What Does Independent Suspension Mean?

[MacColin]

Independent suspension means that each wheel on either side is individually suspended under the vehicle frame or body through an elastic suspension system. The function of independent suspension is: the axle is divided into two sections, with each wheel independently mounted under the frame via a coil spring. When one wheel experiences movement, the other wheel remains unaffected, allowing both wheels to move independently, thereby enhancing the vehicle's stability and comfort. Types of independent suspension include MacPherson strut, double wishbone, multi-link, double A-arm, and double ball joint suspensions. Vehicles equipped with independent suspension include: Honda Civic, Ford Focus, City, Toyota Corolla, and Levin.

[VanHarper]

Independent suspension simply means each wheel has its own separate shock absorption system. My car has independent suspension, and the driving experience is noticeably different. When going over speed bumps, if the left wheel goes over, the right side doesn't bounce along with it—the whole car body remains very stable. Last time I drove a friend's car with non-independent suspension, when we hit a pothole, the entire back seat was bouncing. Independent suspension uses MacPherson or multi-link structures, which take up a bit more space but significantly improve comfort. Nowadays, most cars priced around 100,000 RMB come with front independent suspension, while the rear wheels depend on the model. The only downside is slightly higher maintenance costs—when replacing shocks, each wheel needs to be individually adjusted. But considering the daily comfort, the extra cost is worth it.

[LeJustin]

Last time I rode in my friend's performance car, I deeply felt the advantage of independent suspension. Each wheel operates independently, so when turning, even if the inner wheel hits the curb, it won't affect the grip of the outer wheel. This design is actually quite clever—it's like four people carrying a sedan chair, each managing a corner, making it more flexible compared to a rigid axle setup. Even models like the Wuling Hongguang, a microvan, are starting to use independent suspension, which shows that the technology costs have come down. However, it's worth noting that the bushings in independent suspension are prone to aging. In northern winters, where roads are treated with de-icing agents, it's best to have them checked every two years. If you hear squeaking sounds when going over bumps, it's time to replace them—otherwise, it will affect handling and wear out tires faster.

[LeHope]

During car repairs, I've disassembled independent suspension systems where the shock springs for all four wheels operate completely separately. Compared to old-fashioned leaf spring suspensions, the biggest advantage of independent suspension is that bumps on one side don't transfer to the entire vehicle. I've tested this: when driving the left front wheel over a 15cm step, the right front wheel's vibration amplitude was only one-third of that in non-independent suspensions. Current mainstream designs include double-wishbone and torsion beam variants, with high-end vehicles even using air springs. Although the structure is more complex and repairs costlier, the handling improvement is too significant to ignore. Especially when cornering in rain or snow, you can feel the tires gripping the road firmly - something non-independent suspensions simply can't achieve.

[DiAlexis]

A veteran taxi driver with ten years of experience tells you how important independent suspension is. Back when I drove the old Jetta with a non-independent suspension, passengers would complain about back pain from the bumps over potholes. Now that I've switched to a Corolla Hybrid with front and rear independent suspension, passengers say it feels like riding on a boat. The principle is that each of the four wheels has its own spring and shock absorber, operating independently. It's especially suitable for the uneven roads commonly found in cities, and I no longer worry about waking up the kids when driving them to school. The only thing to watch out for is not to overload. Last time, I had five big guys in the car for a long trip, and the next day, I noticed the rear suspension had visibly sagged. The mechanic said the load limit for independent suspension is lower than that of a solid axle.