Volume 2, Number 3, November 2022

https://doi.org/10.47709/brilliance.v2i3.1655

An Overview of the most Common Vehicle Suspension Problems

Ahmed Aboazoum
Institute of Aerospace & Automotive Engineering, Rabat, Morocco
[email protected]

ABSTRACT
The design of the suspension system, which transmits force between the vehicle
*Corresponding Author and the ground, is principally responsible for the driving comfort of a vehicle.
Article History: Importantly, a vehicle's suspension system contributes to the reliability and
Submitted: 02-08-2022 precision of steering and control, as well as to the friction between the vehicle
Accepted: 04-08-2022 and the road. The suspension system is also responsible for absorbing and
Published: 05-08-2022 dampening road stress, so that we do not feel every bump on the road when
Keywords: driving. Linkages, springs, and shock absorbers are the three fundamental types
Suspension system; Vehicle of suspension components. This paper introduced the most common suspension
system; Suspension problems; problems and the symptoms that may indicate you need a suspension system
System repair; Suspension repair, where it turns out that there is a set of problems common to all vehicle
control. suspension systems, such as poor wheel alignment, faulty shocks or struts,
Brilliance: Research of damaged springs, failing ball joints, and faulty control arms. Now as a
Artificial Intelligence is licensed conclusion of this paper, the reader can know the most common suspension
under a Creative Commons system problems in vehicles and thus how to deal with these problems.
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0
International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

INTRODUCTION
The contemporary automobile has come a long way since the days when "self-propulsion" alone was sufficient to
satisfy car owners. Suspension enhancements, greater component strength and longevity, and advancements in tire
design and construction have made substantial contributions to driving comfort and safety.
Suspension generally refers to the employment of front and rear springs to suspend a vehicle's structure, body,
engine, and drivetrain above the wheels. These relatively weighty assemblages are referred to as Sprung weight.
Unsprung weight, on the other hand, consists of wheels and tires, brake systems, and other structural components that
are not supported by springs.

LITERATURE REVIEW AND HISTORY

The springs used in automobiles and trucks nowadays are manufactured in a vast array of sorts, forms, sizes,
rates, and capacities. Leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars are examples.
The vehicle suspension is responsible for ensuring the ground clearance of the vehicle body. In addition, to
remove the body and wheel oscillations caused by uneven terrain, external forces (aerial), and the dynamic forces
caused by a vehicle's changing trajectory and acceleration or deceleration (Mulla & Unaune, 2013).
A suspension system is a collection of mechanical links, springs, and dampers that connect the wheels to the
chassis. It has historically served two purposes: ensuring the safety of the vehicle's handling and braking, and protecting
passengers from vibrations and other influences. The suspension of a wheeled vehicle is a mechanical system of springs
or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis.
The suspension system is comprised of tires, springs, shock absorbers, and connections that link the vehicle's
wheels, allowing it to travel adequately. Suspension systems are critical for both maneuverability and travel uniformity
(Cao D, Song X, & Ahmadian, 2011). Currently, the suspension mechanism is one of the most essential components of
a car's system, largely determining the vehicle's safety and driving comfort. The suspension system transmits and
regulates the static and dynamic forces and reactions between the vehicle and the ground (Ghazaly & Moaaz, 2014).
The suspension system consists of springs, safety mechanisms, and connections between the vehicle's wheels. It
is a procedure that physically removes the automobile body from the automobile wheel. The suspension system consists
of three primary components: a structure that supports the vehicle's weight and determines the suspension geometry; a
spring that converts kinetic energy into potential energy; or vice versa; and a shock absorber, a mechanical device
designed to dissipate kinetic energy (Goodarzi & Khajepour, 2017). Shock absorbers are hydraulic pump-like devices
that assist regulate the impact and recoil movement of the springs and suspension of a vehicle. The major function of
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the shock absorber is to maintain tire contact with the road surface at all times, resulting in the safest vehicle control and
brake reaction. Figure 1 is an example of a shock absorber used in the suspension system of a car.

Figure 1. An illustration of a car shock absorber.

The primary function of a vehicle's suspension system is to lessen the vertical acceleration transferred to the
vehicle body (indirectly to passengers or cargo), hence assuring direct comfort in the lane. Therefore, the functions of
the suspension system are to prevent the transmission of road shocks to the vehicle's components, to protect the
occupant from road shocks, and to maintain the vehicle's stability while pitching or rolling while the vehicle is in
motion (Dishant , Singh, & Sharma, 2017).
Suspensions are classified in accordance with Figure 2 based on the vehicle's body weight and suspension
solution for eliminating vertical oscillations.
The passive suspension is the most common and consists of springs with constant or variable stiffness along the
stroke and hydraulic shock absorbers with constant damping coefficients; however, there are some performing versions
available, such as springs allowing body ground clearance adjustment and shock absorbers with manual damping
coefficient adjustment.
For the purpose of enhancing stability and comfort, semi-active suspensions employing dampers with variable
damping coefficients that change continuously or discontinuously and springs with constant or variable stiffness but no
active force were created.
Using an on-board technology, active suspension regulates both the vertical movement of the body and the
wheels' relative movement to the chassis in order to optimize wheel-ground contact, stabilize body motions, and boost
comfort.

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Figure 2. Classification of vehicle suspension systems.

METHODS
This part of the paper presents the most common problems that arise in vehicle suspension systems, as well as
methods to solve these problems.
When it comes to suspension changes, the majority of individuals draw their ideas from fellow enthusiasts—
friends or message board experts who drive a comparable vehicle. The strategy of attack? Parts procurement? These
ideas typically originate from peers. Of course, websites and magazine advertisements will always provide their
opinions. These brilliant images of gleaming parts and incredible claims of performance enhancements might be
hypnotic.
Although peer approval of a component combination might be quite gratifying, can these sources be relied upon?
This document will correct you if the buzz and internet discussion ever push you in the wrong way. Here are 8 typical
suspension problems and solutions.

Poor wheel alignment:

When you suspect an issue with your suspension, you may not consider your wheels, but you should. The wheels
must be pointed (literally) in the correct direction and aligned for toe-in, camber, and caster. If they are not, your
straight-ahead steering will not be centered and tire wear will rise. Potholes and curbs can knock wheels out of
alignment, but aligning the wheels will not repair broken springs, control arms, or other components that impact
alignment. When purchasing new tires, it is advisable to have the alignment examined so that suspension problems do
not reduce tread life.

Shock absorbers:
They should be termed "dampers," and as they wear out, you should see greater bouncing after a bump and a
great deal of tire swaying on bumpy roads since they are unable to keep the tires firmly planted on the road. Shocks
contain fluid that dampens bouncing; if they begin leaking, suspension performance will decline.

Struts:
If your vehicle's suspension is equipped with struts as opposed to shock absorbers, a banging noise when
travelling over bumps is a frequent indication of issue. In many automobiles, trucks, and SUVs, the strut assembly is a
key component of the suspension system; if you suspect a problem, you should visit a repair immediately. If this crucial
component of your suspension breaks, you may no longer be able to drive your vehicle safely.

Springs:
Your car's springs are an essential component of its suspension. They are what support the vehicle's weight, and
when they deteriorate, they might droop or break. If your vehicle is parked on a level surface but one corner is lower
than the others, this indicates a broken spring. You can measure the corner height to validate your visual signal. You

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may also hear clunking noises over bumps, and the vehicle may not be able to turn with confidence if its supporting
spring is destroyed.

Control arms:
These hinges link the steering to the wheels so that when one is turned, the other reacts in like. Important
suspension components, lower control arm bushings are more likely to wear out on front-wheel-drive vehicles than on
rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Bushings are rubber and/or metal components that aid in shock absorption; when worn, they
can create ride and handling issues and hasten tire wear. Likewise, a bent control arm can cause instability. Because the
wheels travel back and forth during acceleration and braking, signs of wear include clunks or rattles and loose,
inaccurate steering.

Ball joints:
These pivot points connect the suspension to the wheels, absorb a portion of the shock from up-and-down
movement, and rotate when the steering angle changes. You will know they require replacement when you hear
squeaking and creaking, particularly when rotating. If a ball joint breaks and suspension components are dragging on
the pavement, you have waited too long. A mechanic can determine whether or not the ball joints need to be replaced
based on the amount of wheel movement they can cause by hand or, in certain circumstances, by the wear indications
on the ball joints.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Non-Optimal Alignment
Regarding alignments, what is your own? You've seen these threads on message boards a million times: Need the
optimum alignment for this make, model, and changes. Then, a large number of individuals will provide all sorts of
tribal wisdom, including "blessed settings" that typically bear the name of an individual. On Miata.net, for instance, the
Lanny Alignment and the Icehawk Alignment are two popular options.
Are these assigned alignments effective? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how closely the configuration of your
vehicle matches the one used to establish the alignment. The two vehicles must also serve comparable purposes: If they
compete at the same location or track, the settings will be far more beneficial.

Loose or Slipping Bolts and Adjusters

Once you have determined the correct alignment, you are set to go, right? Wrong. If a suspension component
fails under load, the vehicle will return to its starting position.
Many of us drive older automobiles, and some of its components may not be brand-new. Frequently, strange handling
challenges develop when an adjuster has slack in it. In a turn, it does not require much movement to achieve positive
camber or toe-out. Occasionally, this is followed by a clunk or cracking sound.

CONCLUSION
This paper provided an overview of the suspension system in cars, where both the general form of the suspension
system and the classification of suspension systems in vehicles were presented. The second part of the paper presented
the common suspension problems and their remedies that occur in the suspension systems, showing how to deal with
them, and providing simple instructions to reduce problems. As a future work, control and stability challenges in
vehicles will be studied.

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