When one thinks of an automobile, the first thought in their mind comes is of the engine, its horsepower, torque, etc. But with great power comes the great responsibility for handling and safety of a car.
Suspensions are the most important system in an automobile, which helps in providing better stability and handling of the automobile.
As soon as the engineers made the most out of an engine they worked on the handling of the automobile.
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| Car Suspension System |
Source:- torque.com
The job of suspension is to provide comfort to the cabin and make it still while being on road. The suspension takes all the reactive forces offered by the ground dues to rocks or potholes, and make sure that the cabin is not affected due to this.
WORKING:-
The suspension works on the principle of Force Dissipation. In which the reactive force from the ground is converted in heat thus removing the impact, without which the force would have made to the cabin.
To achieve these springs, dampers or struts are used. The springs will store the energy whereas the dampers will convert this into heat.
TYPES OF SUSPENSION SYSTEMS:-
There are 3 types of suspension systems:-
- Dependent suspension system
- Independent suspension system
- Semi-independent suspension system
Dependent Suspension system:-
A dependent suspension system has a solid axle that connects the wheels across the width. It allows both the wheel to work as a team, i.e, if one wheel bends or moves up the other will follow due to dependency.
This type is best while driving in terrains. It is mostly used in rear-wheel drives or SUVs.
Types of dependent suspension systems:-
- Panhard rod
- Watt's linkage
- Leaf Spring
- Mumford Linkage
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Dependent Suspension System of a car Source:- Research Gate INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM:-In this type, it doesn't consist of a single axle. Each wheel has its own effect concerning the bumps, which means if one wheel meets a bump its effect is not experienced by the other wheel. This type is the most used system nowadays. It consists of different types of suspension, the most common are:-
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Independent Suspension System
Source:-ZF.com
SEMI-INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM:-
This type of suspension allows some individual wheel movement when one wheel strikes or hits a bump. It is used mainly at the rear in front-wheel drives. The wheels are attached with a solid axle.
MOST COMMON SUSPENSION:-
MacPherson Strut:-
MacPherson Strut is the most common and almost used by every car maker in the world. It falls under the independent type of suspension system.
It performs two main functions:- one as a steering rod and another as a damper.
Earlier these functions were performed by two different mechanisms but due to MacPherson, it became easy and convenient.
It consists of a spring and shock absorber engineered into one. The shocks are absorbed by the spring, which inturns compress the shock absorber or a damper thus results in slow dissipation of heat.
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MacPherson Strut Suspension Source:- How a car works |
Double Wishbone:-
Double wishbone type of suspensions is mostly used in supercars.
It falls under the category of an independent type of suspension. It consists of two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each arm has two mounting points on the chassis and one on the wheel.
The upper and lower control arms have ball joints for free movement in all directions.
The verticle movement of the wheel is controlled by coil springs and shock absorbers.
Double wishbone suspension
Source:- Carcios.com
SO WHICH ONE'S BETTER: Double Wishbone OR MacPherson Strut:-
MacPherson is vertically arranged which offers more room for the passengers than that of the double-wishbone type.
MacPherson Struts are mostly used on the front whereas Double wishbones are used on the rear end.
Double wishbone is more complex and costly than the MacPherson strut type.
Good comfort and better handling of cars are best provided by the double-wishbone.
Du to the lack of upper arm, the impact of the bump is felt by the passengers with MacPherson strut-type of suspension
Being less costly, less space occupancy, MacPhersons are used.
Whereas if the main priority is of comfort, handling, and control over the car, Double wishbone type is used.
MacPherson Strut (left side) vs Double Wishbone (right side)
Source:- ResearchGate
-A BLOG BY AMAAN ATTAR
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