What does suspension do in a car?

The suspension system is one of the systems on a vehicle that aims to create maximum vehicle performance by absorbing oscillations, vibrations and shocks caused by uneven and bumpy road surfaces. We can find the suspension system between the wheels and the vehicle body.

Currently, there are two types of suspension systems in use, namely the rigid suspension system and the Independent suspension system. The rigid suspension system widely used in commercial cars and vehicles such as commercials pick up, trucks, buses, and others because it is considered more resistant to heavy loads.

Meanwhile, the independent suspension system mostly used in passenger vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and so on. The Independent suspension system provides a better level of comfort than a rigid suspension system.

Generally, the suspension system consists of 3 (three) main components, namely a spring, a shock absorber and suspension arms. Apart from these three main components, the suspension system also supported by several other suspension components such as ball joints, strut bars, rubber bushings (cushion), sway bars, bumper suspension, and others.

So, what does suspension do in a car? In this article, we will share information about what car suspensions do, see the full info below.

1. Increase comfort and stability in driving

The first function of the suspension system is to increase comfort and stability in driving. The suspension system works to absorb oscillations, vibrations and shocks from the road surface. They reduce it and make sure that they not transmitted to the vehicle body.

There are at least 4 (four) types of oscillation movements that occur in vehicles, namely:

• Pitching: pitching is a rocking action about a transverse axis through the vehicle, parallel to the ground. The front suspension moves out of phase with the rear, experiencing the rocking effect due to pitching.
• Rolling: A rolling is a movement of the vehicle body tilted to one side of the vehicle, right or left when the car is cornering.
• Bounce: A bounce is the overall up and down movement of a vehicle when travelling through bumpy roads which often occurs at high speeds.
• Yawing: movement of the vehicle body to the right and left of the vehicle's centre point seen from the top of the vehicle.

When the car is driving on uneven and bumpy roads, suspension components such as springs will absorb the shock from the road surface and vibrations from the wheels so that they not transmitted to the vehicle body. Meanwhile, the shock absorber functions to dampen up and down oscillation vibrations that occur in the spring.

With that way, the vibrations that arise due to the bumpy road surface can be dampened and not transmitted to the vehicle body so it will increase the comfort and stability in driving.

2. Connects the vehicle body with the wheels.

The second function of the suspension system is to connect the vehicle body with the wheels. All wheels attached to the vehicle are connected to the vehicle body through a series of suspension systems in the form of suspension arms, ball joints, shock absorbers, springs, and others.

They connected, but they are not rigid and give the wheels the freedom to move up and down following the contours and road surface.

3. Increase the ability and traction of the wheels against the road.

The third function of the suspension system is to increase the ability and traction of the wheels to the road. Yes, this will occur due to the vehicle body and other suspension components that will exert pressure and push on the wheels so that they always come back and press against the road surface.

The wheels positions which always depressed by the springs and the vehicle body will automatically increase the traction of the wheels to the road, especially when the wheels go through a bumpy road.

When passing a bumpy road, the wheels will immediately be pushed back towards the road surface due to the spring force and movement so the vehicle's traction on the road will also increase.

Read Also:

• Ball joint functions
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4. To support the vehicle body and maintain the wheels geometric position.

The fourth function of the suspension system is to support the vehicle body and maintain the geometric position between the body and the wheels. The suspensions will support the entire vehicle body. At the same time, they still giving the freedom to the wheels to move according to the contours of the road surface.

Although the wheels can move freely, the suspension system also maintains the geometric position of the wheels against the vehicle body to make a positive control contribution.

For example is the adjustment of the steering angles such as adjusting the camber angle, caster, toe-in, toe-out, and others—both for front suspension or rear suspension. This steering angle adjustment carried out to improve control and drive stability.

5. It is transferring motion and braking forces that occur in the vehicle body.

The last function of the suspension system is to move the motion and braking forces that occur in the vehicle body through the friction between the road and the wheels.

When the car accelerates or braking, the movements that occur will transfer through the suspension to the wheels. By the wheels, this force turns into strong friction and pressure with the road surface according to the energy created.

For example, on the braking condition, the wheels will stop rotating so they can grip the road surface and makes the vehicle speed decreases. On the other hand, when the vehicle accelerates, the wheels will press on the road surface as the first foothold so it can accelerate faster.

The suspension transfers all motion and braking forces that occur in the car to the road surface through the wheels. With that way, the energy that occurs during acceleration and braking can be more comfortable and stable.