Essential Parts Of Your Car’s Suspension

Learn What Keeps Your Car Balanced

If you recently made a sharp turn while driving and your car didn't tip over, you can thank your car's suspension system for keeping you balanced! Designed specifically to keep the car steady on uneven roads or around particularly harsh turns, the suspension system is placed directly along the wheels of the car in order to absorb and offset vibrations generated from the road's surface. It'll also keep the vehicle upright so the driver and passengers can remain safely seated.

The Springs, Shocks, and Strut

Springs will absorb or soften any bumps caused by friction on the road so no one in the cabin feels the harshness of the road beneath the tires. They also help keep the wheels' traction safe and the ride more comfortable. The shocks, or shock absorbers, are the components of the car that take any up-and-down sensations while on a bumpy road or hilly ride. The shock absorber system contains fluid that helps absorb any resistance from the springs, so keeping that well lubricated is important to keeping everything in working order. The front wheels are held by the strut bar, which is the part of the car's suspension system that holds the lower arm. It's located at the car's steering wheel, so it's designed with a tilt to ensure proper front wheel alignment.

Ball Joint

The part of the suspension system that acts as the rotation axis when the vehicle turns is the ball joint. This part takes on the lateral and horizontal loads of the car, primarily with the upper ball joints and lower ball joints.

The ball joint is then lubricated with oil to ensure no friction when the parts rub against each other. If there isn't any oil, friction will keep the ball joint from functioning properly.

Sway Bar

To keep the body of the car balanced while the driver is making turns, the stabilizer bar is the component that works against centrifugal force that would otherwise overturn the vehicle. This part is what keeps the car from turning over when it's being turned at high speeds or sudden turns at a large force. Without it, the vehicle could turn over and tip to its side as it turns, especially if there's a turn at a high speed on the highway or around a sharp corner.

Stabilizer bars are expected to have a level of elasticity per the car's specification, so they perform as expected. For example, a stabilizer bar on a large pickup truck may have a different level of elasticity compared to a small 2-door sedan.