Neophyte’s Guide To A Car’s Suspension System – Part 2
In Car Suspension System Part 1, we discussed the role of the shocks and springs in your vehicle’s suspension. I described their respective jobs and provided you with a rudimentary explanation regarding how they performed those jobs. Frankly, Part 1 was only meant to offer an overview, a bird’s eye perspective of the design. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the springs. I’ll describe different systems, the purpose for which they’re used, and the end result of using them.
4 Types Of Systems
All vehicles use 1 of 4 different kinds of springs within the suspension design: coil, air, leaf, and torsion bars. Each provides inherent advantages and drawbacks. Let’s go through them in the order in which I’ve listed them.
Coils are the most widely-deployed of the 4 types, at least within vehicle suspensions that are designed for passengers. You might remember from Part 1 that their job is to absorb the impact of the road. Coils do that and more. They prop your car up, “suspending” it above the tires. In doing so, the coils work with the shocks, control arms, and joints in order to compress and expand an amount that is appropriate, given road conditions.
Air-powered units are relatively new and automakers have been including them within their higher-priced models. In a departure from conventional units, air systems use sensors and a compressor to modify the level of air loaded into the springs. The design allows for quicker response to road conditions, which delivers a more comfortable experience for the driver and passengers.
Leaf units are mostly used in heavy duty cars, trucks, and SUVs. They’re built with a unique design that bolts steel leaves onto a single component. Then, that component is attached to the rear axle. The advantage of this type of system is that they can distribute road impact along the vehicle’s frame more effectively than coils. The drawback is that they can be noisy and often need periodic maintenance.
Finally, torsion bars. They’re not actually springs; they’re steel bars that resist the force of the road upon the frame of your car. While springs compress and extend in order to absorb road impact, torsion bars reduce that impact by limiting the twist of the bars. They can be attached along the axle (that is, from driver to passenger side) or travel the length of the vehicle. You won’t find this type of suspension design on most sedans and passenger cars.
In Part 3 of this series, we’ll take a closer look at shock absorbers and how the contribute to your vehicle’s suspension.
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