The suspension on your vehicle is one of its most important systems. Without a suspension system, it would be nearly impossible to drive safely and prevent auto collisions. According to the Orange County Business Journal, private passenger vehicles have about 30,000 parts, many of which are included in your suspension system. Although many people may assume suspension only involves shock absorbers, there is a surprising amount of elements that go into the suspension system of your vehicle.

Frame

Your vehicle's entire suspension system is built upon the frame, which supports the front and rear axles as well as the other suspension components. The frame is one of the most basic elements of the automobile and has served the same purpose since the car's invention. This essential element makes it possible for your vehicle to hold up against rough roads and maintain stability while turning. If a vehicle's frame is bent or otherwise out of alignment, it might be impossible to control the vehicle and prevent auto collisions.

Wheels

Wheels and the tires that mount to them were the first suspension systems early cars had. A good set of wheels help your vehicle move over rough terrain while the tires absorb some of the shocks and vibrations that would otherwise travel to the passenger seats and make your ride uncomfortable. Quality tires provide traction and stability while enabling the driver to steer the vehicle in the right direction. They also create ground clearance to help the vehicle pass over objects and obstacles without getting stuck or suffering damage.

Dampers and Shock Absorbers

Wheels are generally attached to what many people think of as the main suspension system: shock absorbers and dampers. Shock absorbers and dampers help keep the wheels on the road and the frame and chassis level and stable. When you drive over a pothole, shock absorbers keep your wheels in contact with the ground so you don't lose traction while driving on rough roads, helping you avoid auto collisions. Not only do they keep you safe, but shock absorbers are crucial to ride quality.

Struts

Just like the other systems mentioned, struts help to absorb the bumps and vibration affecting the wheels. Struts support the frame and chassis, helping make the steering system more effective. They keep the tires properly aligned and stable so your vehicle handles as it should. You can thank struts for helping to control changing side loads while turning.

Coil Springs

Coil springs are another common suspension element that surrounds the vehicle's shocks or struts. They help absorb some of the vehicle's loads and the energy created by bumps and uneven road surfaces. Sharp turns are also made a lot easier with coil springs, as they work to maintain vehicle stability.

The combined effects of coil springs and shocks or struts can greatly improve the quality of the ride and make it comfortable to travel long distances. It's important to remember that coil springs do wear out and could break when subjected to very hard blows like auto collisions. It will pay off to inspect and replace them in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended service intervals.

Control Arms

Either side of your vehicle's front end has a control arm that helps to keep the wheels moving in unison while staying parallel to one another. The control arms connect the wheels and the steering knuckles that enable steering input from the driving wheel and steering gearbox. Without control arms, auto collisions would likely be more frequent, and driving at freeway speeds would be very dangerous. Thankfully, the control arms stabilize your vehicle while keeping the chassis and wheels moving as part of a single unit.

Tie Rods and Ball Joints

The more components of the suspension system your vehicle has, the more possible it is to steer and maintain stability in turns. Steering systems have a gearbox on the steering rack that transfers your inputs from the steering wheel into action on the front wheels via steering knuckles on either side of the front wheels. This gearbox is connected to tie rods and ball joints which make your vehicle easy to drive.

Tie rods are adjustable so the wheels can be aligned to enable your car to travel in a naturally straight path without pulling to one side or the other. Tie rods also move slightly to help the chassis and wheels pivot while remaining stable when you turn and drive. Ball joints in particular help keep each of the front wheels in contact with the roadway as much as possible to maintain traction, handling, and safety.

Joints, Bearings, and Bushings

Your vehicle's front wheels can move in just about every direction with the help of joints, bearings, and bushings. Each of these parts can move up or down independently of the other, which helps to maintain traction and handling, especially while driving on rough roads. They help your wheels and tires perform their intended jobs and make it possible for the tires to wear evenly and last for their expected service life. These parts work together to allow you the benefit of optimal wheel control, better handling, and a smoother ride, helping prevent auto collisions.

Sway Bars

You may not know about the long bar that connects to both ends of the suspension system. This round bar is called a sway bar or an anti-roll bar and helps maintain stability while you're turning. It connects the left and right wheels up front with short arms acting as levers to help prevent the chassis from swaying too much in either direction. The sway bar improves steering and handling and makes it more difficult to lose control to avoid auto collisions.

Steering Components

You may not think of the steering system as being part of the suspension, but they are linked together to help maintain stability and control. Auto collisions would be much more common if a steering system did not have a direct connection to the suspension system. The steering system obviously has a steering wheel that uses a column to connect to the steering gearbox. The gearbox then delivers the inputs to either wheel up front with the help of a power steering pump. A steering knuckle connects to the wheels and manipulates them as needed to turn or drive straight, while the suspension helps to maintain traction and stability.

A suspension system is a critically important component of any modern vehicle because it allows you to drive and handle your vehicle as intended while making your ride more comfortable. The suspension has many parts working together to perform a variety of tasks, adding up to better handling under normal driving conditions and a better chance of avoiding auto collisions. Suspension systems can differ significantly from one vehicle to the next, with 4x4s generally using systems that give more ground clearance and allow for taller wheels and tires than you would find on a typical car.

No matter what type of vehicle you have, its suspension system is a complex structure. Now you hopefully have a better understanding of what it takes to give you a smooth ride while on the road. If you want even more information about your vehicle's suspension system, talk with our technicians at City Side Auto Body today! We offer ASE certified mechanics and free estimates on your vehicle.