Modern technology is frequently adding new advancements in cars, modern trucks, or jeeps day by day to make our life safer or easier. There are many features that come with cars these days to ensure a smooth and safe ride during the commute. If you have heard of car suspension then you might know what we are talking about. It is basically a mechanism or system that works in between the rider’s seat & the tires of the vehicle.
Most car enthusiasts might know about various car parts, including brakes, shock absorbers, springs, steering wheel, or any other parts. Car suspension is one of the parameters that measures the quality of ride or how your car will be able to absorb those shocks of the bumpy roads.
If you’re taking the features of car suspension lightly while buying a car, we suggest you think again. It can have a direct effect on the comfort or smooth rides you will experience later. You are pretty aware that advancements in vehicle’s suspension power save us from irregular tracks, broken roads, snow, scrappy metal pieces, potholes, or, nevertheless, dirt or grime which is everywhere.
Today we will find out how the suspension of a car works & are there any issues if we continue to use the vehicle without suspension or broken suspension. Let’s start.
What Is Suspension In A Car Mean?
You can define car suspension as a layer of components that form the barrier between the tires of a car and the car’s cabin. All these components work together to hold a smooth and safe commute of yours. Surprised how? You all have heard of Friction.
If not, friction is the power that keeps the car tires in motion on the road without slipping. When you use your car suspension, it maximizes the friction between the tires and the road. It simply helps you keep a grip on your car. You can steer your car quickly with more stability and comfort.
Secondly, the components present in the car suspension work together to keep you comfortable whenever your cabin seat receives any bump from the road. The force that your car’s cabin receives because of the irregular movement of tires is absorbed by the shock absorbers present in the car suspension. It makes you feel comfortable during the movement no matter what the condition of the road is. Higher the suspension in the car more comfort you will get during your ride.
Now, car suspension is a major of two types. It is either dependent car suspension or independent car suspension. Let us explain you:
Dependent Car Suspension: When all the parts of the car suspension work or move along with the rear axle present in the car.
Independent Car Suspension: When the vehicle’s suspension parts work independently of the rear axle on their own.
Parts Of Car Suspension
Before understanding how the whole car suspension works, we need to acknowledge the parts of the car suspension system. It consists of six parts. Let’s start:
- Steering Knuckle: It acts as a major joint between the steering wheel and front mainframe of the car suspension. Every front wheel is connected with one steering knuckle. These knuckles help them with the movement of the car wheels.
- Ball Joint: Ball joints are ball and socket joints. These connect the control arms present in the suspension system to the steering knuckle.The main function is to assist in moving the suspension up or down. It helps in moving the wheels of the car left and right.
- Control Arm: Control arm connects the main frame of the suspension to the steering knuckle and allows the fundamental components of the car to work smoothly. It stabilizes the vehicle during the complete movement through the chassis.
- Suspension Springs: They work flexibly with the car cabin and the wheels. They help in providing a comfortable ride by adjusting the movements, and it also assures that the direction of cars on the road should be safe irrespective how bumpy the road is.
- Dampers: These are shock absorbers. They convert the force coming in the form of shocks from the wheels because of erratic movement into the heat energy, which is later on get removed.
- Sway Bars: Sway bars stabilize the movement of the whole car by counterbalancing the movements of both wheels so that the whole body of the car does not roll over on the bumps.
How Does Suspension Work?
Now we know that there are different parts working on the car suspension system. Let’s find out how the suspension works:
Independent Suspension: Let’s take an example of the independent suspension whenever any side of a car experiences a bump, the tire of the particular end gets lifted, The tire on the other end, and the movement of rear tires do not get affected. The shock that gets produced is absorbed by the compression spring attached to the wheel that experienced the shock. The stiffness of the spring and damper keeps the movement of the car in place without any irregular movements.
Dependent Suspension: There is no significant difference in the working process. This is a suspension in which the rear axle works. When any of the tires move up due to the bump in the road, the other end tire gets lifted slightly because they both are connected to the live axle, which helps in absorbing the shock by the springs present in the car.
Why Is Car Suspension Important?
Up to this point, we have provided you with a number of benefits of why car suspension is essential for the smooth movement of the car on uneven roads. Let’s find out why it is so important and some other reasons.
- It helps you drive more safely and securely by providing you with more control over the car wheels. It adds friction between the tires and road so that you can have a complete hold of the movement.
- It offers more comfort to your ride by turning those uneven roads into smooth, comfortable journeys. No ups and downs or no bumps, which make the passengers, commute happy and easy.
- Car suspension extends the lifespan of your car parts because it converts the force coming from the rough roads and converts it into different energy without causing any effect on the parts of the car. It means minor damage and longer life for the vehicle.
Common Issues You Face Due To Poor Car Suspension
When we use our car for a longer period with poor maintenance it will directly affect the working process of the car. Poor car suspension leads to many problems in cars that will not go without identifying. Here are some of the common problems that you will face while driving:
- Car Suspension affects the alignment of the wheels. If your car wheels are not moving in the right direction smoothly, then the suspension may reach a point of getting repaired. Your car will get severely damaged by potholes while driving.
- You will start noticing more bounces in your car while driving, which creates the risk of uneven movements. It will show shaky movements when you drive on rough roads.
- You will experience a sound while driving on the bumps, which makes you aware that it is high time to visit some mechanic; otherwise, you will not be able to drive the car due to the damaged struts.
- If you see the front of the car in an uneven condition, you have broken springs that hold the car’s complete weight. It ultimately makes the mainframe look uneven. You might hear some clunking noises while driving because of the damaged spring.
- When you hear sounds from the car while driving on turns or turning, the ball joints of the car worn out. The steering angles also get affected by the broken ball joints in the suspension. It means you need to replace the ball joint of the car.
- When you lose control over steering or brakes, the control arms will be the problem. You need to brush up the control arms during maintenance so that the wheels get the proper direction to move while driving.
Who Can Provide Repairs and Maintenance For Suspension Systems?
Whenever you experience the problems mentioned above, you should visit a mechanic or car repairing company to fix your suspension; otherwise, it can cause further damage to other parts. We suggest you always consult ASE certified mechanics responsible for fixing and maintaining the suspension systems of the car.
Conclusion:
So far, you have noticed that car suspension is an essential part of your car. You can’t neglect its working. We need to make sure that the working of the car suspension should be proper for saving yourself from any road hazards or uncomfortable long journeys.
Suppose you ever come across that the car’s braking system is not working or your car makes your back feel sore due to poor car suspension. In that case, we suggest you immediately visit the car repairing company or mechanic to fix your car suspension. We hope our complete guide will have answered the queries you had in your mind.
FAQs
What does car suspension do?
Car suspension, in simple terms, offers a protective shield or layer between the components of the car and shocks that the car used to feel during bumpy rides. It ensures the smooth functioning of all components such as springs or tires of your vehicle from the inadequate force coming from the road.
What happens if your car suspension is bad?
If the car suspension is terrible in your car, you need to fix it immediately; otherwise, you feel instability or the car can go out of control while driving, such as difficulty steering the car in any direction which is risky. You may find loud noise coming from the bonnet while steering the car.
What is car suspension called?
Car suspension is the shock absorbing mechanism in the car and helps save the components from regular wear and tear so that various parts of the car will work for a more extended period. Passengers will get maximum comfort during the ride when the road conditions are not good.
What is included in car suspension?
The car suspension system includes different components such as swings, dampers, shock absorbers, suspension struts, or sway bars. There are two types of suspension that exist: Front & Rear suspension. Suspension connects the wheels & different components through linkages & helps in the smooth motion of the vehicle.
How do you know if the suspension has gone on your car?
When the suspension breaks down your car, there will be alarming signs such as bumpy roads. tires get worn easily, vibrations in the car during driving, irregular braking system, and your car will make noises while hitting the bump in the road or finally the fluid leakage.
How much does it cost to replace suspension on a car?
It costs around $400-$500 when you want to replace the suspension in your car in the case of major suspension failures. Whether it is Hatchback, SUV, or Sedan, the cost varies from car to car.
What are three types of suspension?
The major three types of car suspension are Dependent, Independent, or Semi dependent Car suspension. Dependent suspension allows the wheel of the vehicle to work combined with the axle joined to them, whereas independent suspension helps the wheels move freely.
Can you drive with bad car suspension?
Most vehicle drivers do not suggest it because it can make the ride bumpy during the drive. The car components will not align with the smooth working, which ultimately leads to losing control over the steering during a drive or sudden vibrations.