AFILIA RESOURCES

ACADEMY

SUSPENSION
SYSTEM
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Description

Shock absorber
Spring

Torsion beam
Spring
Stabilizer

Shock absorber

Suspension arm

Lower arm

(1/1)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

1.Sprung weight and
unsprung weight

Sprung weight

Unsprung weight

Sprung weight

Sprung weight
Unsprung weight

Unsprung weight

(1/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

2.Oscillation of sprung
weight (1) Pitching

(2) Rolling

(3) Bouncing

(4) Yawing

(2/3)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

3.Oscillation of unsprung
(1) Hopping
weight

(2) Tramping

(3) Wind-up

(3/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Suspension Types and Characteristics

(1) Rigid axle suspensions (2) Independent suspensions

(2) Independent suspension (1) Rigid axle suspension

(1/3)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
ACADEMY

Suspension Types and Characteristics

(1) Trailing arm type with torsion beam

(2) Parallel leaf spring type

(3) Leading arm type with lateral rod,

trailing arm type with lateral rod

(4) 5-link type

(2/3)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

(1) Trailing arm type with
(1) Trailing arm type with torsion beam
torsion beam

Torsion beam
Stabilizer bar
Trailing arm

No lift-up

(2/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

(2) Parallel leaf spring type

(2) Parallel leaf spring type

Rear axle

Leaf spring

(2/3)
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

(3) Leading/trailing arm (3) Leading arm type with lateral rod,
type with lateral rod trailing arm type with lateral rod

Leading arm
Lateral control rod

Front suspension

Lateral control rod

Trailing arm
Rear suspension

(2/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Oscillation and Driving Comfort

(4) 5-link type 　
(or 4-link with lateral
control rod) (4) 5-link type

Stabilizer

Lateral control rod

Upper control arm

Lower control arm

(2/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Suspension Types and Characteristics

(1) Macpherson strut type

(2) Double wishbone type

•Semi-trailing arm type

Suspension arm

(3/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Suspension Types and Characteristics

(1) MacPherson strut type

Stabilizer bar
Stabilizer link

Lower arm

Suspension member

REFERENCE:
Spring offset (3/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Suspension Types and Characteristics

(2) Double wishbone type
Upper arm

Coil spring

Lower arm

Tire-to-ground
camber

Tread

Tread

(3/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Springs
1.Elasticity /
1. Elasticity
2.Spring rate (constant)
Load

2. Spring constant
W
K= Where W = external force (load), in N
a
a = amount of contraction
(deformation), in mm
k = spring constant, in N/mm

W1 a1
a2
W2 a3
W3

W1 W2 W3
= k (constant)
a1 a2 a3

(1/2)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Springs
3. Spring oscillation

3. Spring oscillation

Oscillation
pattern

Amplitude
Time

(2/2)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Type of Springs
1. Outline

Leaf spring
Metallic spring

Suspension spring Coil spring

Non-metallic spring Rubber spring

Leaf spring Coil spring Rubber spring

(1/5)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Type of Springs
2. Leaf springs
Shackle

Eye Center bolt

Clip

Span

Nip

Camber

(2/5)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Type of Springs
2. Leaf springs
Measure to reduce inter-leaf friction
i)The purpose of nip
Silencer pads

Taper end

Helper springs
Helper spring

Main spring

(3/5)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Type of Springs
3. Coil springs

Spring rod

Progressive spring
Load Load

Taper coil spring

Unequal-pitch spring Conical springs

Progressive
spring
Load

Flexure

(4/5)
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Type of Springs
4. Rubber springs

4. Rubber springs
Rubber cushion
Springs
bumper

(5/5)
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Shock Absorbers
Description

Spring Shock absorber

Tire
Suspension
linkage & axle

without Shock absorber

Amplitude

with Shock absorber

Time

(1/1)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
Description
1. Principal of operation Orifice
1. Principal of operation

Piston

Valve
<1> Expansion <2> Expansion
Damping force

Damping force
Piston speed Piston speed

Compression Compression
<3> Expansion High (firm)
Medium (sports)
Damping force

Low (soft)

Piston speed
Low (soft)
Medium (sports)
High (firm)
Compression

(1/1)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
Description
2. Types

Classification of shock absorbers

Single-action
by Operation
Multiple-action

Mono-tube
by Construction
Twin-tube

Hydraulic
by Working medium
Gas-filled

(1/1)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
1. Mono-tube type
(1)Construction
(2)Operation

Piston rod

Rod guide
Oil seal

Rebound stopper

Upper chamber
Piston valve

Lower chamber

Free piston
Protector
Nitrogen gas
(High pressure)

(1/4)

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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
1. Mono-tube type
<1> During bounding (compression)
(3) Operation
<1> During bounding
(compression)
<2> During rebounding
(expansion)

<2> During rebounding (expansion)

(2/4)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
2. Twin-tube type
(1) Construction
Bumper stopper
Ring nut
Oil seal
Gasket Rod guide
Air

Absorber Piston rod

shell Cylinder

Rebound stopper
Piston valve

Reservoir
Piston rod
Piston
Base valve

Gas
(Low pressure)
Piston valve

Low-pressure
Fluid
gas-filled type

Base
valve

(3/4)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
2. Twin-tube type
<1> During bounding (compression)
(2) Operation Piston rod
Chamber B
<1> During bounding Non-return valve
(compression)
Orifice
Piston rod's speed of Leaf valve
Reservoir chamber
motion high
Piston rod's speed of Piston & piston valve Orifice
motion low Chamber A
Non-return valve
Leaf valve
Base valve

Piston rod’s speed of motion high Leaf valve

Non-return
valve

Leaf valve

Piston valve Base valve

Piston rod’s speed of motion low
Orifice Orifice

Piston valve Base valve

(4/4)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Shock Absorbers
2. Twin-tube type
<2> During bounding (expansion)
(2) Operation
Chamber B
<2> During rebounding Non-return valve Piston rod
(expansion) Orifice
Piston rod's speed of Piston & piston valve
motion high Leaf valve
Piston rod's speed of Reservoir chamber Orifice Chamber A
motion low
Non-return valve
Leaf valve
Base valve

Non-return
Piston rod’s speed of motion high
valve

Leaf valve

Piston valve Base valve

Piston rod’s speed of motion low
Orifice Orifice

Piston valve Base valve

(4/4)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
ACADEMY

Servicing Precautions

1. Handling of shock absorbers

Since the oil seal, piston rod, and other components of the shock absorbers are made with
extreme precision, the following precautions must be taken when handling them:
•Exposed portions of the piston rod must not be scratched to prevent leakage of shock absorber
fluid. In addition, the piston rod should be kept free of paint and oil.
•In order to prevent damage to the oil seal caused by interference with the piston valve, the rod
and cylinder should not be rotated with the shock absorber extended completely. Particular
caution is required in the case of gas-filled shock absorbers since the piston rod is constantly
pushed up by the pressure of the gas.

2. Handling of gas-filled shock absorbers

Since pressure is constantly applied on the inside of gas-filled shock absorbers, the following
precautions should be taken in addition to those described above:
•Do not attempt to disassemble non-disassemblable shock absorbers (including all DuCarbon
type shock absorbers as well as low-pressure gas-filled shock absorbers in which the ring nut is
caulked).
•When disposing of gas-filled shock absorbers, first evacuate the gas.

(1/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Servicing Precautions
3. Evacuation of gas
(1)DuCarbon type (1) Ducarbon type
Hole
(2)Non-disassemblable Vinyl bag
MacPherson strut type 10mm Drill (23mm)
(1)Disassemblable
MacPherson strut type

Gas Free
piston Rubber band

(2) Non-disassemblable MacPherson strut type

Drill area

(3) Disassemblable MacPherson strut type

SST

(2/3)
Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
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Servicing Precautions
4. Installation of cartridge
type low-pressure Strut type

gas-filled shock
absorbers Ring nut

Cartridge

Piston rod
with cylinder

(3/3)
AFILIA RESOURCES
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Suspension System AFILIA RESOURCES
ACADEMY

Spring offset

Centerline of spring
Piston rod

Rod guide
a
A

B
b
Bending force
Piston

Inner shell
Spindle

Reactive force Load

by spring off-setting

(1/1)
Exercise AFILIA RESOURCES
ACADEMY

Use the Exercises to check your level of understanding for the material in this
Chapter. After answering each Exercise, you can use the reference button to
check the pages related to the current question. When you get a incorrect
answer, please return to the text to review the material and find the correct
answer. When all questions have been answered correctly, you can go to the
next Chapter.
 AFILIA RESOURCES
ACADEMY

Mark each of the statements True or False.

True or Refer to
No. Question
False page

Oscillation of the unsprung weight causes hopping, True False

1
tramping, yawing, and wind-up.

An independent type suspension provides a more True False

2 comfortable ride than a rigid type suspension because
the unsprung weight is smaller.

Coil springs and torsion bar springs must be used True False
3 together with shock absorbers because they do not
have the oscillation control function.

Hydraulic fluid and low-pressure gas are sealed inside True False
4
of Ducarbon type shock absorbers.
 AFILIA RESOURCES
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The following illustrations show suspension types. From the following word group,
select the words that correspond to 1 to 4.

1 2

3 4

The corresponding statements in the sentence group in next page.

 AFILIA RESOURCES
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a. 5-link type 1. a b c d
b. MacPherson type 2. a b c d
c. Trailing arm type with torsion beam 3. a b c d
d. Double wishbone type 4. a b c d

Refer to page
 AFILIA RESOURCES
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The following statements pertain to the coil spring characteristics. Select the statement
that is True.

1 There is inter-leaf friction that naturally damps the spring oscillation.

Since there is no resistance to lateral forces, linkage mechanisms to support the

2
axle are necessary.
The energy absorption rate per unit of weight is not greater in comparison with
3
leaf spring.
The progressive spring, which ensures both the riding comfort of a coil spring
4 and the load resistance, has the taper coil spring, conical spring, and helper
spring.

Refer to page
 AFILIA RESOURCES
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The following illustration shows the shock absorber classifications. From the following
word group, select words that correspond to 1 to 3.

a. Mono-tube 1. a b c d e
b. Gas-filled 2. a b c d e
c. Single action 3. a b c d e
d. Double action
e. Single-tube Refer to page