SUSPENSION SYSTEM

The suspension system of a vehicle refers to the group of mechanical components that connect the wheels to the frame or
body. A great deal of engineering effort has gone into the design of suspension systems because of an unending effort to
improve vehicle ride and handling along with passenger safety and comfort.
There are three basic types of suspension components: linkages, springs, and shock absorbers. The linkages are the bars
and brackets that support the wheels, springs and shock absorbers.

Types of Independent suspension System:

• Swing axle.
• Sliding pillar.
• MacPherson strut/Chapman strut.
• Upper and lower A-arm (double wishbone)
• Multi-link suspension.
• Semi-trailing arm suspension.
• Swinging arm.
• Leaf springsTransverse.
 LEAF SPRING
Well a leaf spring suspension is made of a series of relatively long strips of steel attached at both ends to a frame and
suspending the axle in the middle. A leaf spring takes the form of a slender arc-shaped length of spring steel of
rectangular cross-section.
Leaf spring suspensions are much simpler in terms of functionality as the axle is suspended by the spring.
The leaf springs’ simplicity is as much of a curse as a blessing. Since this spring is attached at fixed points on the
chassis, it leaves a minuscule room for adjustability and customization of the suspension geometry. These springs
also flex a great deal less than coil springs, resulting in a loss of wheel-to-ground contact under extreme conditions.

Practically all leaf springs, as now used on

cars, buses and trucks are of the semi-
elliptic type. Because the semi-elliptic
spring has the outstanding advantages of
not only acting as a spring, to resiliently
support the vehicle, but also serves the
important functions of positioning the
axles and of cushioning both driving
torque and brake reaction, the simple semi-
elliptic type has superseded many other
kinds of springs, including cantilever;
platform, full elliptic, etc.