SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Objective of Suspension System 1) To prevent the road shocks from being transmitted to the vehicle components. 2) To safeguard the occupants from road shocks 3) To preserve the stability of the vehicle in pitching or rolling, while in motion Functions of Suspension springs Springs are placed between the road wheels and the body. When the wheel comes across a bump on the road, it rises and deflects the springs , thereby storing energy therein. On releasing , due to elasticity of the spring material , it rebounds thereby expanding the stored energy. In this way the spring starts vibrating , of course, with amplitude decreasing gradually on account of internal friction of the suspension joints , till the vibration die out.

Types of Suspension Springs 1) Steel Springs a) leaf spring b) tapered leaf spring c) coil spring d) torsion bar 2) Rubber Spring a) Compression spring b)Compression shear spring c)Steel-reinforced spring d)Progressive Spring e)Face shear spring f)Torsional shear spring 3)Plastic Spring 4)Air Spring 5)Hydraulic Spring

Four broad classification of spring are 1.Coil spring 2.Leaf spring 3.Torsion bar 4.Air spring 1. Coil spring The coil spring is made of a length of round spring-steel rod wound into a coil. Some coil springs are made from a tapered rod. This gives the spring a variable spring rate. As the spring is compressed, its resistance to further compression increases

2. Leaf spring Two types of leaf springs are single leaf and multi-leaf springs. These have several flexible steel plates of graduated length, stacked and held together by clips. In operation , the spring bends to absorb road shocks. The plates bend and slide on each other to permit this action.

3.Torsion bar The torsion bar is a straight rod of spring steel, rigidly fastened at one end to the vehicle frame or body. The other end attaches to an upper or lower control arm. As the control arm swings up and down in response to wheel movement , the torsion bar twists to provide spring action. 4. Air Spring The air spring is a rubber cylinder or air bag filled with compressed air. A plastic piston on the lower control arm moves up and down with the lower control arm. This causes the compressed air to provide spring action. If the load in the vehicle changes , a valve at the top of the air bag opens to add or release air. An air compressor connected to the valve keeps the air springs inflated. TERMINOLOGIES Sprung and unsprung weight: The total weight of the vehicle includes the sprung and the unsprung weight. The sprung weight is the weight supported by the springs. The unsprung weight is the part not supported by springs. This includes the weight of the drive axles, axle shafts, wheels and tires. The unsprung weight is kept as low as possible. The roughness of the ride increases as unsprung weight increases. Spring rate The softness or hardness of a spring is its spring rate. This is the load required to move a spring a specified distance . the rate of a spring that compresses uniformly (a linear rate spring) is the weight required to compress it 1. The variable rate spring do not move or deflect at a constant or linear rate. The coil spring is one type of variable rate spring. Winding the coils on from a tapered rod provides the variable rate. REAR SUSPENSION All 4 types of springs are used in rear suspension systems. On vehicles with four wheel steering the rear wheels are supported so they can swing slightly from side to side. This provides limited rear-wheel steering.

LEAF-SPRING REAR SUSPENSION

The rear suspension with multi-leaf spring consists of two U bolt , leaf spring assembly that is placed either over or under the axle housing. As the spring flexes due to changing loads , the leaves slide on each other as they bend. A metal cover or rebound clips placed along the spring keep the leaves in alignment. They also prevent excessive leaf separation during rebound. The two ends of the longest or master leaf are rolled to form spring eyes. They attach the frame by a spring hanger at the front and a spring shackle at the rear. 1. SPRING HANGER The spring hanger attaches to the vehicle frame. A bolt and rubber bushing attach the spring eye to the hanger. As the spring bends , the spring eye moves back and forth on the bushing. The bushing also dampens vibration from the spring.

2.SPRING SHACKLE As the spring bends , the distance between the two ends changes. The spring shackle is a swinging support that this change. Rubber bushing permit the shackle to swing back and forth. The bushing also absorb vibration and prevent it from reaching the vehicle body or frame. 3.SINGLE-LEAF SPRING The single-leaf or tapered-plate leaf spring is made of a single plate. The plate is thick at the center and tapers to the ends. The single-leaf spring mounts and works the same as the multi-leaf spring. However there are no additional leaves to slide on one another. 4.TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRING Some rear suspension systems use a steel multi-leaf spring or a fiberglass single leaf spring mounted transversely. Each wheel is independently suspended by one end of the spring. The up-and-down movement of one wheel does not affect the other wheel. If the rear wheels are driven, universal joints in each halfshaft carry the power from the differential to the wheels. COIL-SPRING REAR SUSPENSION(REAR WHEEL DRIVE) On the rear-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle , the rear suspension must accommodate the driveshaft and rear drive axle. The spring are placed between brackets on the vehicle body or frame and spring seats on the lower control arms. The control arms allow up-and down movement of the axle housing, but prevent forward or backward movement. A shock absorber at each wheel controls spring bounce. The spring seats on the axle housing. Two control arms on each side allow up-and-down movement of the axle housing but prevent forward or backward movement. The track rod or Panhard rod fastens at one end to the axle housing and at the other end to the vehicle body. This prevents sideward movement of the axle housing.

COIL-SPRING REAR SUSPENSION(FRONT WHEEL DRIVE) The rear suspension system on a front-drive vehicle does not have to accommodate a drive axle or halfshafts. Macpherson-strut design has independent rear suspension. The spring mounts on the lower control arm instead of on the strut. The strut, with integral shock absorber , mounts between the body and the spindle. No upper control arm is used. STRUR-TYPE REAR-SUSPENSION A strut is a rod or tube that is acted upon by side forces or compression forces. In automotive suspensions, the assembly that combines the shock absorber with a coil spring is often called a strut or a MacPherson strut. Only a lower control arm is needed. The top of the strut mounts to the vehicle body. The bottom attaches to the rear-wheel spindle or to the front-wheel steering knuckle. This arrangement simplifies the suspension. Separate mountings are not required for

the spring and shock absorber.

TORSION-BAR REAR SUSPENSION Torsion bars may be either longitudinal or transverse . the two trailing arms serve as control arms. Spring action is provided by two full-width transverse torsion bars. One end of each torsion bar clamps to a stubby subframe that clamps to the vehicle underbody. The trailing arm clamps to the other end. This causes the torsion bar to twist as the wheel and trailing arm move up and down.

REAR-END TORQUE AND SQUAT In a vehicle with rear-wheel drive , when the rear wheels are being driven , the axle housing tries to rotate in the opposite direction. This is due to rear-end torque. In leaf-spring suspension , control arms absorb the torque. One effect of rear-end squat during acceleration. When the car accelerates from a standing

start, the pinion gear in the axle housing tries to climbs the teeth of the ring gear. This causes the pinion and differential carrier to move upward. The result is that the car moves down or squats. The opposite condition occurs during braking . front-end drive causes the front spring to compress as the front end moves down and rear end moves up.

Both squat and drive result from inertia. Any object that is stationary or in motion has inertia. It causes the vehicle to resist the force that starts it moving. Inertia also resists the force that slows or stops the vehicle from moving. Because of inertia , the weight of the vehicle or its center of gravity , shifts to the rear on acceleration and to the front on deceleration. The center of gravity is the point at which the vehicle could be suspended and the weight would balance front and rear , and side to side. FRONT SUSRENSION The front-suspension system has the following jobs to be done. 1. support the weight of the front end of the vehicle. 2.absorb road shocks and cushion the passengers and load against these shocks. 3. provide steering control and wheel alignment. 4. maintain steering control during severe braking. Types of front suspension Many vehicles have a different type of suspension at the front and rear. Most vehicles with front-wheel drive have a MacPherson-strut or similar frontsuspension. Strut-type front suspension is also used on some 4wheel-drive vehicles. Front suspensions on the rear-wheel drive vehicles can be classified as independent , twin I-beam and solid-axle. COIL-SPRING FRONT SUSPENSION many automotive vehicles use coil springs in the front suspension. The spring may seat on the lower arm or on the upper control arm. Coil springs are also used with twin I-beam front axles and macpherson-strut front suspension systems. 1. COIL SPRING ON LOWER CONTROL ARM It consists of upper and lower control arms of unequal length. This is called a short arm/ long arm (sala) or double-wishbone system. The control arms pivot on the vehicle body or frame. The upper end of the coil spring rest in a pocket in the frame. The lower end rests on the lower control arm. As the vehicle moves up and

down the control arms pivot and the spring shortens or lengthens. Both control arms looks like a wishbone or the letter A. they have a single ball joint in the outer ends and two attachment points on the inner ends. The inner ends are supported by rubber bushings. These allow the control arms to move up and down with little resistance. The rubber bumpers attached to the frame or control arm prevent metal to metal contact when full spring compression occurs. The shock absorbers is centered in the spring

2. COIL SPRING ON UPPER CONTROL ARM The coil spring sits on the top of the upper control arm. The upper end of the spring seats in a spring tower i.e., the part of the body sheet metal. As the wheel moves up and down the control arms move up and down. The spring is compressed between the upper control arm and the spring tower. The beam type lower control arm has only one point of attachment to the frame. When the control arm has only a single pivot point the suspension system must include a strut rod or brake reaction rod. It prevents forward or backward movement of the lower control arm during braking or from road shocks. A similar type of coil spring front suspension has the lower arm as beam type and upper arm as A type. The coil spring fits around the shock absorber. The lower end of the shock absorber attaches to the lower control arm. A mount on the upper end attaches to the vehicle body. The lower control arm is held in position by tension strut

MACPHERSON-STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION A MACPHERSON-STRUT front suspension combines the coil spring and shock absorber in to a single assembly. The lower end of the strut connects to the outer end of a beam type lower control arm. No upper control arm is used. The upper end of the strut attaches to the vehicle body. A bearing at the top of the strut allows the strut- and steering-knuckle assembly to turn with the wheels for steering. The angled arms are end of an antiroll bar or stabilizer bar attach to other end of the lower control arms. This allows the stabilizer bar to act like the strut rod. It holds the lower control arms in position while helping to control the longitudinal loads. The lower end of the strut mounts in the steering knuckle. The ball joint attaches the lower end of the steering knuckle to the other end of the lower control arm. As the tire meets bumps or holes in the road the wheel and spring move up and down. Turning the steering wheel causes the steering gear to move the steering knuckle arms in or out. This causes the MACPHERSON-STRUT and steering-knuckle assembly to pivot in and out for steering

TORSION BAR-FRONT SUSPENSION The front suspension systems uses longitudinal torsion bars. The rear ends of the torsion bars attach to the vehicle body or frame. The front ends attach to the lower control arm. Pivoting of the control arms twist the torsion bars. This provides the springing effect. Turning the height adjustment bolt on the end of each torsion bar rotates the bar slightly to adjust ride height.

LEAF SPRING FRONT SUSPENSION Some trucks have front leaf spring and a solid or I beam front axle. A king pin instead of ball joint may be used to attach the steering knuckle to the end of the axle. The leaf spring are often placed on top of the axle. This raises the body and chassis for grater ground clearance. As with rear leaf springs one end of the leaf spring attaches to the body or frame by a spring hanger. The other end is attached by a spring shackle. This permits the spring to move back and forth as its effective length changes.