SIMPLE! WHAT IS "CAR SUSPENSION", TYPES AND FUNCTIONS (PART 1)

 

"Car suspension" is an important part of a vehicle that can increase comfort. Come see a full explanation of car suspension!

 As we know, driving comfort and safety are important things to consider. Therefore, various components were added to the car to support these two elements. Car suspension is one of them. This component, which is located at the bottom near the tire, is necessary to soften the vibrations of the car's road surface. By dampening the vibration, the cabin conditions are much more comfortable, which makes the driving experience more pleasant. 

Car suspension is a part of the vehicle whose main task is to dampen vibrations and shocks that occur in the car. This section is about the chassis of the car. The need for this one device is felt while driving on broken and uneven roads. The part between the car body and the wheels maintains comfort and safety while driving, as well as controllability. 

The car's suspension system absorbs shocks from the road surface, so the speed of the vehicle remains stable and helps the wheels maintain the road. A car's suspension, which connects the vehicle's frame and wheels, absorbs road surface shocks and bumps and dips. For example, driving on rocky roads, damaged and uneven roads, or driving at the speed limit. In fact, modern car suspensions can now dampen vibrations that make the cabin less comfortable. 

The suspension system also supports and balances the car body both when the vehicle is moving and when it is stationary. This device is able to connect the frame of the car between the wheels and the axles. Its position in direct contact with the wheels makes it absorb the vibrations received by the wheels. When the uneven road surface excites the tires, the vibration is transmitted to the suspension system, which is connected directly to the axles. "Suspension", the main component of which is a spring, has its own elasticity, even the wheels make sudden movements that cause vibrations that do not affect the body of the vehicle.

Interrupt Type

Car suspension is further divided into several types based on how it works or how much suspension it uses. Here are some of the most common types of car suspension today:

1.Rigid axle suspension

  Axle Rigid suspension is a type of car suspension that is usually located at the rear of the vehicle. In the market, this type is divided into two models: a rigid axle that uses coil springs as the main springs and a rigid axle that uses leaf springs. You can tell if the car has a rigid axle by looking at the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel. If you see two wheels connected to an axle, it is likely that the vehicle has a rigid axle suspension.

2.Double wishbone suspension

 The next type is the Double Wishbone suspension. This type of suspension has two arms that are used to support the suspension system. These two arms are called humerus and humerus. This type of suspension has an independent design that keeps the angular geometry of the wheels constant even when the vehicle makes a sharp turn or the suspension has traveled a significant distance. 

Cars that use this independent suspension include Hilux, Kijang to Fortuner. However, this suspension also has several weaknesses, such as the need for a fairly large installation space, and disassembly takes longer if you want to change the shock absorber. In addition, these suspension upper and lower ball joints, main rods and long links often fail. But to eliminate this danger, you can sometimes start the car. But you have to be patient because random itself is quite time consuming.

 

3.MacPherson suspension

If you are asking about the first and most used suspension, the answer is probably Macpherson Strut Suspension. The suspension discovered by Earle Macpherson is more affordable than any other type on the market. Another reason why it is so attractive to car manufacturers is that the components and layout of the suspension system are so simple that they are easy to find. The MacPherson suspension is vertical with shock absorbers acting as both support and the center of the car's roll angle. 

The disadvantage of this type is the inability to accept the load and changes in the angle of inclination of the wheel geometry when turning the vehicle, so the grip of the tire on the asphalt is not perfect. Owners of Yaris, Vios, Corolla or Avanza will certainly understand this lack, because this car has a MacPherson type suspension.

4.Any suspension - the fate of the leaves

 Rigida means rigid in its language, the name describes quite well what this rigid suspension looks like. This type of rigid suspension is often used in commercial vehicles or older cars, usually mounted in the back. This type of construction is quite simple and straightforward, so it is easy to maintain or dismantle. In general, a rigid suspension structure consists of an axle bush attached to the frame with innovative U-bolts. Cars using this type of suspension have the advantage of high resistance. 

 5.Multilink suspension

The suspension of this Multi Link type car was developed from the Double Wishbone suspension. This type of construction is quite complex because it has separate parts that can be connected to each other from both sides of the rod with swivel joints and component ends. Structures can be built based on the direction of the force to predict which side of the wheel will receive it. Or a vertical collision, which occurs when a car suddenly drives through a pothole, a side collision or another collision. 

Many say that the design of this type of car provides good handling, which makes it easy to drive on bad and broken roads. In addition, the variety is very different recently, so you have the opportunity to buy exactly what you need. Of course, this Multi Link Suspension also has its disadvantages, first, the complex structure makes it difficult to repair. Therefore, if this type of suspension is damaged, it takes quite a long time to repair or replace it. In addition, this suspension part is still quite rare on the market, so it will be more expensive. Not only is it expensive, but you also have a hard time finding parts for this type of suspension.

 6.Pneumatic suspension

As the name suggests, air suspension is a type of suspension that uses a pneumatic system. A pneumatic system is a system that uses compressed gas or compressed air to support work. The advantage of this type of car suspension is that the height can be easily adjusted from inside the cabin. However, behind the flexibility offered, the price of these spare parts is quite high. Apart from that, another disadvantage is its not so good durability.

7.Torsion beam suspension

The next type of car suspension is torsion beam suspension. This type of suspension, which is a further development of the rigid type, can be said to be a semi-independent car suspension. Although it is a development of this type of torsion bar, it is different in terms of rigid suspension. Even in terms of shock absorption system, it is better and softer than the rigid type.

8.air suspension (air suspension)

Another type of car suspension is air suspension, which is a developed type of suspension that works quite well. Even good air suspension is used in luxury car classes like Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover. Some luxury cars have computerized air suspension settings so that the driver can adjust them very conveniently. In addition to practicality, the settings are also detailed. From a structural point of view, however, it is clear that this type of suspension has a more complex construction compared to other types. On the other hand, the price of this type of pendant is not cheap either.

 

 9.Suspension-3-link - rigid

3-link suspension - a type of car suspension, which is usually located at the rear of the car, is also rigid. The main feature of this type is the presence of lateral posts and lower shoulders in the system. So if you look at the two parts of the suspension, you can be sure that the vehicle's suspension type is a 3-link platform. The structure itself usually consists of coil springs, side bars, bridge torsion bars and also shock absorbers. Although there are quite a few components that make up this suspension system, what makes its size unique is its relatively compact shape.

 10.Rear suspension

If you look at the design, you might think that this type of suspension is the same as 3 Link - Rigid. But once you get the hang of the job, the swingarm suspension is very different from the 3 Link-Rigid. For this type, the system uses a handle that is connected from left to right. The similarity is in his working position, which is also always behind the car. 

Hanging parts

 1. Spring

Springs are the most important component of a car's suspension, because their job is to absorb various vibrations from the car's wheels. Four types of springs are commonly used in car suspensions namely coil springs, torsion springs, leaf springs and air springs. 

2. Spring arm

 The next suspension component is the suspension arm (arm). This component is used to connect the wheels and chassis of the car. This component is a connection that can move vertically. Therefore, when the four-wheeled vehicle passes through a damaged and uneven road, the suspension arm can help the wheels move up and down according to the force received by the wheels to stabilize the car body. 

 3. shock absorbers

As the name suggests, shock absorbers are parts that dampen sudden movements or shocks to the car. Shock absorbers help the springs absorb vibrations. This increases comfort in the car cabin when the vehicle starts to move up and down. 

4. Stabilizers

 The next suspension component is the stabilizer bar. As the name suggests, the function of this component is to maintain the stability of the car by helping to balance it. The stabilizer bar not only balances the car over bumps, but also helps balance the car during turns.

Automatic Suspension Function

It was explained above that the main task of the car's suspension is to absorb the shocks that the car receives from the road surface. The pressure does not rise or fall. This suspension can minimize crashes that occur when the car is driven over potholes, on rocky roads, or while speeding. In addition, modern car suspensions have a function that weakens the vibration so that the passengers do not feel it. 

This increases their comfort while in the car. Another function of the suspension system is to support and balance the car body when the vehicle is moving or stationary. The place where the suspension of the car is between the wheel and the axle so that it connects to the frame of the car. The purpose of choosing this position is to maximize vibration damping. This is because the wheels are the first part of the car to receive vibrations from the road surface. When a wheel receives a push from an uneven road surface, the vibration it receives is transmitted to the suspension system, which is connected directly to the axle.

How to make soft car suspension

If your current car's suspension feels uncomfortable, you can make it softer. The way to make a soft suspension is to disassemble the legs. The car can be taken to the workshop for dismantling. Repair shop technicians dismantled the suspension and added shock absorbers. In addition, they perform a restart if necessary.

 The unfinished suspension was continued with the addition of new oil and also nitrogen gas. Oil operation is necessary to prevent rapid rusting of the spring and restore maximum lubrication. After dismantling, the high dimensions of the car are usually shortened. Although it looks smoother, the springs holding the vehicle soften enough for the suspension performance of the car. You can make some changes to the suspension components to soften the car's suspension. Here are some steps you can try.

1. Check and replace worn parts

 Make sure all suspension parts such as springs, dampers (shock absorbers) and springs are in good condition. If any part is worn or damaged, it must be replaced with a new one.

 2. Check the tire pressure

Make sure the car's tire pressures meet the manufacturer's recommendations. Tire pressure that is too high can make the suspension stiffer. Lowering the tire pressure can also improve the suspension.

3. Change the shock absorber

If you want a softer suspension, you can consider changing the shock absorber to a softer type. There are several brands and types of shock absorbers that are specially designed to provide ride comfort with a softer suspension.

 4. Consider using a felt spring

A felt spring is a rubber or polyurethane pad that sits between the car body and the spring. They can help absorb shock and increase comfort. Using soft-feel springs can increase damping and make the suspension feel softer.

 5. Reduce load

If the car has excess weight, such as heavy goods or passengers, the suspension may feel stiffer. Try to reduce the weight of the car so that the suspension expands a little. 6. Contact a repair shop: If you are not sure about the changes to be made or want more advice, it is best to contact a repair shop or technician with experience in car suspensions. They can advise and make the necessary changes according to your needs.

 Remember that suspension changes can affect the overall performance of the car. Be sure to consider safety and performance factors when replacing your car's suspension. These are some things about car suspension, starting with the basics, namely an introduction to what car suspension is, how to make a soft car suspension. For you car owners, knowing every part of your vehicle such as the suspension will help you take care of your beloved vehicle to make it more durable and last longer