Suspension systems
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The purpose of the suspension system is to isolate the vehicle body from road bumps and vibrations, while keeping the wheels in contact with the road.
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Solid axle
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The solid, or beam, axle is used in the rear suspension of many front-engined, rear-wheel-drive cars, and light commercial vehicles, and as the front suspension on many heavy commercial vehicles.
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Dead axle
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A dead axle only supports the vehicle and doesn’t transmit any drive. With a live axle, the drive is transmitted through the final drive unit and axles to the wheels.
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Independent suspensions
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Independent suspension helps keep unsprung mass low. Also, if a wheel hits an irregularity, it won’t upset the opposite wheel on the same axle. It allows wheel camber to be adjusted, or designed into the suspension geometry.
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Rear independent suspension
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For independent suspension on the rear of a vehicle, many FWD cars use a McPherson strut at the rear. On RWD vehicles, the suspension has to allow for the external drive shafts.
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Rear wheel drive independent suspension
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On rear-wheel-drive vehicles with independent suspension, the final drive unit is fixed to the vehicle frame. Drive is transmitted to each wheel by external drive shafts.
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Adaptive air suspension
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Adaptive air suspension is an electronically controlled air suspension system at all four wheels with a continuously adaptive damping system. |
| Adaptive air suspension operation |
The height sensor uses the induction principle to constantly monitor the distance between the vehicle’s axle and its chassis. |
