The suspension system in your car is a combination of different parts that support the vehicle as it encounters bumps, potholes and uneven surfaces. The components together enable your car to absorb vibrations and make smooth turns when you rotate the steering wheel.
Modern-day suspension systems are made up of so many parts and listing them all would take an entire day so below is a quick description of the 6 most important parts in a suspension system.
These components are quite important as in if one were to malfunction the entire suspension system would cause problems for your vehicle and safety.
Main Components of a Suspension System
Springs
The coil springs are quite an important part of the overall suspension system. The spring is what basically absorbs the vibration when you drive over rough terrain. Some vehicles feature metal rods rather than springs.
However, springs are more common because they can bend on impact. So because of this bending, the vibration felt by the driver and passengers is minimal.
Wheels and Tires
Even though these are technically not part of the suspension system they are an important outside component that is connected to the suspension system. More than the wheels, the tires are quite vital because they are the only contact point between the vehicle and the surface.
The tire encounters most of the impact before it is transferred to the springs. So, if your car has worn out tires the overall suspension system and driving experience would be affected.
Shock Absorbers
The common misconception is the shock absorbers absorb the shock, but this is not true. The springs absorb the shock while the shock absorbers actually limit the movement of the wheel so that it doesn’t bounce up and down unnecessarily.
Shock absorbers have oil inside them which is quite thick. Leakage of this oil will cause major disruption to the suspension system.
Rods and Linkages
A suspension system has several rods which connect different parts of the system together. These roles are usually made of metal and quite strong and don’t often require replacing. They don’t experience much wear and tear like the other components.
The only time you might have to replace a rod is if it gets damaged during an accident.
Joints, Bearings and Bushings
The metal lineages are connected to these components which are then linked to the bigger components like the car chassis, wheels and so on. These parts also allow sliding and twisting motions, so they are often susceptible to wear and tear and will have to be replaced a couple of times over the lifetime of a car.
The upper and lower control arm is part of this component category.
Steering System
Like the wheels and tires, this is not a direct component of the suspension system but is an important outside link because they work together with the wheels and suspension system to help the car turn.
All the rods and linkages are controlled by this.
Even though this sounds simple this is just a quick overview of the suspension system. The principles behind the system are quite complex and require an understanding of automotive mechanics and principles of physics.