Get to Know Your Vehicle’s Suspension

Unlike something straightforward like tires, a vehicle’s suspension is composed of many different parts including springs, dampers (shock absorbers and struts), and links (control arms and ball joints/tie rods).

Because of this, a vehicle’s suspension would very rarely need complete replacement all at once. That said, in this article we’d like to dive deeper into the world of suspension to give you a better understanding of what it is, and what it is made up of.

But first let’s take a look at how long you can expect your suspension to last …

WHEN WILL IT WEAR OUT?

The short answer here is, it depends.

Factors like how you drive, how many miles you put on your vehicle, and the terrain in which you drive all factor into the equation — as does the quality of the parts involved.

Regarding how you drive, we’re looking at:

• How aggressive a driver you are
• The shape of the roads you drive on
• Temperature extremes (which Dane County is famous for)
• Whether or not you exceed the vehicle’s payload limit; This can happen easily with pickup trucks, or if you are towing more than your car is capable of (IE: hitching a trailer to your car that exceeds the vehicle’s limits)
• Whether or not you keep your tire pressure (PSI) set correctly, especially between seasons where tire pressure can have a marked change
• If you are noticing — or ignoring — the signs of misaligned wheels
• Depending on all of the factors above, a suspension system typically lasts between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

WHAT IS A SUSPENSION

In a nutshell, a vehicle’s suspension is the sum of many parts, including: springs, struts, shocks, plus additional parts that stabilize and absorb surface variance (IE: potholes).

A suspension is kind of like the insole of a sneaker, the middling part connecting the top of the car to the wheels in a way that helps everything run together more smoothly, and comfortably. And, when it is well-tuned, your suspension helps optimize your tire’s contact with the road which helps improve handling, steering, gas mileage, and safety.

WHAT IS A SUSPENSION MADE UP OF?

More than one article can surmise, but we can take a look at the major components to give you a solid idea of what a suspension is made of.

The Ball Joint
The ball joint’s function is to join the control arm to the wheel. Made with the ability to pivot in more than one direction at a time, this is what allows a driver to steer left or right while the wheel also moves up and down when reacting to uneven roads.

Coil Spring
This is a steel, elasticized spiral that sits between the axle and frame of a vehicle. Primary functions are to support the vehicle’s weight and of course to absorb motion for a smoother ride.

Control Arm
The control arm connects the wheels to the vehicle’s frame. With a traditional suspension (one with independent shocks and springs) there is both an upper and lower control arm for each wheel. On the contrary, if you have a strut suspension it only needs a lower control arm.

Leaf Spring
This older technology is still used on some “body-on-frame” trucks. Today, most cars and trucks use coil springs.

Shock Absorber
Also referred to as a damper, this tubular device actually makes use of friction to diminish the force caused by the contraction and expansion of a coil or leaf spring, making a vehicle’s ride more cushiony.

Struts
Struts are a combination of both a coil spring and a shock all in one. Strut suspensions are lighter than ones that incorporate separate shocks and springs. They’re also more affordable.

Sway Bar
Also referred to as a stabilizer bar (or sometimes an “antiroll bar,” or “torsion bar”), a sway bar connects two wheels (the front set and the rear set, respectively) to the same axle. When your suspension responds to the road (a curve, uneven road, etc.) the sway bar works to minimize any rolling effect.

GET IN TOUCH
Have questions about your suspension, or anything else about your vehicle? Feel free to contact us anytime! In addition, you can schedule a service online by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button in the navigation above.

See you on the road!