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Understanding Your Car’s Suspension

Understanding Your Car’s Suspension

No one likes a bumpy ride, from the driver to the passengers. While the road, the driving experience, the car, and more, have an impact on ensuring steering stability, it’s your car suspension system that plays the most crucial role.

As a complex web of components, understanding how each one of them works ensures that you provide them with the proper maintenance and timely repair they need for good handling during the drive. In this blog, we’ll discuss the central parts of a car suspension system and their functions, so that the next time you notice various car vibrations on the road, you’ll know exactly where to begin looking.

Let’s delve into our car suspension parts list and its’ main components!

Closeup,Steel,Brake,Disk

1. Springs

Springs are one of the most important components of your suspension system. They are designed to absorb the shock and maintain the vehicle or car’s ride height by supporting the weight of the car and, therefore, ensuring the vehicle body doesn’t touch the car wheels or the road. The three main types of springs you can find in your system are:

Coil Springs

The most common type found in modern vehicles. Basically, they are metal coils that condense and expand in order to lessen the impact of the road.

Leaf Springs
These types of springs, mostly found in older models, are made of metal leaves bound together, providing strong support for heavy loads.

Torsion Bars

Made from steel rods, these springs twist when the vehicle’s weight shifts, similarly to coil springs. You can find these usually in trucks or SUVs.

2. Shock Absorbers

Shock-absorbers-or-dampers-work-in-tandem

Shock absorbers or dampers work in tandem with springs to control the movement of the suspension system. In that sense, they are essential car suspension parts, considering that, without them, the energy absorbed by the springs would result in your vehicle bouncing every single time you hit a bump.

To prevent this, they, as the name suggests, dampen the oscillations of the springs, guaranteeing your tires maintain contact with the road for a smooth, controlled, safe drive. You can find them in the following types:

Hydraulic Shock Absorbers

These are the most common type, using hydraulic fluid to dampen the movement of the springs.

Gas-filled Shock Absorbers

These contain pressurized gas in addition to hydraulic fluid, which helps to reduce the likelihood of foaming and provides a more consistent damping force.

3. Struts

Struts are a key car component in your suspension system. They are usually found in front-wheel-drive vehicles, as a combination of a shock absorber and coil springs. A strut bar, then, delivers the work of two elements in one: dampen the impact from the road surface, like shock absorbers, and support the weight of the vehicle, the way springs do, as well as contribute to the steering system’s overall stability and precision.

MacPherson Strut

This is the most common type in cars, as they integrate both the shock absorber and spring into one single part of the automotive suspension system.

4. Control Arms

 

Control arms, A arms

Control arms, A-arms, or wishbones, are hinged suspension links between the chassis and the wheels. They are essential car suspension system parts that maintain the correct wheel alignment and handling. They can also reduce the strain on the vehicle’s chassis by braving some of the forces from the road.

Upper and Lower Control Arms
Found in a double-wishbone suspension, two control arms, one on top and one on the bottom, give the wheel a precise movement.

5. Stabilizer Bars

Stabilizer bars, anti-roll bars, or sway bars are the components in your suspension system designed to keep the tires in contact with the road, improving grip and stability, especially during sharp turns. Basically, they are stabilizer iron rods that reduce the car body roll during cornering, ensuring you can enjoy a comfortable ride

Upper and Lower Control Arms
Found in a double-wishbone suspension, two control arms, one on top and one on the bottom, give the wheel a precise movement.

6. Ball Joints

Ball joints are the suspension

Ball joints are the suspension parts that connect the control arms to the steering knuckles. Which, in simple terms, promotes smooth and precise steering, while allowing the suspension to move. As a result, they are vital for maintaining proper alignment and preventing excessive tire wear in the long run.

Upper and Lower Control Arms
Found in a double-wishbone suspension, two control arms, one on top and one on the bottom, give the wheel a precise movement.

7. Bushings

Bushings are components made of rubber or polyurethane that reduce friction between other suspension parts and the car’s frame. Their main functions are to decrease minor vibrations and allow for a slight movement, aiding in lessening noise and wear. This is particularly important in prolonging the useful life of your suspension components and delivering a smoother ride, by preventing metal-on-metal contact.

Upper and Lower Control Arms
Found in a double-wishbone suspension, two control arms, one on top and one on the bottom, give the wheel a precise movement.

Additional Car Suspension Components

Additional Car Suspension Components

Your car’s suspension system is truly a network of a variety of elements, each one of them with a key function that, when working together, guarantees you enjoy seamless, incredible drives. However, there are additional components besides the main ones, that also require mentioning. These are:

  1. Tie Rods: They allow your car to turn, and help keep the alignment of the wheels for safe handling.
  2. Steering Knuckles: They enable the front wheels to turn and support the weight of the vehicle.
  3. Control Arm Bushings: As the name suggests, they allow the control arms to move while reducing friction and absorbing road shock.
  4. Bump Stops: They protect the suspension from damage during heavy loads or severe impacts, preventing excessive compression.
  5. Wheel Bearings: They are fundamental for reducing rolling resistance, supporting the weight of the car, and enabling the wheels to rotate swiftly.
  6. Alignment Components: These parts allow specialists to optimize the suspension and guarantee the wheels are set at the correct angles.
  7. Subframe: Contributes to the stability of the vehicle, isolating the road noise and vibrations from the cabin.

Maintain All Suspension Parts in Optimal Condition with Amarz Muffler & Auto Service!

The parts of a car suspension system are an amalgamation of different elements with the sole purpose of guaranteeing you can drive comfortably and safely. Understanding how each one of them works goes beyond an appreciation for the complexity behind your vehicle; it supplies you with insight into how to care for it and identify a problem in the system.

With Amarz Muffler & Auto Service, you can provide each of your car suspension components with the maintenance and attention required for a smooth ride. Our technicians have years of experience in the field, and a commitment to ensuring your safety and satisfaction. Prioritize a peaceful drive on the road, and schedule an appointment with us today! Or visit us at 5890 Dixie Road #2, Mississauga!

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