressed.
• This condition may be obtained in the
following two ways :
1. By making the full length leaves of smaller
thickness than the graduated leaves.
2. By giving a greater radius of curvature to the
full length leaves than graduated leaves.
 Helper Springs
• Are used in trucks and many other vehicles which
undergo great fluctuations in their loads
• is installed above the main spring.
• When the load is light, only the main spring
operates, but when the load exceeds a certain
value, both the main and helper springs come into
operation.
Helper spring
Characteristics of leaf spring
• They control their own oscillation through inter
leaf friction.
• But it will be difficult to absorb minute vibrations
from the road surface.
• They have adequate rigidity to hold axle in the
proper position. So, it is not necessary to use
linkages.
• Thus the leaf springs may carry lateral loads, brake
torque, driving torque etc., in addition to shocks.
• They are applied for large commercial vehicles,
which carry heavy load and for which durability is
highly regarded.
 Torsion Bar
It is made of a round steel bar and
it has torsional elasticity to resist
twisting.
 Coil springs
• Coil springs are made of special round
spring steel wrapped in a helix shape.
• Coil springs are used on lighter vehicles
 Characteristics
• The energy absorption rate per unit of
weight is greater in comparison with
leaf springs.
• Soft springs can be made.
• No self-damping effect
• They cannot perform any wheel or axle
locating function. i.e., there is no
resistance for lateral forces. So linkages
are necessary to transmit driving,
braking and lateral forces.
 Shock absorbers
• When a car is subjected to shocks from the
road surface, the suspension springs compress
and expand to absorb those shocks.
• However, springs have the characteristic of
continuing to oscillate.
• This oscillation often takes a long time to
stop.
• Because of this, riding comfort will be poor
unless some means is provided to damp this
oscillation.
• This is the job of the shock absorber or
“damper”.
• The shock absorber helps dampen the rapid
up-and-down movement of the vehicle
springs by converting energy of movement
into heat by forcing hydraulic fluid through
small holes inside the shock absorber
Classification of shock absorbers

 Classification by operating principle:

a. Single action shock absorber: here damping
occurs only when the shock absorber is
extended.
b. Multiple action: damping occurs in both cases
 Classification by construction
a. Mono-tube type
b. Twin tube type
Computer controlled
suspension System
 Air suspension system
Air springs replace the coil springs in
conventional suspension systems
The air springs are inflated or deflated to
provide a constant vehicle trim height
It is mounted
◦ between the control arms and the cross member
◦ on the shock absorbers
◦ over the front and rear strut
Front air spring Rear air spring
Air spring on shock absorber
Air spring and
strut assembly
Sensors and actuators
Sensors
◦ On/off switch
◦ Height sensor

Actuators
◦ Air spring solenoid valve
◦ Air vent solenoid valve
Control module
Alsocalled vehicle dynamics
module (VDM)
Controls the following:
◦ Suspension warning lamp
◦ Maintain trim height
◦ Compressor
◦ Vent and air spring valve
Height sensor
two front height sensors
Single rear height sensor
Programmed ride control (PRC)
system
The damping action of the front and
rear struts and shocks is
automatically controlled by the PRC
system
Has the following parts
◦ Steering sensor
◦ Brake sensor
◦ Speed sensor
◦ Struts and shocks with electric
actuators
 Four mode PRC
 Comfort
◦ provides a smooth luxurious ride.
 Automatic

◦ provides the best possible combination of

comfort and handling based on speed, driver
style, and road conditions.
 Dynamic

◦ stiffest, lowest, sportiest, most aerodynamic

suspension mode
 Life

◦ for rougher roads, steep approaches, and

deep snow.
◦ This mode is used only for low speed driving
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