Individual Guide On Shock Absorbers

Although cars and bikes are among the most numerous types of vehicles on the road today, other vehicle types such as vans, pickups, commercial trucks, buses and even motorcycles make up the vehicles we see on the road every day. Since these vehicles have different weights, sizes and applications, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for suspension design. Of the suspension designs in use today, the most evolved would be those used for luxury sports sedans and sports cars. Starting from the beam axle and leaf springs designs that took their inspiration from horse-drawn buggies, modern high-end performance car suspensions feature dual-wishbone or multilink suspension designs. These suspension components will be made from lightweight materials, primarily aluminium, which offer much lower unsprung weight compared to stamped steel. Additionally, these suspensions will be complemented by high durometer bushings, anti-sway bars and high-performance shock absorbers.

The top performance car manufacturers even employ shock absorbers that contain magnetic fluids whose damping rate is controlled electronically. But again, these are automobiles intended for road use where ride quality and handling performance are paramount. The other end of the spectrum for vehicle suspensions would be suspensions used for off-road vehicles. Rather than concentrating on ride quality and on-road handling, vehicle suspension types for off-road use are focused on suspension travel, stability, component strength and ground clearance. It is practically a requirement to use beefy suspension arms and oversized long-travel shock absorbers if a vehicle is to qualify as a true off-roader. With a four-wheel drive vehicle, reliability and traction are key factors to consider, and so it is not uncommon to see live axle suspensions seeing regular use even today. In fact, some hardcore off-roaders convert the independent front suspensions of their 4-wheel drive vehicles to a live axle because of the strength and constant ground clearance inherent in this suspension design.

In this regard, mid-size crossovers do not qualify, even if they are equipped with all-wheel drive. Some SUV manufacturers do not even attempt to advertise their AWD SUVs as an off-road vehicle. Such is the case with BMW's X5. Vehicle suspension types for utility vehicles fall between the types discussed above. Vans and pickups are expected to carry people and large heavy loads, and sometimes both at the same time. In this regard, the vehicle suspension type typically employed with vans and pickups are an independent front suspension layout with a coil-sprung multilink suspension locating a live axle at the rear. Nowadays, some car manufacturers offer crossover vehicles with fully independent suspensions front and rear. Despite looking like heavy-duty vehicles, mid-size SUVs using this vehicle suspension type cannot be expected to haul or tow heavy loads.