Wheelbase and track refer to the distances between tires on an axle and between front and rear tires, respectively. A vehicle's handling is affected by forces between its tires and the road, which influence how it accelerates, brakes, and corners. A properly functioning suspension system isolates passengers from road vibrations through springs, bushings, and shock absorbers. Shock absorbers help maintain consistent tire loading as a vehicle's center of gravity shifts during weight transfers caused by braking, accelerating, and turning. Together, suspension components contribute to both a vehicle's active safety and passengers' ride comfort.
Wheelbase and track refer to the distances between tires on an axle and between front and rear tires, respectively. A vehicle's handling is affected by forces between its tires and the road, which influence how it accelerates, brakes, and corners. A properly functioning suspension system isolates passengers from road vibrations through springs, bushings, and shock absorbers. Shock absorbers help maintain consistent tire loading as a vehicle's center of gravity shifts during weight transfers caused by braking, accelerating, and turning. Together, suspension components contribute to both a vehicle's active safety and passengers' ride comfort.
Wheelbase and track refer to the distances between tires on an axle and between front and rear tires, respectively. A vehicle's handling is affected by forces between its tires and the road, which influence how it accelerates, brakes, and corners. A properly functioning suspension system isolates passengers from road vibrations through springs, bushings, and shock absorbers. Shock absorbers help maintain consistent tire loading as a vehicle's center of gravity shifts during weight transfers caused by braking, accelerating, and turning. Together, suspension components contribute to both a vehicle's active safety and passengers' ride comfort.
Wheelbase and track refer to the distances between tires on an axle and between front and rear tires, respectively. A vehicle's handling is affected by forces between its tires and the road, which influence how it accelerates, brakes, and corners. A properly functioning suspension system isolates passengers from road vibrations through springs, bushings, and shock absorbers. Shock absorbers help maintain consistent tire loading as a vehicle's center of gravity shifts during weight transfers caused by braking, accelerating, and turning. Together, suspension components contribute to both a vehicle's active safety and passengers' ride comfort.
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Fundamentals of suspension
Wheelbase and Track : the side to side distance between the centerline of the tires on an axle is called track. The distance between the centerline of the front and rear tires is called wheelbase. If the vehicle is in proper alignment, the wheels will roll in a line that is parallel with the vehicle’s geometric centerline. The amount of grip or friction between the road and the tires is the major factor that limits how the vehicle accelerates, maneuvers through corners, and stops. The greater the friction, the faster the car can accelerate, corner and stop. The tire to road contact of a vehicle is affected by several forces. Vehicle dynamics is the study of these forces and their effects on a vehicle in motion. Vehicle geometry, suspension, and steering design all affect the handling of a vehicle. Road isolation is the vehicle’s ability to absorb or isolate road shock from the passenger compartment. The degree to which this is accomplished is controlled by the condition of the suspension system and its components. A properly functioning suspension system allows the vehicle body to ride relatively undisturbed while traveling over rough roads. This is accomplished through the combined use of bushings, springs, and hydraulic dampers. Tire force variation is a measure of the road holding capability of the vehicle and is directly influenced by shock absorber or strut performance. Shock absorbers and struts help maintain vertical loads placed on the tires by providing resistance to vehicle bounce, roll and sway during weight transfer. They also help reduce brake dive along with acceleration squat to achieve a balanced ride. Tire loading changes as a vehicle's center of gravity shifts during acceleration, deceleration, and turning corners. The center of gravity is a point near the center of the car; it is the balance point of the car. As the vehicle brakes, inertia will cause a shift in the vehicle’s center of gravity and weight will transfer from the rear tires to the front tires. This is known as dive. Similarly, weight will transfer from the front to the back during acceleration. This is known as squat. As a vehicle turns a corner, centrifugal force pushes outward on the car’s center of gravity. Centrifugal force is resisted by the traction of the tires. The interaction of these two forces moves weight from the side of the vehicle on the inside of the turn to the outside of the car, and the car leans. As this occurs, weight leaves the springs on the inside and that side of the vehicle rises. This weight goes to the springs on the outside, and that side of the vehicle lowers. This is what is known as body roll. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose - contributing to the car's handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and reasonably well isolated from road noise, bumps, and vibrations. The suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage from damage and wear. The design of front and rear car suspensions may be different. Vehicle shock absorbers are actually vibration dampers. However, in automotive chassis application “shock absorbers” has become the most widely used term. As you have learned before many things affect vehicles in motion. Weight distribution, speed, road conditions and wind are some factors that affect how vehicles travel down the highway. Under all these variables however, the vehicle suspension system including the shocks, struts and springs must be in good condition. Worn suspension components may reduce the stability of the vehicle and reduce driver control. They may also accelerate wear on other suspension components. With no suspension: the vehicle is solid and loses contact with the road as it goes over bumps. With springs but no shock absorbers: The vehicle is able to absorb bumps, but the un dampened suspension means that the vehicle continues to bounce and causes the tires to leave the road. With springs and shock absorbers: the vehicle not only absorbs bumps but also the shock absorbers dampen the springs and prevent the vehicle from bouncing. Together they keep the tires in contact with the road. The chassis is what connects the tires and wheels to the vehicle's body. The chassis consists of the frame, suspension system, steering system, tires and wheels. The frame is the structural load-carrying member that supports a car’s engine and body, which are in turn supported by the suspension and wheels. The suspension system is an assembly used to support weight, absorb and dampen road shock, and help maintain tire contact as well as proper wheel to chassis relationship. The steering system is the entire mechanism that allows the driver to guide and direct a vehicle.
