What are the advantages and disadvantages of independent suspension?
1 Answers
Independent suspension refers to a system where each wheel on either side of the car is individually suspended under the frame or body via an elastic suspension system. The advantages include the ability for wheels on either side to move independently without interference, reducing body tilt and vibration, improving ride comfort, and enhancing tire grip performance. The disadvantages are its complex structure and relatively high manufacturing cost. Common types of independent suspension include MacPherson suspension, double-wishbone suspension, multi-link suspension, and double A-arm suspension. Below is an introduction to some common independent suspensions: 1. MacPherson Suspension: The most widely used suspension type, primarily composed of a coil spring, shock absorber, and triangular lower control arm. Its movement characteristic is that the wheel can only move up and down along the kingpin, not side to side, typically used in some small to medium-sized sedans and mid-to-low-end SUV front suspensions. 2. Double-Wishbone Suspension: Commonly used in sporty models, it mainly consists of two three-point links (A-arms) and one two-point link. The two transverse arms absorb lateral forces, while the strut mainly bears the vehicle's weight, and the vertices of the two wishbones (i.e., the vertices of the A-arms) are responsible for steering. Its movement characteristic is that the wheel swings within the car's lateral plane, with the wheel's jump trajectory being an arc, allowing the tire to adapt to the road surface, ensuring good contact area and excellent road-holding performance. It is generally used in compact cars emphasizing sportiness, supercars, and luxury models with ample space in their front suspensions. 3. Multi-Link Suspension: Multi-link independent suspension can be further divided into multi-link front suspension and multi-link rear suspension systems. The front suspension is usually a 3-link or 4-link independent suspension, while the rear suspension is typically a 4-link or 5-link system, with the 5-link rear suspension being more widely used. It mainly consists of upper control arms, lower control arms, links, ball joints, and anti-roll bars. Its movement characteristic is that the wheel moves vertically up and down relative to the car body, keeping the tire perpendicular to the ground at all times, ensuring good tire-to-ground contact. It is generally used in higher-end sedans, SUVs, and some rear-wheel-drive models.
