Car suspension parts explained

The tyres in particular are very imortant because they are the only parts that touch the ground when the car is moving. Net Phoo

The suspension system is basically the series of parts which support the car as it moves on the road.

These are components which give your car the ability to make turns as you rotate the steering wheel and to absorb shocks when you drive over bumps or potholes. In modern-day cars, there are literally hundreds of parts which make up the suspension system. But here, we will go over the most important car suspension parts and their functions.

If one of these components were to malfunction, then it would cause problems for the drive-ability, comfort, and safety of your car.

Springs
Coil springs are the components of a suspension system which absorb the impact when you drive over bumps or holes in the road. In some car model such as matatus or older vans and lorries, they use metal rods instead of springs to do this. But in most cars, there are springs which “flex” upon impact. That way, the driver and passengers do not feel as much of the impact as they sit in the cabin.

Wheels and tyres
While not very obvious, wheels and tyres are the outside components of the suspension system. The tyres, in particular, are very important because they are the only parts which touch the ground as the car moves. Every time you drive over a bump or pothole, tyres incur most of the impact.
Plus, your braking, corning, and accelerating actions have a big impact on your tyres too. The thicker your tyres are, the smother your ride will be.

Shock absorbers
Shock absorbers work alongside your springs to reduce the impact of bumps and potholes. Even though the springs technically absorb the impact, it is the shock absorbers that support the springs by reducing their motion. That way, the car is not bouncing up and down after you drive over a bump.

Rods and linkages
Every suspension includes various rods and other connecting pieces that collectively keep the wheels relative to the rest of the car. Most of these linkages are solid metal parts that rarely fail except in major accidents. However, sometimes linkages and associated bushings are sold together, and failure of a bushing can necessitate replacing the whole assembly.

Joints, bearings, bushings
Because most parts of any suspension must be movable, the various linkages are connected by flexible connections.

These include bushings and bearings, which are connections that allow a small amount of twisting or sliding, often without needing lubrication, and joints, which in automotive applications often use a lubricant such as grease to allow for controlled movement.

Some suspension bushings are made of rubber, which can become brittle or break over time, leading to failure. Many joints tend to wear out, leading initially to looseness and eventually to failure.

A couple of the most common culprits are tie rod ends, which are lubricated joints that connects certain steering linkage parts, ball joints, which are found in both the steering system and attached to the control arms, and the bushings that separate the control arms from the car’s frame.

Frame
The frame is perhaps the biggest component of the suspension system. It is basically the structural skeleton which carries the weight and load of the entire car, including its components. Although it helps support the body and engine of the car, there are other components of the suspension system which contribute to this too.