27-05-2017, 12:42 PM
The independent suspension is a broad term for any car suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (ie, react to one hit on the road) independently of the others. This is contrasted with a beam shaft or Dion shaft system in which the wheels are attached - the movement of one side affects the wheel on the other side. "Independent" refers to the movement or path of movement of the wheels or suspension. It is common for the left and right sides of the suspension to be connected with anti-roll bars or other similar mechanisms. The stabilizer bar joins the left and right suspension spring speeds but does not link its movement.
Most modern vehicles have independent front suspension (IFS). Many vehicles also have an independent rear suspension (IRS). IRS, as its name implies, has the rear wheels independently popped up. A fully independent suspension has independent suspension on all wheels. Some early independent systems used oscillating shafts, but modern systems use the Chapman or MacPherson arms, tail arms, multilink, or wishbones.
Independent suspension typically offers better driving quality and handling characteristics due to lower unsprung weight and the ability of each wheel to head to the road without being disturbed by the activities of the other wheel in the vehicle. Stand-alone suspension requires additional engineering effort and development costs versus a beam or live axle arrangement. A very complex IRS solution can also result in higher manufacturing costs.
The main reason for lowering unsprung weight relative to a live axle design is that, for drive wheels, the differential unit is not part of the non-suspended elements of the suspension system. Instead, it is bolted directly to the vehicle chassis or more commonly to a sub-frame.
The relative movement between the wheels and the differential is achieved by the use of oscillating drive shafts connected by universal joints (U-joints), analogous to the constant speed (CV) joints used in front-wheel drive vehicles.
The suspension is the only component that separates the driver and / or passenger from the ground. Suspension in a vehicle helps to absorb roughness on the road. There are many systems and designs that do this, such as independent suspension.
