Common suspension components and spring types:
Many of these suspensions use common component parts, including ball joints, control arm bushings and shock absorbers or struts. Outer pivots (closest to the wheel) are usually ball joints. Inner pivots are usually rubber bushings. Shock absorbers, or struts, are always part of the system. They control the action of the coil spring, torsion bar or leaf spring. These components are close to each other and are physically and functionally related. For example, if a spring sags, ball joints and bushings can be forced out of their normal position, increasing stress
and shortening their service lives.
There are three
common types of springs:
1.
Coil Springs
2. Leaf Springs
3. Torsion Bars |
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Leaf
Spring |
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Coil
Spring |
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1. Coil Springs
The coil spring is common to most suspension systems. That’s because coils provide the best ride and handling and can fit most of the space and weight limitations placed on today’s vehicles. Other types of springs or support systems — such as air bags — have been used on a limited
basis, but they haven’t proven to be as versatile or long
lasting as coils.
2. Leaf Springs
Leaf springs are most desirable on trucks because of their greater load capacity,
lateral rigidity and the fact that ride quality is not the most important consideration.
3. Torsion Bars
A torsion bar is a straight spring that twists as load is applied. Torsion bars are used mainly where there is a space problem and coil spring usage is prohibitive. Four wheel drive light trucks with control arms use torsion bar suspension to provide space for the front drive shafts. One end of the bar attaches to the control arm and the other to the vehicle
frame or crossmember. An advantage of torsion bars is that they can be adjusted, and the height of the vehicle can be adjusted to the manufacturer’s specification without replacing
the spring.
When a torsion bar is adjusted, the load twists the bar in the opposite direction.
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