MCPHERSON SUSPENSION

MAYAN UNIVERSITY

RUBIEL TOLEDO MENDOZA

CARLOS EDUARDO DIAZ SANCHEZ

MARIO ALEXIS YAÑEZ CRUZ

OSCAR PEREYRA VELASCO

RUSBEL JUNIOR MUÑOS PEREZ

 INTRODUCTION
In all these years there have been numerous innovations when it comes to
vehicles, mainly related to speed, comfort and of course safety. The system to be
treated, the suspension system, intervenes in all these factors, since it has
gradually adapted to the needs of its time. At first they are simply responsible for
providing the necessary comfort to the vehicle, but this has evolved to the point
where its good condition is essential for a safe trip both to be able to safely face
the irregularities of the road and to trace curves at certain speeds.
Therefore, the detailed study of the suspension is of vital importance, especially in
public service vehicles since they have a true responsibility towards their
passengers. This happens in the same way in competition vehicles where this type
of system guarantees both the success and safety of the drivers.
This manual will explain what a suspension is, how it works and the components
that make it up.
We will also focus on a single type of suspension, “the McPherson suspension” in
which we will talk apart from what has been said before about its advantages and
disadvantages, common problems or failures in the system, types of vehicles that
use it.

INDEX
SUSPENSION
Automotive suspension is known as the ways of using mechanical torsional forces,
with the aim of cushioning and softening the movement of a vehicle over
irregularities on the surface of a terrain.
Anything that, when compressed under force or weight, tries to return to its natural
state is known as a torsion component. Shock absorbers are added to this type of
components, which have the function of grading the action and reaction process ;
helping the torsional forces have a smooth movement . A lot of water has flowed
since the first vehicle was invented, and as expected, manufacturers have been
testing and developing ways or systems to take advantage of torsional forces, with
a view to achieving a smooth, safe movement of a vehicle. vehicle. Suspension
systems, in automotive mechanics , vary in shape, style, design, shape, and
components; but the principles and objectives remain the same:
Travel will feel smooth, pleasant and safe, both when braking and cornering; But if
you exceed the specified weight and/or speeds, the system will be pushed to its
maximum, and in these conditions, driving will be difficult and dangerous.
Based on the principles of aerodynamics, and the variants applied by
manufacturers, with the aim of giving stability, comfort, durability, safety, and
versatility to the movement of a vehicle. We have designed these pages that we
hope will help you understand, and be able to properly maintain , helping you feel
calmer when driving your vehicle.

Suspension types
 INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION

An independent suspension means that each wheel is connected to the car

separately from the other wheels, allowing each wheel to move up and down
without affecting the wheel on the opposite side. Independent suspension can be
used on all four wheels

The function of a vehicle's suspension system is to support its weight, absorb

driving shocks, allow the driver to steer the vehicle efficiently and provide comfort
and safety to its occupants. When this system works correctly, four basic tasks are
executed:
Keep tires in contact with the road and ride height.
Support the weight of the vehicle.
Reduce vehicle jumps on the road and maintain control.
Keep the wheels aligned

Currently, four-wheel independent suspension is being used

Increasingly because it is the most optimal from a comfort point of view
and stability, by independently reducing the oscillations generated by
the pavement without transmitting them from one wheel to another on the same
axle.
The main added advantage of independent suspension is that it has
Less unsprung mass than other suspension types, so
Actions transmitted to the chassis are of lesser magnitude.
The design of this type of suspension must guarantee that variations in
Wheel camber and wheel width on said steering wheels must be
Small to achieve safe vehicle steering.
On the contrary, for high loads this suspension may present
Issues. Currently this type of suspension is the only one used for
The steering wheels.
The number of independent suspension models is very large and, in addition
It has numerous variants.

Semi-rigid suspension
 either
Semi-Independent
These suspensions are very similar to the previous ones, their main difference is
that the wheels are joined together as in the rigid axle, but partially transmitting the
oscillations they receive from the irregularities of the terrain. In any case, although
the suspension is not totally rigid, it is not independent either. The driving function
is separated from the suspension and guidance function or, in other words, the
differential is attached to the frame, it is not supported by the suspension.

A suspension of this type is shown in the figure below. It is a suspension with a

"De Dion" axle . In it, the wheels are joined by articulated supports (1) to the
differential group (2), which in the suspension with a De Dion axle is part of the
suspended mass, that is, it is anchored to the frame of the car. Under this aspect,
the rotation is transmitted to the wheels through two axle shafts (shafts) as in
independent suspensions. In turn, both wheels are joined together by a crossbar or
De Dion tube (3) that anchors them rigidly, allowing the suspension to slide
longitudinally. This system has the advantage over the rigid axle. that the unsprung
mass is reduced due to the low weight of the De Dion axle crossbar and the
anchoring of the differential group to the frame and maintains the wheel
parameters practically constant like the rigid axles thanks to the rigid anchoring of
the crossbar. The suspension also has elastic elements of the helical spring type
(4) and is usually accompanied by longitudinal arms that limit longitudinal
movements.

Another "De Dion" semi-rigid suspension but that uses leaf springs instead of
springs
Currently there are few cars that mount this suspension because its cost is high.
Alfa Romeo is one of the manufacturers that installed this system, more specifically
in the 75 model (figure below). It is currently fitted on vehicles such as the Honda
HR-V and the Smart City Coupe.

The "torsional axle" is another type of semi-rigid suspension (semi-independent),

used in the rear suspensions, in vehicles that have front-wheel drive (for example:
Volkswagen Golf). The crossbar or tube that joins the two wheels is "U" shaped, so
it is capable of deforming a certain angle when one of the wheels encounters an
obstacle, and then returning to the initial position once the obstacle has been
passed.

The wheels are rigidly attached to two longitudinal arms joined by a crossbar that
joins them and that twists during non-symmetrical shocks, giving stability to the
vehicle. This configuration gives rise, due to the torsion of the bridge, to a partial
recovery of the angle of fall with a high stabilization effect, characteristics that,
together with the low weight, the low cost and the little space they occupy, ideal to
be installed together with other components under the floor (fuel tank, exhaust,
etc.). These configurations have made this type of suspension one of the most
used in low-medium range vehicles.

RIGID SUSPENSION

THE RIGID SUSPENSION OF THE CAR

1.- Description: The set of elastic elements that are interposed between the
suspended organs (frame, body, passengers and cargo) and the unsuspended
organs (wheels and axles) are called suspension.

Its function is to absorb the reactions produced in the wheels by the unevenness of
the terrain, ensuring the comfort of the driver and passengers of the vehicle and, at
the same time, maintaining it so that it maintains the trajectory desired by the
driver.

When a vehicle passes over a bump or a hole, a shock occurs on the wheel that is
transmitted through the axles to the chassis and causes oscillations.
These movements are generated in the center of gravity of the car and propagate
in different directions.
The three types of oscillations are:
-Push: It occurs when passing through undulating terrain.
-Pitching: Occurs when braking suddenly.
-Wobbling: It is generated when taking curves at high speed.
2.- Rigid Suspensions: this suspension has the wheels joined by a rigid axle,
forming a set.
The rigid axle is supported in the frame by leaf springs and/or springs that act as
an elastic element transmitting oscillations and the shock absorbers complete the
set.
As a consequence, all the movement that affects one wheel is transmitted to the
other on the same axle, and since the axle is fixed directly on the frame, the
inclination is transmitted to the entire vehicle.

The main use of this suspension arrangement is mainly in commercial vehicles,

buses, trucks and all-terrain vehicles.

3.- Types of Rigid Suspension:

a.- Rigid Suspension with Springs: it is made up of a rigid bridge accompanied

by shock absorbers and springs which are carefully distributed longitudinally from
front to back with respect to the axle, are mounted on both sides of the axle, and
adjusted to the body. Furthermore, all the force acting on the axle is transmitted via
the springs to the body.

b.- Rigid Suspension with Connection System: in this case, the rigid bridge is
accompanied by control arms, springs and shock absorbers.
The position and stability of the axle is achieved with control arms, placed between
the body, or the chassis, and the axle housing.
The arms are mounted on the body in the longitudinal direction and attached to the
axle on both sides.
An arm is also mounted left and right in the direction of the body on one side of the
axle. These arms support the force acting in the front and rear directions, as well
as in the left and right directions.

Here; We do not have a spring package, they are replaced by a pair of springs.
These springs support the weight of the body and work when the forces are in the
up and down directions.
 MCPHERSON SUSPENSION

It takes its name from Earl S. McPherson, an engineer who developed it for use in
1951, in the Ford Consul model and later in the Zephyr.
It can be used on both the front and rear axles, although it is usually used on the
front, where it provides a support point for the steering and acts as the turning axis
of the wheel. Similar structures for the rear axle are called Chapman Suspension.
The McPherson independent suspension system is one of the most used in the
front axle, although it can also be mounted in the rear. This system is one of the
simplest and most used independent suspension designs in steering wheels, due
to its simplicity of manufacturing and maintenance, the cost of production and the
little space it occupies. Its mechanism forms an articulated triangle formed by the
lower arm, frame and spring-damper .

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages: Although its advantages are its simplicity and low manufacturing
cost, it has a geometric problem, since due to its configuration it is not possible for
the wheel to move vertically, but rather the vertical angle varies a few degrees
during its movement.
Disadvantages: very communicative, noises inside the car.
Benefits for the driver: Comfort, control and safety
In practice, this axle design is notable for the high levels of ride comfort and the
excellent safety it provides. The advantages of the McPherson axle are lower
unsprung mass, a wide base of support, reduced forces and a more compact
design. This design, named after its creator, has been continually refined over the
decades and is now a standard feature on many vehicles up to the mid-size class.
Vehicle with McPherson suspension

MCPHERSON SUSPENSION
COMPONENTS

1. Stub axle : Element of the front suspension that supports the wheels and
allows them to rotate.
2. Wheel Hub : Locking hubs, also known as free wheel hubs, are an
accessory installed on many four-wheel drive vehicles that allows the front
wheels to be disconnected from the front driveshafts.

3. Shock absorber : The function of the shock absorber is to control the

movements of the suspension, springs and/or springs. The movement of the
suspension generates kinetic energy, which is converted into thermal or
heat energy
 4. Spring: An elastic operator capable of storing energy and releasing it
without suffering permanent deformation is known as a spring when the
forces or tension to which it is subjected cease. In mechanics they are
erroneously known as a "spring"

5. Stabilizer bar : it is a component of the suspension of a car, designed to

allow the vertical movement of the opposite wheels to be supported, thereby
minimizing the lateral inclination that the body of a vehicle suffers when it is
subjected to centrifugal force, especially in curves.

MCPHERSON TYPE REAR AND FRONT

SUSPENSION
McPherson type front suspension
The suspension based on a transverse lower control arm and a telescopic column
formed by the shock absorbers took its working name patented in 1958 by Earle S.
McPherson, vice presidents of engineering at Ford Motor Co. This suspension is
generally found on transverse-engined subcompact and compact cars, both North
American, European and Asian, where another type of suspension would take up a
lot of space.
The design consists of a combined joint of the shock absorber, the column and the
handle; This unit is supported by the spring at its upper end and by the lower
control arm at the bottom. This design only uses one ball joint that is connected to
the bottom control part. This ball joint is generally not load-bearing, but auxiliary,
which means that it is isolated from the weight of the vehicle. The shock absorber
(cartridge) is placed inside the column, it has the spring around it, which rests on
the lower base at the base of the column and on the upper part on the tray. The
upper part of the shock absorber is bolted to the car body. On some models, the
shock strut cartridge can be replaced, but on others the entire unit must be
replaced.

McPherson type rear suspension

The figure shows the typical McPherson column, with its related parts. It should be
noted that, unlike the short arm suspension and generally cannot be aligned, in the
McPherson suspension to remove the shock absorber, you have to remove the
entire column, including the spring, so here if alignment is also lost that a special
tool is needed to carry out this work.
The lower control arm or fork supports the wheel and transmits braking force to the
chassis wheel.
NOTE: You must be extremely careful when removing the spring, do not work in an
unsafe manner, trying to compress it with ropes or wires with the risk of even
death.

MCPERSON SHOCK ABSORBER

OPERATION
With this suspension it is essential that the body is more resistant in the
points where the shock absorbers and springs are fixed, in order to absorb the
efforts transmitted by the suspension.
It is a suspension in which the shock absorber is integrally attached
to the wheel hub, so that the movement of the frame in relation to the wheel
It has the same direction as the perpendicular axis of the shock absorber. We see
a
diagram and a breakdown of said suspension in the figures

As connecting elements between wheel and frame, the McPherson suspension

In addition to the shock absorber, it requires joints at the bottom of the hub. The
Original version had a transverse arm and stabilizer bar function
longitudinal brace. In later versions the stabilizer is replaced by another
arm, or both arms for a triangle. On wheels that are not driven, there are versions
of the McPherson suspension with two transverse arms and one oblique or
longitudinal arm.
The perpendicular or McPherson suspension is actually a variant of the
transverse movement of two planes, in which the upper element is a column
almost perpendicular telescopic.
The movement of the wheel is never perfectly perpendicular to the ground.
two reasons: first, the lower connecting elements describe an arch and the
shock absorber moves laterally to follow it. Second, the shock absorber has
an orientation always forward on the front wheels and normally towards
out on all four wheels. These angles are shown in the figure

You can distinguish a McPherson suspension because the shock absorber is

integral with the hub, either because it is embedded inside or held with screws. He
McPherson suspension spring is always helical, but is not necessarily concentric
with the shock absorber. Cases where the shock absorber is outside the coil spring
are very rare.

The operation of the McPherson suspension largely depends on the quality of the
shock absorber. Being a telescopic tube subject to forces transverse to its axis, its
dimensions and the finish of its surfaces are decisive so that, for example, the
tubes do not wedge, which makes a suspension dry even with a soft-adjustment
shock absorber. . With the same quality, a shock absorber for a McPherson
suspension is usually more expensive than one for another type of suspension.

Earle McPherson's original design had the shock absorber as a guiding element in
the upper part of the hub and, in the lower part, two elements: a transverse arm to
support transverse forces, and the stabilizer lever arm to support longitudinal
forces. . This type of suspension has been used until the 80s. There are those who
call any variant of this type of suspension "false McPherson" or "pseudo"
McPherson. The McPherson suspension is used on both axles, but is more
common on the front. Depending on the axis in which it is located, it has certain
characteristics: a. McPherson on the front axle. When a McPherson type
suspension is on the steering axis, it has as its lower support either a triangle or
two arms that form a triangle.
b. McPherson on the rear axle. When there is a McPherson suspension in
an axis that has no direction, the normal thing is that there are three lower
elements of
union: two transverse arms and one oblique or longitudinal.

MACPHERSON SUSPENSION FAILURES

The McPherson suspension has many advantages, among which we can highlight
its simplicity, which implies a very low manufacturing cost . However, it also
has some disadvantages such as, for example, that, due to its design, the wheel
cannot move vertically, changing the vertical angle by several degrees during
movement.

But that's not all, since this type of suspension directly transmits the movement
from the asphalt to the chassis , with the consequent noises and vibrations that
we can notice inside our car.
Thanks to the functional separation of the longitudinal forces in the front support
and the lateral forces in the rear support, great walking agility is obtained, in
addition to great safety and very high interior comfort without these two forces
influencing one another. the other.

The McPherson suspension design is a great design that has revolutionized the
automotive world since it was first used. We can talk about a large number of
advantages over other suspension systems. For example, the vehicle has a lower
suspended mass, great ground support, a very compact design and the forces are
reduced.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OF
MACPHERSON SUSPENSION
Despite its benefits, the McPherson is not free from failures caused by use. And for that
reason, Juan Mostacero assures that there are ways to realize the status of our
suspension and that, furthermore, it is very simple.
"You grab with your hands and flex the top of the body of each wheel. If the car bounces
several times, it means that (...) that internal shock absorber is already empty, there is no
McPherson shock absorber, but only the spring that is causing the car to bounce," he
recommends.
Another alternative could be, according to the mechanic, "for example, going through a
spring breaker." "The purpose of this independent cushioning is to absorb holes or
bumps, not to wobble. If it wobbles, it means that it already has problems," he concludes.