Supports the weight of the vehicle
Allows the wheels to move up and
down
Allows rapid cornering without extreme
body roll
Keeps the tires in firm contact with the
road
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Prevents excessive body squat when
accelerating or heavily loaded
Prevents excessive body dive when
braking
Allows the front wheels to turn left or
right for steering
Helps keep the wheels in correct
alignment
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Springs must jounce (compress) and
rebound (extend) as a vehicle travels
over bumps and holes in the road
surface
Springs must support the weight of the
vehicle while still allowing suspension
travel (movement)
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Types of Springs
A. Coil spring
B. Leaf spring
C. Air spring
D. Torsion bar
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Coil Spring
Length of spring-steel rod wound into a
spiral
Most common type of spring
Used on front and rear suspension
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Coil Spring
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Leaf Spring
Flat strips of spring steel that are bolted
together
Limited to the rear of some cars
A monoleaf spring is made from a
single, thick leaf of reinforced fiberglass
A shackle fastens the rear leaf spring
eye to the frame or body and allows the
spring to change length when bent
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Leaf Spring Assembly
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Air Spring
Rubber cylinder filled with air
End caps are formed on the ends for
mounting
Air pressure in the rubber cylinder
gives the unit a spring action
Special synthetic rubber compounds
are used so the air spring can operate
properly in cold weather
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Air Springs
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Torsion Bar
Made of a large spring-steel rod
One end is attached to the frame
The other end is fastened to the control
arm
Jounce and rebound twists the torsion
bar
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Torsion Bar
The bar resists twisting action and acts
like a conventional spring
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Shock Absorbers
Limit spring oscillations to smooth a
vehicle’s ride
One end is connected to the body or
frame, the other to the axle or control
arm
When compressed or extended, oil
inside the shock is forced through small
orifices, absorbing energy, damping
spring action
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Shock Absorber
Action
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Strut Assembly
Consists of a shock absorber, a coil
spring, and an upper damper unit
Replaces the upper control arm
Only the lower control arm and the strut
are needed to support the wheel
assembly
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only
Strut Assembly
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only