L03 Suspension System

SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN
AUTOMOBILES
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 The primary purpose of the suspension system is to isolate the car
body from the vertical motion of the wheels as they travel over the
rough road surface.
 Shock absorber (sometimes a strut), is in effect a viscous damping
device.
 The mass of the car body is called the sprung mass( the mass is
supported by springs)
 The mass of the wheel assemblies at the other end of the springs is
called unsprung mass
 The weight on the front wheels is greater than on the rear wheels,
therefore , the front springs normally have a higher spring rate than the
rear
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 The shock absorber consists of a cylinder and piston
assembly.
 The cylinder is filled with viscous oil
WHAT IS SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 Suspension is the term given to the system of

springs, shock absorbers and linkages that
connects a vehicle to its wheels
 Serve a dual purpose – contributing to the car's
handling and braking.
 Protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or
luggage from damage and wear
SUSPENSION SYSTEM – LAY OUT
DIFFERENT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
 Conventional suspension system

 Independent suspension system
 Air suspension system
 Hydro elastic suspension system

CONVENTIONAL SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 Two wheels are mounted on either side of the rigid axle

 When one wheel encounters the bump, both the wheel do
not execute parallel up and down motion
 So it gives rise to gyroscopic effect and wheel wobble
 Rear driving wheels mounted on live axle suspended by

laminated leaf springs and shock absorbers
INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 Both the front and the rear wheel are utilized
 Design incorporated in the front wheels
 One wheel goes down ,the other wheel does not have
much effect
 Basic classification of the design
 MacPherson Strut
 Double Wishbone
 Multi link
MACPHERSON STRUT
 the most widely used front suspension

system in cars
 comprises of a strut-type spring and
shock absorber combo, which pivots on
a ball joint on the single, lower arm.
 The steering gear is either connected
directly to the lower shock absorber
housing, or to an arm from the front or
back of the spindle (in this case
 When you steer, it physically twists the
strut and shock absorber housing (and
consequently the spring) to turn the
wheel
DOUBLE WISHBONE SUSPENSION
 Type of double-A or double wishbone

suspension
 Wheel spindles are supported by an upper
and lower 'A' shaped arm
 The lower arm carries most of the load
 If you look head-on at this type of system,
parallelogram system that allows the
spindles to travel vertically up and down
 This side-to-side motion is known as
scrub
MULTI-LINK SUSPENSION
 It's currently being used in the Audi A8
and A4 amongst other cars.
 The basic principle of it is the same, but
instead of solid upper and lower
wishbones, each 'arm' of the wishbone is
a separate item.
 These are joined at the top and bottom of
the spindle thus forming the wishbone
shape.
 The super-weird thing about this is that
as the spindle turns for steering, it alters
the geometry of the suspension by
torquing all four suspension arms.
 Spring is separate from the schock
absorber.
ADVANTAGES ( INDEPENDENT FRONT )
 Bigger deflection of front wheels, no reaction on steering
 Greater distance for resisting rolling action
 Front axle (small-stub), improves road holding tendency of tyres.
 Minimum vibrations
DISADVANTAGES
 Better shock absorber required.

 Expensive
 Tyre wear increases due to transmission of torque.
ADVANTAGES ( INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION)
 Lesser unsprung weight – improves ride , reduces tyre
wear.
 Increased passenger space
 Rear wheels remain stable ..
DISADVANTAGES
 Increased cost
 Complicated design
 Steering action is not proper

TRAVERSE SUSPENSION SYSTEM
 Normally find on the rear suspension
 Combines independent double wishbone suspension with
a leaf spring.
 It involves one leaf spring mounted across the vehicle,
connected at each end to the lower wishbone.
 The centre of the spring is connected to the front
subframe in the middle of the car.
 There are still two shock absorbers, mounted one to
each side on the lower wishbones.
AIR SUSPENSION
 Comprises of compressor , supplying air to air tank
 Pressure maintained – 5.6 to 7 kg/sq.m
 Air bags – 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 bag 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 of

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 Hydragas
suspension.......
HYDROGAS 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 Hydragas, 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
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKql4Is8Pas
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXn5lgtqrpA

L03 Suspension System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L03 Suspension System

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

L03 Suspension System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN

 Suspension is the term given to the system of

 Conventional suspension system

 Air suspension system

 Hydro elastic suspension system

 Two wheels are mounted on either side of the rigid axle

 Rear driving wheels mounted on live axle suspended by

 the most widely used front suspension

 Type of double-A or double wishbone

 Better shock absorber required.

 Rear wheels remain stable ..

 Steering action is not proper

 Air bags – on each wheel

 As load applied , air bags compressed actuating the

 It helps to reduce the load while the vehicle in motion

 The stiffness of the system increases with the increase of

 Air bag or air strut failure

- Primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts

- which functions to remove moisture from the air system

 a system where the front and rear suspension systems

 In the older systems, fluid was used in the displacer units

 DIRECTLY MOUNTED ON MAIN SPRINGS

You might also like