UNIT V

SUSPENSION SYSTEM

The automobile frame and body are mounted on the front and rear axle not directly
but through the springs and shock absorbers. The assembly of parts, which perform
the isolation of parts from the road shocks, may be in the forms of bounce, pitch and
roll is called suspension system.

Functions of suspension system:

1. It prevents the vehicle body and frame from road shocks.

2. It gives stability of the vehicle.

3. It safeguards the passengers and goods from road shocks.

4. It gives the good road holding while driving, cornering and braking.

5. It gives cushioning effect.

6. It provides comfort.

Requirements of suspension system:

1. There should be minimum deflection.

2. It should be of low initial cost.

3. It should be of minimum weight.

4. It should have low maintenance and low operating cost.

5. It should have minimum tyre wear.

Components of Suspension system: Coil springs, Leaf springs, shock absorbers,

Spring shackles, stabilizer

Independent suspension system: The independent suspension system means any

arrangement that connects road wheels to the frame in which raise or fall of the
wheel has no direct effect on the other wheel. It eliminates wheel wobbling.

Advantages:

1. It provides softer suspension.

2. It reduces wheel wobbling

3. It reduces the tendency of fitting of the wheel on one side due to road vibration

4. It provides more space for engine accommodation.

5. It promotes under steer which results low un sprung weight.

6. The movement of the spring on one wheel is not transmitted to the other wheel.

Sprung Weight: It is weight of all the parts supported by the spring including weight
of the spring.

Un sprung weight: It is the weight of all the parts between the spring and rod and
the portion of spring weight it self.

Basic suspension movements:

1. Bouncing: The vertical movement of the complete body.

2. Pitching: The rotating movement of all the parts between the spring and road and
the portion of spring weight itself.

3. Rolling: The movement about longitudinal axis produced by the centrifugal force
during cornering.

Types of front Independent suspension system: There are three types:

1. Wish bone Type

2. Vertical guide type

3. Trailing Link Type

Wish bone Type of Front Independent suspension system:

In this type of suspension system coil springs are mostly used between the two
suspension arms and are controlled with frame and at the open ends of the upper
and lower wishbones which are connected to the chassis frame.

The upper arm is shorter than lower one. This keeps the wheel track constant. The
closed ends of the both arms are connected with steering knuckle, supported by
means of kingpin. A coil spring is placed in between the lower suspension arm and
frame.

Types of suspension springs:

1. Steel Springs :

a. Leaf Springs

b. Coil Springs

c. Torsion bar Springs

2. Rubber Springs:

a. Compression Springs

b. Progressive Springs

3. Plastic Srings

4. Air Springs:

a. Bellow Type

b. Pestoon Type

5. Hydraulic Type

Construction and working of Leaf Springs:

Leaf springs are formed by bending. They are made of long strips of steel. Each
strip is named as Leaf. The long leaf is called Master Leaf, and it consists of eyes at
its both ends. One end is fixed to the chassis frame, the other end is fixed to the
shackle spring. The spring will get elongated during expansion and shortened during
compression. This change in length of spring is compensated by the shackle. The U-
bolt and clamps are located at the intermediate position of the spring. The bronze or
rubber bushes are provided on both eyes on the master leaf.

Types of Leaf Springs:

There are five types of leaf springs

1. Full – elliptic type

2. Semi – elliptic type

3. Three Quarter – elliptic type

4. Transverse Spring type

5. Helper Spring type

1. Full elliptic :

The advantage of this type is the elimination of shackle and spring. The lubrication
and wear frequently which are on of the main draw back of this type of springs.
2. Semi – elliptic :

This type is more popular for rear suspension are used in 75% of cars.

3. Three – Quarter – elliptic type:

This type is rarely used in now-a-days. It gives resistance, but occupies more space
than other types.

4. Transverse Type:

This type of spring is arrange transversely across the car instead of longitudinal
direction. The transverse spring for front axle as shown in figure, which is bolted
rigidly to the frame at the center and attached to the axle by means of shackle at
both ends.
5. Helper Springs:

The helper springs are used in heavy vehicles for rear suspension. When vehicle
fully loaded the main sp[ring as well as helper spring to come in action and absorb
the road shocks. When the load of the vehicle is less the helper spring will not act
and the main spring only absorb the road shocks.

Need of Shock Absorber:

If the suspension springs are rigid enough, they will not absorb road shocks
efficiently, and if they are flexible enough, they will continue to vibrate for longer time
even after the bump has passed.

Therefore, the springing device must be compromise flexibility and stiffness a shock
absorber needed in Automobile Suspension system.

Types of Shock Absorbers:

They are mainly two types

1. Mechanical.

2. Hydraulic –

a. Van type

b. Piston – i )Single Acting ii). Double Acting

c. Telescopic type
Construction and Working of Single acting Telescopic hydraulic shock
absorbers:

The telescopic shock absorber consists of a cylinder to which a head is welded to

screwed to the outer tube. The space between outer and inner tube is called
reservoir. A pressed steel cap and axle eye by means of which cylinder is screwed to
the axle are welded to the outer tube. A piston slides inside the cylinder and screwed
to the piston rod at which its upper end of chassis eye, it is attached to the frame of
the vehicle. The part of the piston rod that is outside of the cylinder is protected by a
cover which is welded to the chassis eye. A piston rod gland packing prevent the
leakage, when the piston passes through the head and any fluid is trapped by it is
supplied to the reservoir through drain hole.

Working: If the axle eye moves upwards then the fluid must be displaced from the
bottom. Top side of the bottom side fluid through the outer ring of the piston by lifting
the non return valve. But since the increase in the volume of upper end of the
cylinder is less than the volume of the lower end. Fluid will also displaced through
the inner ring of holes of non return valve of foot valve, and the level at the fluid will
raise in the reservoir. The pressure setup will depend on the size of hole in the piston
and Foot valve and the squire of the speed of which the cylinder is moved. For
downward motion of the cylinder the fluid will be displaced form the upper end of the
piston. In the leaver end through the inner ring of hole of non return valve in the
piston. The fluid will also be draw in the lower end of the cylinder from the reservoir
to the outer ring of hole of non return valve of the foot valve.

Fig of shock absorber

Stabilizer Bar:

Stabilizer is necessarily used in all independent front suspension. It reduces

tendency of the vehicle to roll on either side when taking a turn. It is simply a bar of
alloy steel with arms at each end connected to the lower wish bone of the
independent suspension system. It is supported in bush bearings fixed the frame and
is parallel to cross member. When both the wheels deflect up or down by the same
amount, the stabilizer bar simple turns in the bearings. When only one wheel
deflects, then only one end of the stabilizer moves, thus it acts as a spring between
two sides of the independent front suspension.
Torsion Bar

Torsion bar suspension is used in independent suspension system. It is a rod acting

in torsion and taking shear stresses only. It is made up of heat treated alloy spring
steel. This bar stores amount of energy nearly as same as coil spring.

The bar is fixed at one end to the frame, while the other end is fixed to the end of the
wheel arm and supported in the bearing. The other end of the wheel arm connected
to the wheel hub. When the wheel strikes a bump, it starts vibrating up and down,
thus exerting torque on the torsion bar which acts as a spring.

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the functions of suspension system?

2. List out the requirements of suspension system?

3. What are the types of suspension springs?

4. what are the basis suspension movements?

5. Explain about sprung weight and un sprung weight?

Long Answer Questions

1. What are the types of Independent suspension system and explain about wish
bone type of front independent suspension?

2. What are the types of leaf spring used in automobiles and explain with neat
sketches?

3. Explain the construction and working of single acting, telescopic, hydraulic shock
absorber with a neat sketch?

4. Explain briefly about following contents:

a. stabilizer bar

b. Torsion bar