When people think auto performance, they generally think of torque, horsepower and zero -to-60 acceleration. But all the power produced by the car’s engine is useless if the car doesn’t have the proper suspension system which is essential for proper handling.
The job of a vehicle’s suspension is to supply steering stability with good handling to maximize the friction between the tires and also the road’s surface and also to ensure the safety of the passengers. This would not be as important, if all roads were perfectly flat, and had no irregularities. But roads are far from flat. Even newly constructed roads have subtle imperfections that affect how the car responds and drives on the road. These imperfections put a tremendous amount of force on the wheels. In accordance with Newton’s laws of motion, all forces have direction and magnitude. A lump in the road causes the wheel to move up and down perpendicular to the road’s surface. The magnitude, obviously, depends on if the wheel is striking a little pebble or a giant rock. Either way, the car’s wheel experiences a perpendicular acceleration as it passes over an imperfection in the road.
The analysis of the forces at work on a moving car is called vehicle dynamics, and also you have to understand some of the concepts to be able to recognize the reason it’s necessary to have the proper suspension for your truck in the first place. Most automobile engineers think about the dynamics of a moving car from two viewpoints:
Ride – an auto’s ability to smooth out a bumpy road
Handling – an auto’s power to accelerate, take a corner and brake
Truck suspension is one of those topics few people actually know about even though most individuals may assert that they understand it very well.
The front and the back suspension for a truck must work in tandem of one another. They need to be accepting of transferred force immediately from the other and vice versa in order to create stability in the ride. If this mechanism is not working properly handling becomes increasingly difficult and driving conditions become hazardous.
Springs
Springs are the essential element of a truck suspension. They have been engineered keep and to absorb road shock from bumps. You will find four kinds leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars. Depending on the type of vehicle you have will determine the type of springs your truck will need. Coil springs are almost always found in passenger vehicles so you would most likely not be putting any coil springs on your truck.
Springs also work with other suspension parts like shock absorbers, tires, ball joints, and control arms. Naturally, if a spring wears out it’ll eventually alter the rest of the suspension components’ operation.
Shock Absorbers
A shock absorber is somewhat less involved in consuming impacts taken by the car and they have little function. Shock absorbers are designed to do two things: remove spring oscillation and prevent excessive auto body roll. Road impacts dampen by converting the up and down motion into thermal energy; by specialists it’s nicknamed as dampers as a result.
Stabilizer Bar
Its function is primarily to reduce rocking. A stabilizer bar runs from one side of the car to the other attaching to control arms and the framework with a simple bushing. The bar resists movement when the vehicle goes into a turn. Vehicle weight is distributed equally giving the vehicle more firmness.
Conclusion:
You should always make a conscious effort to have the proper suspension on your truck, especially if you have an older model vehicle. Consider going with possibly a well know aftermarket brand such as the products you can find on www.sdtrucksprings.com. Remember that truck suspension is more than just one properly functioning part. Instead, it is a network of the parts mentioned above that will provide optimal handling and driving stability on the road.
Replace shocks and the springs after 5 years or 60,000 miles of normal use. If you are not sure if your truck needs it’s suspension to be replaced, just bring it down to a certified mechanic who will be able to run some tests and take your truck for a test drive to make sure it really needs servicing.
It is also important to mention that some of the parts mentioned above is not a stock option on a vehicle. For example stabilizer bars or sway bars are not usually stock items in trucks and generally are sold on the aftermarket. They are however very effective at keeping the truck from rolling over under normal to moderate speeds while turning.
There are huge benefits of installing an active suspension system in your truck. It will save you on gas, extend the life of your tires and improve handling of your vehicle, you can also eliminate axle wrap and increase carrying load capacity. Your truck will run like new and the way it’s supposed to, and most important of all, you and your passengers will be safe.