SUSPENSION SYSTEM
SUSPENSION
• connects the chassis (frame) to the wheels. It plays a critical role in ensuring ride
comfort, vehicle handling.
WHY WE USE SUSPENSION?
[Link] the Vehicle's Weight:
• Holds the vehicle body above the wheels.
[Link] and Dampen Shocks:
• Cushions the impact from bumps and rough terrain.
[Link] Tire Contact with the Ground:
• Ensures better traction, braking, and control.
[Link] Vehicle Dynamics:
• Helps in maintaining stability during cornering, acceleration, and braking.
BASIC COMPONENTS OF SUSPENSION
• Control Arm: Connects the wheel hub to the vehicle’s
chassis , allowing the wheel to move
up and down while maintaining proper alignment
and geometry.
Steering Knuckle: It connects the suspension, steering
components, and wheel hub, allowing the front wheels to
pivot (steer) and move up and down with the suspension.
• Ball Joint: Allow pivoting movement between control
arms and knuckle.
• Springs : Absorb shocks from road and support the
vehicle's weight
• Shock Absorber(Damper): Control spring
motion And reduce oscillations
TYPES OF SUSPENSION
Dependent Suspension Independent Suspension
Wheels on the same axle are Each wheel moves
connected, so movement in one independently of the others.
affects the other. Types:
➢Double Wishbone Suspension.
➢MacPherson Strut
➢Trailing Arm / Semi-Trailing
Arm
Double Wishbone Suspension
Double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension system that uses two control arms—
one upper and one lower — to support the wheel and allow precise movement.
Key Components:
• Upper Control Arm(UCA)
• Lower Control Arm(LCA)
• Steering Knuckle
• Shock Absorber and Spring
• Ball Joints
Why we use it?
• Camber Control:Maintains tire contact on uneven terrain; shorter UCA setup gives negative
camber gain for better grip during bumps and cornering.
• Reduced Tire Wear:Maintains optimal tire contact, reducing uneven wear and extending tire life.
Suspension Geometry Terms
• Toe Angle
• Camber Angle
• Caster Angle
• King Pin Inclination(KPI)
• Scrub Radius
Toe Angle
Toe angle refers to the direction the wheels point relative to the vehicle's
centerline when viewed from the top.
Types Function
Toe-In • Front edges of the wheels point toward each
other
• Improves straight-line stability
Toe-Out • Front edges of the wheels point away from
each other
• Improves cornering response
Camber Angle
• Tilt of the wheel from Vertical , when viewed from the front.
Positive Camber:Top of the wheel tilts outward.
(Improves stability in straight-line driving)
Negative Camber: Top of the wheel tilts inward.
(Increases cornering grip by maximizing tire contact
during turns)
Caster Angle
Caster angle is the angle between the steering axis and the vertical axis of the
wheel, viewed from the side of the vehicle.
Types Description Effect
Positive Steering axis tilts Improves straight-
caster rearward at the line stability, self-
top. centering of steering.
Negative Steering axis tilts Reduces stability,
Caster forward at the rarely used in
top. modern vehicles.
Zero Steering axis is
Caster perfectly vertical. Neutral feel, no self-
centering or
directional stability.
KingPin Inclination
• KPI is the angle between the steering axis and the true vertical line,
when viewed from the front of the vehicle.
Scrub Radius
Scrub radius is the distance between the steering axis and the center of
the tire’s contact patch, viewed from the front of the vehicle.
Positive Scrub Radius: Steering axis intersect ground inside the contact path center.
Negative Scrub Radius: Steering axis intersect ground outside the contact path center.
Zero Scrub Radius: Steering axis intersect ground exactly at the contact path center.
Why We Calculate These Angles?
Camber Angle: (i)Controls tire contact patch during cornering.
(ii)Improves grip and reduces tire wear.
Caster Angle: (i) Enhances straight-line stability.
(ii)Aids in self-centering of the steering.
Toe Angle: (i) Fine-tunes steering response.
(ii) Affects tire wear and vehicle tracking.
KPI: (i) Improves steering returnability.
(ii) Reduces scrub radius and enhances handling stability.
Track Width Wheel Base
Track width is the distance Wheelbase is the distance
between the centerlines of right between the centers of the front
and left wheel. and rear wheels of a vehicle.
Roll Centre Instant Center
The roll center is an imaginary point in • The Instant Center is the imaginary
the suspension geometry about which point around which a suspension
the chassis rolls (tilts) laterally when arm rotates at any given moment. It
the vehicle experiences cornering is found by extending the lines of
forces. the upper and lower control arms
until they intersect.
Centre Of Gravity
The Center of Gravity is the imaginary point where the entire weight of
the vehicle is considered to act. It is the balance point in all directions.
Centre of Gravity Height
Center of Gravity Height is the vertical distance from the ground to the
center of gravity of the vehicle. It plays a critical role in stability, roll
behavior, and load transfer.
