What are the disadvantages of a double ball joint suspension?

[LaylaFitz]

The drawback of a double ball joint suspension is that it cannot balance both comfort and handling. This type of suspension offers better handling but reduces comfort and makes the steering feel heavier. Below are the relevant details: 1. Double Ball Joint Suspension: The double ball joint suspension is actually an improved version of the MacPherson suspension. It replaces the L-shaped control arm of the MacPherson suspension with two links, creating two connection points between the suspension and the knuckle, hence the name double ball joint suspension. 2. Advantages: The double ball joint suspension can enhance the car's handling and improve steering precision. Many sporty cars from BMW use the double ball joint independent suspension, including many M Power series models.

[MacGrace]

I haven't been driving for long, and the double-wishbone suspension really gives me a headache. The main drawback is that it's too expensive. The parts are complex, and the replacement costs are high. Last time my car had a problem, it cost me several thousand yuan to fix it. The mechanic said the suspension ball joints are prone to wear and tear, and if they break, the whole system needs to be inspected, making maintenance a real hassle. It's also quite heavy, affecting fuel consumption, and on long drives, the car feels sluggish, making the throttle harder to press. It takes up a lot of space too, cramming the front engine bay full, making it difficult to fit any additional accessories, and the heat dissipation isn't great. When driving on bumpy roads, the noise is particularly noticeable, making my ears ring and significantly reducing comfort. In short, if you're a beginner or want to save time and money, I really don't recommend this type of suspension. I later switched to a simpler type, and it's been much more worry-free.

[McVivienne]

As a car enthusiast with years of modification experience, there's no denying the strong handling performance of double-wishbone suspension, but it also comes with significant drawbacks. The tuning process is overly complex—I spent ages adjusting angles and stiffness. If not done properly, handling can actually deteriorate and may even cause uneven tire wear. Weight is another major issue; the additional components add to the vehicle's burden, resulting in slower acceleration and slightly increased fuel consumption at high speeds. With more structural parts involved, the ball joints and connections are prone to failure, and noise becomes particularly noticeable on bumpy roads, producing annoying creaks. Maintenance requires specialized technicians who understand the system, and you'll need extra tools on hand—what starts as a minor repair often turns into a major overhaul. In my opinion, this type of suspension is best suited for drivers who prioritize precision, but they must be willing to tolerate these hassles and costs. Otherwise, it can be exhausting for daily commuting.

[AvaAnn]

The double-wishbone suspension has quite a few drawbacks, and I've encountered many issues while driving. The most annoying part is the expensive repairs—there are many components, and replacing just one ball joint can cost dozens to hundreds, plus labor fees, easily adding up to a thousand bucks. It's also relatively heavy, increasing fuel consumption, which makes the monthly gas bill painful. It takes up a lot of space, restricting front-engine design and affecting cooling, making long summer drives prone to overheating. Maintenance is tricky too, requiring disassembly of many parts during servicing, which is inefficient. Additionally, it's noisy on rough roads, with creaking sounds that can be irritating and reduce comfort. So unless you have a generous budget or are into racing, I'd recommend avoiding it and opting for a MacPherson strut suspension for better affordability.