suspension

 suspension

Suspension is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers, and couplings that connect a vehicle to its wheels and allow relative motion between the two. [1] Suspension systems must support both road holding/handling and ride quality, [2] which are mutually exclusive. Tuning suspension systems involves finding the right compromise. It is important for the suspension system to maintain road wheel contact with the road surface as much as possible, because all road or ground forces acting on the vehicle do so through the contact spots in the tires. The suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or baggage from damage and wear. The design of the front and rear suspension of the car may be different.

HOW DOES THE SUSPENSION WORK?

As its name suggests, the suspension system keeps the vehicle “in the air” above the wheels. It connects them to the chassis and guarantees their contact with the ground. The suspension works hand in hand with the shock absorbers. These are essential because without them the suspension could not ensure optimum driving comfort and safety.

Indeed, when a vehicle drives on an uneven road with many bumps and dips, energy is created at the wheels. It then spreads throughout the vehicle. The suspension allows this energy to be channeled to prevent it from reverberating inside the cabin. If so, it would make driving very uncomfortable.

The suspension system consists of several elements. Today almost all vehicles have a suspension equipped with springs. The role of the shock absorbers is to prevent the rebound effect caused by the energy coming from the wheels when it travels through these springs.

The most common shock absorber is the hydraulic shock absorber.