What Does Independent Suspension Mean?
2 Answers
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.
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.
