User:Christo19

SUSPENSION
Suspension is the only component that separates the driver and/or passenger from the ground. The suspension in a vehicle helps absorb harshness in the road. There are many systems and designs that do this, such as independent suspension. (Longhurst1).

DEFINITION
Dictionary.com defines it as such: “An automotive suspension system in which each wheel is attached to the frame independently, so that a road bump affecting one wheel has no effect on the others” (“Independent suspension”).

ADVANTAGES
This system provides many advantages over other suspension systems. For example, in solid axel suspension systems, when one wheel hits a bump, the wheel across from it is affected as well as the one that hit the bump. This will compromise traction, smoothness of the ride, and could also cause a dangerous wheel shimmy when moving at high speeds. According to “Car Suspension Bible” with independent suspension systems, only the wheel that hits the bump would be affected. This offers many advantages such as: greater ride comfort, better traction, safer more and stable vehicles on the road and off the roads (Longhurst 1).

REAL WORLD USES
Newly developed by ArvinMertior, a new independent suspension system has been recently designed for off-highway, emergency and some custom chassis vehicles. Combat-wheeled military, tactical vehicles and armored personal carriers will also incorporate these designs (Arvinmertitor Inc.). The use of this independent suspension system will help these vehicles do their job better, faster and more safely. It being an independent suspension it will offer other advantages such as interchangeable parts for ultimate customization. Some offered parts that are interchangeable are as follows: air springs, air struts, coil springs, and hydrostruts (Arvinmertitor Inc.). This also make more parts be the same in more than one type of vehicle making costs lower and availability higher.

TYPES
Suspensions in the simplest form contain two major components, springs and shock absorbers. The spring’s main function is to help rebound the shock back and control the stiffness of the suspension. A shock absorbers main function is to dampen vertical motion created when a wheel hits a rough surface or any other imperfection on the road (Longhurst1).

Coil Over independent suspensions system
This is most often an aftermarket part, it doesn’t come with a vehicle from the factory, and it offers a high level of adjustability. It is a system that can be fitted to any vehicle. There is an adjustable spring plate on the shock that lets the stiffness and the looseness to be adjusted. Also there is often an adjustable damping valve that can change the rebounding effect of the shock absorbers (Longhurst1-2). Also the ride height can be lowered or raised with ease, this is a desirable aspect of the system. This system is used by many people to modify their street, race, and off road cars.

MacPherson Strut
According to “Car suspension bibles” this is the most common, widely used front suspension system in cars of European origin. It is a very simple and effective design that uses a strut-type spring and shock absorber that work as a team that will pivot on a ball joint on the single lower arm (Longhurst 2). This system has been used the BMW e21 series, which are the first generation 3 series from 1976-1983 and this system is still used on cars today. One problem with this system is once the spring or the top plate becomes worn, the driver of a car with this system may here a loud “clonk” like noise at full lock when the spring jumps back into place. People can often confuse this with a CV joint knock.

Transverse leaf-spring
The Chevrolet Corvette is known for using a rear transverse leaf-spring suspension design. This system uses two systems to work as one. It uses a double wishbone and a leaf spring. The leaf spring is not used as they were commonly used before. It is a very cheap suspension system, but Chevrolet insists that it is a performance system as well (Longhurst 4). It is very rare on modern cars. In the past it was more widely used in many Triumphs. The Herald, Vitesse, Spitfire and the GT6 all used a rear transverse leaf spring, as well as a rare Swedish sports car that was made in the 1990s called the JC Indigo (Longhurst 4). This system has a few large problems when a car was being driven hard. When cornering hard if the driver lets off the gas to fast or steps on the brakes the cars back will swing out in a large over steer and potential spin.