What are the manifestations of automotive spring fatigue?
2 Answers
Automotive spring fatigue manifests as irreversible deformation of the springs. More information about automotive springs is as follows: 1. Leaf Springs: Leaf springs are the most widely used elastic elements in vehicle suspensions. They consist of several alloy spring leaves of equal width but varying lengths (thickness may or may not be equal), forming an approximately equal-strength elastic beam. The longest leaf, called the main leaf, has its ends curled into eyes containing bushings made of bronze, plastic, rubber, or powder metallurgy. These allow the spring to be pivotally mounted to the frame via spring pins on brackets or shackle mounts. The center of the leaf spring is typically secured to the axle with U-bolts. 2. Coil Springs: Coil springs are extensively used in independent suspensions, particularly in front-wheel independent suspensions. Some rear-wheel dependent suspensions in passenger cars also use coil springs as their elastic elements.
I've driven several cars, and the most obvious sign of spring fatigue is the noticeable sagging of the car body. The wheels, which used to be far from the wheel arches, now sit closer, making the car look like it's squatting. The driving experience becomes bumpier, especially on rough roads where the car shakes significantly, and it tends to tilt and feel unstable when cornering, affecting handling. The cause is usually metal fatigue from long-term jolting or overloading. If not addressed promptly, other suspension components like shock absorbers will wear out faster, and more rattling noises will occur. I recommend regularly checking the balance of the car's height by pressing down on the corners to feel the rebound. During maintenance, have a technician perform a thorough evaluation—early detection can prevent more repair costs. Safe driving is crucial; don't ignore spring issues, as losing control could be dangerous.
