Automobile Engineering

for
B.E. Production Engineering, Semester VII, Elective-I
 SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Functions:
• Support vehicle weight.
• Keep the tires in contact with the road.
• Control vehicle’s direction of travel.
• Reduce effect of shock loads with the use of springs, dampers and
bushings.
• Maintain correct vehicle ride height.
• Provides a smooth ride.
• Keeps tires in firm contact with the road
 SUSPENSION SYSTEM – LAY OUT

AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\43 Suspension System and Components.mp4

 Types of Suspension System

Rigid suspension System Independent Suspension System

 Types of Suspension System

1.Non-independent/Rigid suspension has both right and left wheel attached to the
same solid axle. When one wheel hits a bump in the road, its upward movement
causes a slight tilt of the other wheel.

2.Independent suspension allows one wheel to move up and down with minimal
effect to the other.
AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\Independent Suspension system.mp4
 Suspensions

Independent

Nonindependent
 Suspension System

Coil spring is the most common type of spring found on modern vehicles.
Leaf springs are now limited to the rear of some cars.
 Types of Springs

A. Coil spring
B. Leaf spring
C. Air spring
D. Torsion bar
AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\Spring suspe
nsion systems Steel spring , Rubber s
pring , Plastic spring , Hydraulic spring
.mp4
Coil Springs
Leaf Spring Assembly
Air Springs
 Torsion bar

AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\Torsion Bar Suspension - An explanation.mp4

 Suspension System
Basic Parts

Control arm – movable lever that fastens

the steering knuckle to the vehicle’s
body or frame.

Steering Knuckle – provides a spindle or

bearing support for the wheel hub, bearings
and wheel assembly.
Independent Suspension System Parts
Basic Parts

Ball Joints – swivel joints that allow

control arm and steering knuckle to
move up and down and side to side.

Springs – supports the weight of the

vehicle; permits the control arm and
Wheel to move up and down.
Shock absorbers or dampeners – keeps
the suspension from continuing to bounce
after spring compression and extension.

1. AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\Shock Absorber in suspension system.mp4

2. AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\Telescopic shock absorber , How it works.mp4

Control arm bushing – sleeves that

allows the control arm to swing
up and down on the frame.
 Types of independent Suspension System

MacPherson Strut Wish bone Type

1 Wishbone Suspension
The suspension must be
designed in such a way as
to keep the wheel upright for Upper wishbone
maximum tyre contact
(vehicle control) and to
minimize tyre wear.
The upper wishbone is
short and the lower
wishbone is longer.
Both wishbones pivot points
and lengths are calculated to
provide the best operating
angle for a given suspension
movement. Lower wishbone
AUTOPPT\Video\Chap2\Dou
ble Wishbone Suspension An
imation Autodesk.mp4
 Advantages & Disadvantages of
Wishbone type independent suspension
Advantages Disadvantages

• Ride quality is good. • Initial cost is more

• Improve the steering • Maintenance cost is more.
preciseness since the • Required frequent wheel
wheel movement are alignment otherwise
not link increase tyre wear.
• Ground clearance
increase

Applications:-SUV,CARS
 2 MacPherson Strut Strut
assembly
This is a very popular and efficient form of
suspension. It has one control arm and a strut
assembly. A coil spring and shock absorber will
normally form parts of the strut assembly.

On this type,
the shock absorber connects
the knuckle to the frame.

This type of suspension strut is

often also used on rear
suspension systems.
AUTOPPT\Video\Chap4\How Macphe
rson strut works. ✔.mp4
Front Suspension
(MacPherson Strut)
MacPherson Strut Suspension
The top of the strut is bolted to
a reinforced section of the Steering knuckle
frame structure.

The lower end of the strut is

attached to a steering knuckle. Strut

The control arm is also attached

to the steering knuckle. Frame

The control arms are mounted on Control

a cradle section of the frame. arm

An anti-roll bar links the two Cradle

control arms together to reduce
sway (body roll). Anti-roll bar
 Advantages & Disadvantages of
Macpherson strut suspension
Advantages Disadvantages
• Light in weight. • Not suitable for Heavy motor
• Maximum Engine vehicle.
compartment available. • Load caring capacity is less.
• Maintenance cost is less.
• Initial cost is less.
• Ride comfort is more.
• Improve road safety.

Applications:-CARS
Solid Rear Axle Suspension
This type of rear suspension
Shock absorber
is typical for a rear-wheel
drive vehicle.
Coil
The axle is inside a springs
solid housing.

The shock
absorbers are Axle housing
Stabilizer bar
mounted between the
solid axle and the frame.

The springs are arranged between the

axle housing and the frame of the vehicle. Trailing arm

Trailing arms, or links, hold the rear axle in position.

A stabilizer bar and track bar are included to add vehicle stability
.
 Air suspension
• Comprises of compressor , suppling air to air tank
• Pressure maintained – 5.6 to 7 kg/sq.m
• Air Spring – on each wheel
• As load applied, air bags compressed actuating the
levelling valve .
• Air from the tank fills the compressed air bag &
hence raise the level of the frame.
• Air from air Spring gets released as load on chassis
decreases .
Air Suspension Layout
 Advantages of air suspension
• These maintain a constant frequency of vibration whether the
vehicle is laden or unladen.
• Constant frame height is maintained.
• It helps to reduce the load while the vehicle in motion i.e. the
dynamic loading as the spring rate variation between laden and
unladen weight is much less.
• It gives smooth and comfort ride of the vehicle.
• The stiffness of the system increases with the increase in the
deflection.
 Common Air Suspension Problems

 Air bag or air strut failure

- due to old age, or moisture within the air system that damages them from
the inside.
 Compressor failure
- Primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts
- Compressor burnout may also be caused by moisture from within the air
system coming into contact with its electronic parts.
 Dryer failure
- which functions to remove moisture from the air system eventually
becomes saturated and unable to perform that function
 Hydrolastic Suspension

• A system where the front and rear suspension systems

were connected together in order to better level the car
when driving.
• The front and rear suspension units have hydrolastic
displacers, one per side.
• These are interconnected by a small bore pipe. Each
displacer incorporates a rubber spring
• Damping of the system is achieved by rubber valves.
• When the front wheel encounter bumps ,the piston moves upwards pressurising
the fluid to enter into the rear unit.
• Hydroelastic was eventually refined into Hydro-pneumatic suspension.
 Hydro-gas suspension
• Known as hydro-pneumatic suspension.
• The difference is in the displacer unit itself.
• In the older systems, fluid was used in the displacer units
with a rubber spring cushion built-in.
• With Hydrogas, the rubber spring is removed completely.
• The fluid still exists but above the fluid there is now a
separating membrane or diaphragm, and above that is a
cylinder or sphere which is charged with nitrogen gas.
• The nitrogen section is what has become the spring and
damping unit whilst the fluid is still free to run from the
front to the rear units and back.
Difference …
 HELPER SPRING

• DIRECTLY MOUNTED ON MAIN SPRINGS

• TAKE CARE OF LARGE VARIATION IN SPRING LOAD
• DURING LIGHT LOADS ,ONLY MAIN SPIRNG IS ACTIVE ,
AS LOAD INCREASE TO A PARTICULAR FIXED VALUE ,
BOTH THE SPRINGS ARE ACTIVE
AIR ASSISTED HELPER SPRING LEAF HELPER SPRING
 !! !
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