Africa Automotive March-April digital issue 2023

March-April issue l 2023
Rigid Axle
The rigid axle suspension is the most basic type
of suspension. It is fitted with a rear wheel that is
connected to a single axle and usually features leaf
springs.
Shock Absorbers and Struts
Shock absorbers (also known as dampers) convert the
kinetic energy stored in the springs into heat energy
that is dissipated. The absorbed kinetic energy helps
to improve the ride quality of the vehicle. Most shock
absorbers have two sections: the outer tube, which is
connected to the vehicle's frame; and the reserve tube,
which is bolted to the axle, or structure that carries the
suspension system. The outer tube contains a piston
that looks like a plunger. The piston moves downward
into a reservoir filled with hydraulic fluid as the spring
compresses. The damper then releases the spring's
energy in a controlled way, dissipating the spring's
pressure and preventing the car from bouncing. The
force the damper produces depends on how fast the
spring is compressed or elongated, and the compression
limit is the distance that the suspension can be
compressed without producing an uncontrolled bounce.
These are a key part of the suspension, as they help to
keep your vehicle safe and smooth, as well as to reduce
wear on tires and other parts. It is important that your
shock absorbers are not damaged, or you may risk a
serious crash.
Trailing Arm
The trailing arm suspension is a common design
for rear-wheel drive cars and can be found on some
motorcycles. This type of suspension consists of a steel
arm that is pivoted to the car’s chassis and is joined to a
damper.
Coil Springs
A coil-spring suspension uses a coil spring to support
the body of the vehicle and the tires. They come in either
linear or progressive rate designs, depending on the
coil spacing and the spring wire diameter. Linear rate
springs typically have evenly spaced coils and are more
commonly used in cars. A progressive rate spring is one
that has more coils closer together than the ones on a
linear-rate design.
MacPherson Shock Absorber
The MacPherson strut was designed by Earle S.
McPherson, and it is the most common type of
independent suspension used in modern cars. This
design is a step up from the double-wishbone
suspension, but it is more complicated to manufacture
and requires higher strut mounts.
Torsion Bars
The torsion bar is another popular type of suspension
Auto Suspension
design. Its twisting properties provide coil-spring-like
performance. These bars are attached to the frame of a
vehicle and attach to a wishbone, which acts as a lever
that transfers vertical motion from the wheels to the
torsion bar.
Anti-Roll Bar
The anti-roll bar, also known as an anti-sway bar, is a
metal bar that connects the left and right side of your
vehicle’s suspension. A sway bar is another key element
of your vehicle’s suspension. They highly contribute in
giving your vehicle extra stability when it is moving at
high speeds and at the same time preventing the car
from rolling off while taking a turn, hence they are very
important for the safety of you and other passengers.
Ford Model T
A good example of a popular suspension system is the
Ford Model T, which was built to handle rough roads.
The front suspension on the Model T incorporated a
wishbone-shaped radius rod with a ball attached to it.
This was replaced with a split wishbone design after
World War II. It lowered the front axle about an inch
and improved handling.
Maintenance requirements for automotive suspension
Failure of one or more vital suspension components
will alter your vehicles handling and may accelerate
wear on other suspension parts. Regular checks and
maintenance will save you costly repairs. Taking proper
care of your suspension system will guaranty safety
and the best possible handling performance for your
vehicle; this is according to Brian Gow, Workshop
Manager at Romageco Kenya Ltd.
“Worn suspension components will have an adverse
effect on vehicle stability which compromises safety
and driver control. Replacing worn parts will help
maintain correct vehicle ride height and wheel
alignment. It will also reduce the effect of shock forces
when driving on or off road, support vehicle weight
(whether laden or unladen), keep the wheels in contact
with the road and ultimately control the vehicle's
direction of travel." adds Brian.
“It is a well-known fact that, automotive vehicle
tires only last for a certain period and/or kilometers
of the vehicle’s life and they are very expensive to
replace,” says Jan van Niekerk - Operational Director at
PSB – Problem Solving Bushings. “One of the highest
determining factors to the unnecessary deterioration of
tires is that of warn or damaged suspension parts and
rubbers,” utters Jan.
“Over the past few years as everything in the
automotive industry evolved and it is needless to
say, so did all vehicles’ suspensions. Suspensions are
becoming more sophisticated for several reasons
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