Suspension Unit

Definition:

Suspension is the term given to the system of

springs, shock absorbers and linkages that
connects a vehicle to its wheels.
 Suspension consists of two basic components:

• Spring
• Shock Absober
Spring Rate
Spring rate is a ratio used to measure how resistant a spring is to being
compressed or expanded during the spring's deflection. The magnitude of
the spring force increases as deflection increases according to Hooke's
Law. Briefly, this can be stated as
            
F = -kx
where
F is the force the spring exerts
k is the spring rate of the spring.
x is the displacement from equilibrium length
Weight Transfer
The total amount of weight transfer is affected by 4 factors:

• the distance between the wheel centres

• the height of centre of gravity
• mass of the vehicle
• acceleration experienced

Two types of weight transfers:

• Unsprung Weight Transfer

• Sprung weight transfer
Jacking Forces

Jacking forces are the sum of the vertical force components

experienced by the suspension links.
 Damping
•Damping is the control of motion or oscillation, as seen with the
use of hydraulic gates and valves in a vehicles shock absorber.

•Damping controls the travel speed and resistance of the vehicles

suspension.
Anti-dive and Anti-squat
•Anti-dive is front diving under braking
•Anti-squat is the rear squating under acceleration.

REASON
• due to the different design goals between front and rear
suspension, whereas suspension is usually symmetrical
between the left and right of the vehicle.
 Types of
Types of
Suspensions
Suspensions

Independent
Independent Dependent
Dependent
Suspensions
Suspensions Suspensions
Suspensions
Dependent Suspensions
• wheels on the left and right
side of the vehicle are
connected and work together.

Advantages:
• Constant camber angle.

Disadvantages:
• Shimmy
• Higher Weight
• Alignment
 Front Independent
Front Independent Suspensions
Suspensions

McPherson Strut
McPherson Strut

Double wishbone
Double wishbone

Coil Spring
Spring Coil spring
Coil spring Multi link
Multi link Trailing arm
arm II beam
beam
Coil Trailing
type2 type suspension
suspension
type1
type1 type2 type suspension
suspension
 McPherson Strut Suspension
Advantages:
• simplicity and low manufacturing
cost
Disadvantages:
• cannot allow vertical movement of
the wheel without some degree of
either camber angle change, sideways
movement, or both.
• understeer.
 Double Wishbone Suspension System

Advantages:
• carefully control the motion
of the wheel throughout
suspension travel.
Disadvantages:
• complexity in design.
Coil Spring –type1
Coil spring -type2
Multi-link suspension
 Rear suspension
Rear suspension –dependent
–dependent type
type

Solid axle
Solid axle Solid axle
Solid axle
Beam axle
Beam axle
-leaf spring
-leaf spring -coil spring
-coil spring
Solid axle -leaf spring
Solid axle- coil spring
Motor Bike Suspension
Motorbike suspension - front end
 Motorbike suspension - back end
Twin-shock, regular swingarm
Monoshock, older style, regular swingarm
Monoshock, single-sided swingarm