When buying a car, everyone will choose their favorite configuration, and some people who understand cars will pay special attention to the suspension system of the vehicle, because different suspensions, vehicles have different performance. A good suspension will make the vehicle more comfortable, more stable whether it is going at high speeds or bumpy roads, and the limit of turning is higher, and it is not easy to roll over. Today, we will talk about the common suspension structure of family cars, understand its characteristics, and pay more attention to it when buying a car.
Automobile suspensions are divided into independent suspension and non-independent suspension from the broad category. As you can imagine from the name, independent suspension means that each wheel is equipped with its own suspension system, and each wheel does not affect each other when driving. Non-independent suspension is just the opposite, there is a connection between the suspensions on both sides, and the two sides can be seen as a whole and will affect each other when working. There are also small classifications under each type of suspension, which we will talk about in detail below.
Non-independent suspension is divided into: leaf spring type non-independent suspension and torsion beam type non-independent suspension, leaf spring type has high load-bearing capacity and poor comfort, and is generally used in trucks. The non-independent suspension used in the car is basically a torsion beam type, and it is used on the two rear wheels, which is commonly used in the less expensive economy car. The torsion beam suspension structure is like using an axle, with one wheel strung at each end, and the two wheels and this beam form a whole. So they will influence each other, implicate each other. When one wheel overpowers a stone and jumps, the other wheel will also jump, which is its biggest drawback, which will greatly affect the handling of the car.
It's like two people dancing together, one of them stepping on the wrong step, and the other has to suffer. Because it is connected by a beam, the positioning angle of the two rear wheels is not adjustable, and when the vehicle is aligned with four wheels, even if there is an abnormality, it cannot be adjusted, and can only be solved by replacing accessories or adding some gaskets. Its advantages are simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and small space under the car, which can improve the space in the car, so it is most common in economic cars.
After talking about non-independent suspension, independent suspension does not have the above disadvantages, independent suspension allows each tire to move independently, when one wheel presses a stone and jumps, only it jumps on its own, and has no effect on the other wheels. As a result, it can provide better comfort and stability, as well as increase the limits of handling. However, the structure of an independent suspension is relatively more complex than that of a non-independent one, and the cost of manufacturing and maintenance is relatively high
Independent suspension is divided into: MacPherson independent suspension, double wishbone independent suspension, and multi-link independent suspension. MacPherson is the most widely used independent suspension structure, and the two front wheels of the car within 200,000 are basically MacPherson independent suspension. It is constructed with a triangular arm below to stabilize, and a shock absorber and spring on top to support the weight of the body. Therefore, in the independent suspension, its structure is also relatively simple, small in size, and light in weight, which can effectively save the space of the engine compartment, leave more space for the engine, and can put more parts.
MacPherson suspension has average roll resistance, and the brake nod is more obvious. Because when there is a lateral force, only the triangle arm below can resist the lateral force, and when driving intensely, the vehicle will be tilted due to the excessive lateral force. It's like a person standing in the wind with a long bamboo pole, and when someone puts downward pressure on him, this person can easily withstand it. But when someone pushes this bamboo pole horizontally, or when the wind is strong, it is not easy to hold it steady, and the bamboo pole is easy to fall down. It is because there is no tie rod in the transverse direction to resist this force.
In order to solve this shortcoming, the double wishbone independent suspension appeared, which was based on MacPherson and added a triangular arm to resist lateral forces. MacPherson only has a triangular arm at the bottom, and the double wishbone has a triangular arm at the top in addition to the bottom. This greatly increases the limit of resistance to lateral forces, and the roll is smaller even when cornering quickly, increasing the driving limit of the vehicle. It is generally used on the front wheels of slightly higher-end cars.
The multi-link independent suspension is more high-end, and the common one is a four-link or five-link, which can withstand forces in all directions. It can be used on the front wheels as well as on the rear wheels, but it is still mainly used on the rear wheels, and only some high-end cars will use it on the front wheels. It supports the wheels with multiple linkages and shock absorbers, providing control in multiple directions. The vibration of the wheel transmission is more delicate, which can greatly reduce the front and rear forces from the ground, thereby improving the smoothness and comfort of acceleration and braking, and also ensuring the stability of straight driving. As a result, it is more comfortable, at the same time it is highly supportive and improves the handling of the vehicle. However, multi-link suspensions are expensive to manufacture and bulky, taking up more space in the car. The rear wheels of hundreds of thousands of vehicles will generally be used, and the front wheels of three or four hundred thousand vehicles will also be used.