One of the most important systems of a car is the suspension. As you know, it affects the safety and comfort of driving. However, it is worth mentioning that in modern cars this component is unusual. How does it work and what makes vehicle users love it?
There are three main types of suspension:
In the case of the former, the wheels of the vehicle on a given axle are connected rigidly to each other. This is primarily found in trucks and off-road vehicles. In the case of independent suspension, each wheel moves independently, and this is most often found in passenger vehicles.
What is a coupled suspension? By far the most popular, also called semi-independent, it combines the features of the other two solutions. The main advantage of this suspension is the relatively large wheel travel and high ground clearance. Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages, and one of them is the high cost of replacing the torsion beam, the most important component for this system.
Modern suspension is unquestionably pneumatic, and we can meet with it in new cars. In this case, compressed nitrogen, which is contained in the damping elements, is responsible for damping any vibrations. The biggest advantage of this system? Without a doubt, the efficiency of damping, which translates into a desire to install the suspension in cars that often traverse rough terrain. That’s why we find them most often in off-road vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne or Audi A6 Allroad. However, there is no denying the fact that more and more often manufacturers are trying to use air suspension also in limousines and combi or sedan cars, which, as a rule, are also supposed to offer full comfort and safety while driving.
The suspension used in today’s cars has two tasks. First of all, to provide plenty of wheel travel, which can be felt on uneven surfaces, but also when negotiating speed bumps, among other things. Another task of this system is to bring the axle to the right camber, especially during off-road driving. This affects the stability of the wheels, the optimal adhesion of the tires to the ground or limiting body roll. It also makes it possible to take corners at higher speeds and with the same safety for the driver, passengers or other road users. Driving comfort with modern air suspension stands at a very high level, and often off-road pitfalls are not the slightest problem for it.
main photo: unsplash.com/Stephan Louis
