SUSPENSION SYSTEM THROUGH THE AGES

Historical Revolution of Suspension System

I. INTRODUCTION

The evolution of automotive suspension technology reflects a journey from

rudimentary designs to highly sophisticated systems that significantly enhance ride

quality, handling, and safety.

In the early days of the automobile, suspension systems were relatively simple

and focused primarily on providing a basic level of comfort and durability. Early vehicles

often used solid axles and leaf springs, which were robust and cost-effective but

provided limited ride comfort and handling precision. These setups, while durable and

suitable for the rough roads of the time, resulted in a jarring ride and less responsive

handling.

As automobiles became more popular and road infrastructure improved, the

demand for better ride quality and handling became apparent. The mid-20th century saw

the introduction of more advanced suspension systems. The independent suspension

system emerged as a significant innovation, allowing each wheel to move independently

of the others. This development led to better handling, reduced body roll, and a more

comfortable ride. The MacPherson strut, for example, became a popular design due to
its simplicity and effectiveness, combining the shock absorber and coil spring into a

single unit.

The latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century witnessed rapid

advancements in suspension technology. The development of adaptive and electronic

suspension systems marked a major leap forward. These modern systems use sensors

and electronic controls to adjust the suspension's characteristics in real-time, optimizing

ride comfort and handling based on road conditions and driving behavior. Air suspension

systems, which use air-filled bags instead of traditional springs, introduced adjustable

ride heights and further enhanced ride comfort and vehicle versatility.

Today's advanced suspension systems integrate complex technologies such as

active suspension, which can actively adjust each wheel's damping force, and

semi-active suspension systems that continuously adjust the firmness of the dampers

based on driving conditions. These innovations not only improve comfort and handling

but also contribute to enhanced safety by ensuring better vehicle stability and control

under various driving conditions.

II. BODY

The Discovery of How Spring Works through the Law of Robert Hooke

In the 17th century a scientist named Robert Hooke originally explained the

mechanics and scientific principles behind how a spring works under stress. Hooke’s

Law explains that a body with elasticity, when put under stress, will change shape in
proportion to the amount of stress applied over a certain range. While there is a certain

amount of complicated mathematical theory behind this law, it’s important to know that

this discovery eventually led to the creation of the coil spring, one of the most integral

parts of modern-day suspension systems. (norcaldieselperformance, 2024)

The Early Suspension System (Pre-1900s)

The first workable spring-suspension required advanced metallurgical knowledge

and skill, and only became possible with the advent of industrialisation . Obadiah Elliott

registered the first patent for a spring-suspension vehicle; each wheel had two durable

steel leaf springs on each side and the body of the carriage was fixed directly to the

springs attached to the axles. Within a decade, most British horse carriages were

equipped with springs; wooden springs in the case of light one-horse vehicles to avoid

taxation, and steel springs in larger vehicles. These were often made of flow-carbon

steel and usually took the form of multiple layer leaf springs. (norcaldieselperformance,

2024)

Leaf springs have been around since the early Egyptians. Ancient military

engineers used leaf springs in the form of bows to power their siege engines, with little

success at first. The use of leaf springs in catapults was later refined and made to work

years later. Springs were not only made of metal, a sturdy tree branch could be used as

a spring, such as with a bow. Horse drawn carriages and the Ford Model T used this

system, and it is still used today in larger vehicles, especially in the rear suspension The

first patent for a traditional coil spring dates back to 1763 (Rajpoot, 2024, 1). An R.
Tradwell was the holder of the original patent for the coil spring in Great Britain. Despite

this patent, coil springs don’t have too much history until the mid-1800s, where we see

the first steel coil spring used in the design of an armchair. Given how old the coil spring

is, it’s actually a little odd that it takes so long before we start to see it in older vehicles.

Part of the reason for this is that carriages at the time moved at such a slow pace that

they didn’t require suspension systems. The lack of a way to mass-produce these

products is perhaps another reason we don’t see these springs pop up until much later

during the industrial revolution. (norcaldieselperformance, 2024)

The earliest vehicles used a solid axle connected to the chassis with leaf springs.

This simple design provided basic support and durability but resulted in a stiff ride and

poor handling. The leaf spring setup was robust and relatively inexpensive, suited for the

rough roads of the time. (norcaldieselperformance, 2024)

Early 20th Century Innovation (1900s-1930s)

The origins of modern suspension systems when we get to the beginning of the

20th century and meet the Brush brothers. After his brother William had a nasty accident

by taking a corner too quickly, Alanson Brush had the idea for a suspension system that

the brothers implemented into the new car he designed. In 1906, we saw the

introduction of the Brush Two-Seat Runabout. It was ahead of its time, with front coil

springs and even shock absorbers incorporated into its design. Despite this incredible

feat of engineering, it would still be over two and half decades before their innovations

saw mass appeal. (norcaldieselperformance, 2024)

In 1908, Transverse Leaf Spring, introduced to improve ride comfort, this design

placed the leaf spring across the vehicle rather than longitudinally, reducing road shock

transmission. (Simionescu & Norton, 2023, 4) Independent Front Suspension (IFS) by

the 1920s, some luxury cars started experimenting with independent front suspension

systems, allowing each wheel to move independently and improving ride quality and

handling. Early designs, such as the Dubonnet independent front suspension, featured a

complex setup with hydraulic dampers. (Simionescu & Norton, 2023, 2)

Mid 20th Century Developments (1940-1960)

It was in the 1930s that General Motors finally hopped on the coil spring

bandwagon. GM introduced vehicles in 1934 that used coil spring front suspension, but

these cars had something new on top of that as well. Each wheel of the car sprung

independently from one another, helping to reduce the bouncing effect of the springs.

That’s why the Double Wishbone Suspension was introduced in 1934 for this is known

for its superior handling and ride comfort, this design uses two wishbone-shaped arms to

control the wheel’s movement. It was commonly used in sports cars and

high-performance vehicles. (Simionescu & Norton, 2023, 6)

In the 1940’s, the MacPherson Strut was developed; this design combined the

shock absorber and spring into a single unit, simplifying the suspension setup while

improving ride quality and handling. It became widely adopted due to its

cost-effectiveness and performance benefits. (Simionescu & Norton, 2023,6)

This was the turning point when many other manufacturers started to see the

benefits of these kinds of suspension systems and started to incorporate them into their

own vehicles.

Late 20th Century Advancements (1970-1990)

 Coil springs alone weren’t going to be enough to get the comfortable ride that we

enjoy nowadays. It wasn’t until the advent of shock absorbers that car rides evolved to

today’s standards. Before that, the odds that you could damage your vehicle going

through a pothole or get flung out of your seat when going over a steep bump were

much higher. By combining both coil springs and shock absorbers in the same system,

we start to see the beginnings of the suspension systems that we now see in modern

vehicles. (norcaldieselperformance, 2024)

Air Suspensions were introduced in the 1950s, air suspension systems used

air-filled bags instead of traditional springs. By the 1970s, this technology was refined to

allow adjustable ride height and improved ride comfort. It became popular in luxury

vehicles and commercial trucks. (da Vinci, n.d.)

The late 20th century saw the introduction of electronically controlled

suspension systems. These systems used sensors and electronic controls to adjust

damping forces in real-time, offering improved ride comfort and handling. (Troy

Hammond Maintenance & Repairs, 2016)

21st Century Innovations (2000s - Present)

In the early 2000s modern vehicles often feature adaptive suspension systems

that continuously adjust the firmness of the shock absorbers based on road conditions

and driving behavior. These systems use sensors to monitor factors such as wheel

speed, road surface, and vehicle dynamics. (Golson, 2023)

It was in 1990 where Active Suspension Systems was introduced and that was

a failure, but later on it started getting improved and by now it is the main improved

version of the vehicle suspension.The Active suspension system virtually eliminates

body roll and pitch variations from many driving situations including acceleration,
cornering and braking. Active suspension system had been in investigation for about 20

years and was becoming more improved. (Sabu, 2021, 1)

Throughout the 2000s, semi-active suspension systems became more

widespread and advanced. Manufacturers refined these systems with improved sensors

and control algorithms, allowing for more precise and responsive adjustments. This

period saw the integration of semi-active suspensions into a broader range of vehicles,

including mainstream models (Gijrath, 2024). Nowadays, semi-active suspension

systems continue to evolve with advancements in electronics and control systems. They

are increasingly found in both luxury and mainstream vehicles, providing a balance

between cost and performance (Soliman & Kaldas, 2019, 2).

III. CONCLUSION

Therefore, the evolution of suspension systems, from Robert Hooke's

foundational principles of elasticity to the advanced adaptive and semi-active systems of

the 21st century, highlights the significant technological advancements that have

transformed vehicle comfort and handling. This progression underscores the importance

of innovation in engineering, leading to the sophisticated suspension technologies that

enhance modern driving experiences.

IV. REFERENCES

da Vinci, L. (n.d.). Air suspension | mechanics. Britannica. Retrieved September 7, 2024,

from https://www.britannica.com/technology/air-suspension
Gijrath, H. (2024, May 8). Interview: Semi-Active Suspension Systems. Automotive IQ.

https://www.automotive-iq.com/chassis-systems/interviews/interview-semi-active-

suspension-systems

Golson, J. (2023, June 26). What Is an Adaptive Suspension? Capital One.

https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/finding-the-right-car/what-is-an-adaptive-su

spension/2389

norcaldieselperformance. (2024). The Earliest Suspension System. Affirm.

https://norcaldieselperformance.com/n-30-the-complete-history-of-automotive-sus

pension.html

Rajpoot, K. (2024). HISTORY OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM. Academia.edu Journals, 2.

Sabu, T. (2021, July 07). OVERVIEW OF ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN

AUTOMOBILES. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

(IRJET), 08(07), 6. https://www.irjet.net/archives/V8/i7/IRJET-V8I7814.pdf

Simionescu, P. A., & Norton, R. (2023, November). On the History of Early Automobile

Suspension Systems. Research Gate GmbH. 10.1007/978-3-031-45709-8_99

Soliman, A., & Kaldas, M. (2019, October 22). Semi-active suspension systems from

research to mass-market – A review. Sage Journals, 40(2).

https://doi.org/10.1177/14613484198763

Troy Hammond Maintenance & Repairs. (2016, September 21). What Is an Electronic

Suspension and How Does It Work? Strutmasters.

https://www.strutmasters.com/a/blog/how-does-electronic-suspension-work?