AUTO REPAIRS – Suspension

We stay current with all new suspension and shock absorber technology

THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS WITH A SMOOTH RIDE!

This system also contributes to keep you safe by ensuring all four wheels are in contact with the ground at all times, regardless of road conditions. Suspension systems have undergone several technological improvements recently. Our Autotech Performance technicians know these developments and make sure that your vehicle’s suspension is as efficient and durable as possible.

HOW DOES THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WORK?

The suspension system connects your vehicle to its wheels. It is designed to counteract the forces of gravity, propulsion and inertia that are applied to your vehicle as you accelerate, slow down or stop so that all four wheels remain on the ground.

The tires, which are mounted on your vehicle’s wheels (or rims), are the most important and visible components of this system. They transfer the power of the engine to the ground when your vehicle moves and counter that motion when it stops.

When you drive on a bumpy road, the combined work of the shock absorber (or damper) and coil or leaf spring mounted on each wheel absorbs the shocks. The spring is a device that stores energy in order to supply it later on. It is actually the spring that handles the abuse of the road by allowing the wheel to move up and down with respect to the vehicle’s frame. In return, the shock absorber softens the suspension movement entailed by the spring by “absorbing the shocks.”

The shock absorber is a steel or aluminum hydraulic cylinder filled with pressurized oil and nitrogen. As the suspension moves, a piston is forced to move through the oil-filled cylinder. The energy produced from the motion of the piston is dissipated as heat which is in turn absorbed by the oil.

The McPherson strut suspension differs from a conventional shock absorber by the way the spring is positioned around the strut. The surrounding upper control arm (or A-arm or wishbone) and lower control arm form a pivoting frame that lets the suspension move up and down while keeping the tire/wheel system perpendicular to the ground at all times. These arms are an integral part of the McPherson strut suspension which has become the most common shock absorber used in front wheel-drive vehicles.

Sway bars (or anti-roll bars) control roll motion during turns. They are made of steel and are attached between the left and right wheels, at the front and rear of your vehicle. These bars are designed to keep your vehicle as level as possible, regardless of driving conditions. For instance, when pressure is exerted on the left wheel as you are turning left, the sway bar pushes down on the right wheel counteracting the roll motion.

Steel torsion bars are also part of the suspension system. Each wheel’s torsion bar has one end attached to the frame of your vehicle while the other end is attached to the moving suspension of the wheel. Torsion bars act like springs, twisting according to varying load forces. The torsion bar suspension response time is slightly faster than a spring suspension’s and there is no bouncing effect.

Lastly, the axle system or driveshaft transmits the power from the engine to the wheels and tires.

Note that regardless of your vehicle’s type of suspension, its efficiency depends on proper wheel alignment. Proper alignment and adequate tire pressure extend the life of the tires and ensure proper handling of the vehicle under all circumstances.