You have probably heard the word ‘suspension’ plenty of times, and you may even have a vague idea of what it is referring to. Many people understand that it involves shock absorbers in some way, but they can’t say much more than that. Since a car’s suspension system is vital to your safety and smooth operation of your car, it would be a good idea to educate yourself on what it is and what it does.

Here is a quick beginner’s guide:

What Is a Car Suspension System?

A car’s suspension system is made of a protective lattice of shock-absorbing components. The parts that make up the suspension system include tyres, coil springs, shock absorbers, rods or linkages, joints, bearings or bushes. This system helps to keep your car safe by absorbing the impact of road bumps and other things your vehicle encounters on the road surface. The suspension system basically sits between the components that drive the car and the cabin in which you sit. The wheels and other components experience shocks and impacts as you drive along, and the suspension system absorbs and disperses these so that you don’t feel them in the cabin – or at least, you feel them less than you would without a suspension system.

NOTE: Our auto service shop in Cambridge Ontario is prepared to assist with auto suspension service and repair services, provided by our experienced, professional and certified auto mechanics.

You will eventually need to replace certain parts of your suspension system, as these components go through a lot of wear and tear over time. This is especially the case with your shocks or struts. You may need to replace your shocks or struts between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. 

Why Is the Suspension So Important?

If your car did not have a suspension system, all of the kinetic energy created by different impacts on the road surface would be transferred directly to the car’s frame and cabin. That kind of impact can make for a very bumpy ride at best and could even cause serious damage and even injury. Your car’s suspension absorbs the energy transferred through your car’s wheels and helps your car cabin to ride safely and smoothly on top of the suspension, even if the road surface is rough.

The suspension system maximizes the friction between your wheels and the road, which enables you to steer with more stability and control. It also provides added comfort by limiting the kinetic energy transferred from the wheels to the cabin. By minimizing the impact on your car, your suspension can also increase the lifespan of its many components.

Difference between rear suspension and front suspension

Suspension on the front wheels of a car looks and acts very differently from that on the rear wheels. This is because suspension components are designed to do different jobs depending on whether they are at the front or rear of the car. The rear suspension mainly works to control the car’s “squat” as it accelerates, essentially managing the friction of the rear tyres against the road. At the same time, the front shocks regulate the car’s ability to steer. Then, when the car decelerates, the rear suspension is mainly there to keep the car straight, while the front suspension works with the brakes to keep the wheels rolling and stable as the car’s chassis dips towards them. These two functions are complementary, of course, but very different. The parts used in the front and rear of the suspension system, therefore, look quite distinct from one another.

Special Interest Automobiles is an auto service workshop in Cambridge, ON, and we provide a complete range of auto repair services, from tire services and suspension services to detailing services and A/C repair services. We have been proudly, reliably serving Cambridge automobile owners since 1985. Our trained auto technicians in Cambridge have the expertise and equipment necessary to install, maintain and repair car suspension systems on all kinds of vehicles.  Contact us now.