Components
These allow the wheel to move up and down while turning at the same time. They are often compared to your shoulder joint...
What are Ball Joints?
The most common type of spring used on most modern cars.
What are coil springs?
Camber does not change while taking on big bumps in the road.
What is MacPherson Strut Suspension?
Not suitable for really heavy cars.
What is MacPherson Strut Suspension?
Allows one wheel to take on a bump, while allowing the other wheel to stay in firm contact with the ground.
What is Independent steering system?
Helps keep the car level while cornering. It connects the left and right side of the suspension.
What is Sway Bar?
______________ replaces the upper control arm of a suspension system with a combination of a coil and shock absorber.
What is MacPherson Strut?
This has the advantage of being the most adjustable style of suspension talked about in class.
What is air (bag) suspension?
The disadvantage of this system is that one wheel is tilted off the payment while the other is taking on road imperfections.
What is Dependent (Rigid) suspension?
What is Torsion Bar?
These do not support any of the weight of the vehicle, but they dampen the spring and are vitally important in the suspension system.
What are shock absorbers?
Allows parts to move up and down while preventing metal on metal contact.
What are bushings?
A major advantage of double wishbone suspension is that it has more points of contact holding the steering knuckle straight. That is because it has two of these..
What are control arms?
What is Air bag suspension?
The primary function of the suspension system.
What is to maintain traction between the wheels and the road? (steering)
What is a coil over?
What is Upper Control Arm?
The advantage of this style of suspension is that it is really easy to replace. It is the cheapest type of suspension to install and maintain.
What is leaf spring suspension?
Usually has both suspension and alignment responsibilities.
What is Dependent suspension?
This is why you need to replace your suspension in pairs, meaning both left and right at the same time.
What is because you will have uneven ride height and forces if one is old and the other is new. This will mess up your alignment and decrease your traction?
This component is where all of the suspension parts attach, including the tire.
What is the steering knuckle?
When this is out of alignment, you will get uneven wear of your tires and less tire contact with the road.
What is camber?
The second easiest adjustable type of suspension.
What is Torsion Bar suspension?
Because Air bag suspension uses air instead of a spring for its lift, the dampening needs to be adjusted because it is lacking this force in its system.
What is mechanical friction?
This is the tell tail sign that your coils/springs need to be replaced.
What is you feel the car "bottoming out" when you hit speed bumps or road imperfections?