
What is a control arm on a car suspension?
In a vehicle suspension system, there is one part that serves more than one purpose- the control arm. You may have heard people call it different names, such as “A” arm or wishbone. Control arms are one of the most common vehicle parts, and you will find it in almost every automobile on the road.
Why do some cars have only one control arm?
Modern, inexpensive cars mostly have a single control arm at each wheel- a lower control arm. These are vehicles that use the MacPherson strut suspension. This type of suspension supports most of the weight on a strut, and the reason for the lack of an upper control arm.
What is the difference between a single shaft and double shaft suspension?
The other control arm design is a single shaft. It uses the same connections as the other control arms, that is, a ball joint at one end and bushings on the other. For many years, the double wishbone suspension was the norm or standard for most vehicles.
What are the parts of a car suspension?
The suspension consists of a damper, a steering knuckle having two mounts and a track control arm. The top mount on the knuckle links to the damper while the lower one links to the control arm allowing the chassis and the wheel to move in unison. The suspension can be modified to accommodate a variety of vehicles and driving conditions.

What are the two types of front suspension?
Front Suspension SystemsCoil Spring System: Vehicle weight is supported by coil springs and controlled by their spring rate. ... Torsion Bar System: Supports vehicle weight by the”twisting” of the bar.More items...•
What is the name of the part that is used to control spring oscillations?
Vehicle suspension While shock absorbers serve the purpose of limiting excessive suspension movement, their intended sole purpose is to damp spring oscillations. Shock absorbers use valving of oil and gasses to absorb excess energy from the springs.
What are the different types of struts?
Type of strut: The three main types of struts are gas, coilover, pneumatic – all of which operate under the principle that reducing the shock of driving should occur by dampening the effect of springs, oil and gas together.
What is the advantage of an independent double wishbone suspension for trucks and SUVs?
Independent double-wishbone suspensions on trucks and SUVs allow for maximum wheel travel with a minimum amount of camber variation throughout the wheel travel.
What are 3 types of suspension?
There are three basic types of suspension components: linkages, springs, and shock absorbers. The linkages are the bars and brackets that support the wheels, springs and shock absorbers.
What are the 4 types of suspension?
Get to know these four spring classes: leaf springs, coil springs, torsion bars, and air springs.
How does a multi link suspension work?
A multi-link suspension allows the vehicle to flex more; this means simply that the suspension is able to move more easily to conform to the varying angles of off-road driving. Multi-link-equipped vehicles are ideally suited for sports such as desert racing.
What's the difference between a strut and a loaded strut?
What's the difference between these two options? The answer is pretty straightforward: A loaded strut (also known as a quick strut) comes as an assembly with everything pre-installed, including the coil spring, mount, etc. An unloaded strut does not come as an assembly—all you get is the strut itself.
What is strut type suspension?
A strut is a major structural part of a suspension. It takes the place of the upper control arm and upper ball joint used in conventional suspensions. Because of its design, a strut is lighter and takes up less space than the shock absorbers in conventional suspension systems.
What is Double A arm suspension?
Double wishbone suspension allows each wheel to act and react independently from the others. It achieves this thanks to two wishbone-shaped arms (also known as control arms or double A-arms) that are located between the knuckle on the wheel assembly and the car's chassis.
What does a double wishbone suspension look like?
0:426:02Double Wishbone Suspension - Explained - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo basically what a double wishbone suspension is is you've got two control arms and they're in theMoreSo basically what a double wishbone suspension is is you've got two control arms and they're in the shape of a wishbone hence the name.
Is multi link suspension good?
Multilink setups can also be designed to better resist dive and squat under braking and acceleration, respectively. Put simply, multilink suspensions offer the most separation between handling and ride-quality attributes to reduce compromises.
What causes oscillation of a spring?
In the spring-mass system, oscillations occur because, at the static equilibrium displacement, the mass has kinetic energy which is converted into potential energy stored in the spring at the extremes of its path.
How does a spring cause an object to oscillate?
We have an object attached to a spring. The object is on a horizontal frictionless surface. We move the object so the spring is stretched, and then we release it. The object oscillates back and forth in what we call simple harmonic motion, in which no energy is lost.
What are the two properties that are responsible for the oscillations?
1. A restoring force must act on the body. 2. Body must have acceleration in a direction opposite to the displacement and the acceleration must be directly proportional to displacement.
What is spring block?
Definition of spring block : a block to which a spring is attached specifically : either of the distance pieces secured one above and the other below an elliptical car spring.
What is the suspension system on a car?
This is done to damp to road shocks transmitted parts which perform this function are collectively called a suspension system.
What type of suspension is used for front wheel drive?
1. Rigid Axle Front Suspension. This type of suspension was universally used before the introduction of independent front wheel suspension. It may use either two longitudinal leaf spring, as shown in the figure, or on transverse spring, usually in conjunction with shock absorbers.
What is a Mac Pherson suspension system?
This type of suspension system is unusually for integral body construction because the loading points are widely spaced. The normal top link is replaced by a flexible, mounting and the telescopic damper acts as the kingpin. This suspension system known as the Mac Pherson System has slight rolling action and absorbs shocks easily.
What is an I beam?
Single I-beam front suspension is employed in larger vehicles. The I-beam has a hole in each end through which a kingpin is assembled to hold the steering knuckle in place. Each end of the I-beam is supported by a leaf spring.
What are the functions of suspension?
Functions of Suspension System 1 To prevent the stability of the vehicle in pitching or rolling while in motion. 2 To safeguard the occupants from road shocks. 3 Suspension system prevents the road shocks from being transferred to the vehicle frame. 4 To provide good road holding while driving, cornering and braking. 5 To maintain proper steering geometry.
What is independent front suspension?
In this type of suspension, each front wheel is independently supported by a coil, torsion bar, or leaf spring. Most of the passenger cars now use the independent front suspension in which the coil spring system is the most common.
What is a torsion bar?
This type of suspension system, a steel rod, known as a torsion bar, act as a spring to hold the upper and lower control arms parallel under load. The front end of the rod is of hexagonal shape to fit tightly into an opening in the lower control arm.
What type of suspension does a car have?
Modern, inexpensive cars mostly have a single control arm at each wheel- a lower control arm. These are vehicles that use the MacPherson strut suspension. This type of suspension supports most of the weight on a strut, and the reason for the lack of an upper control arm.
What is a control arm bushing?
Control arm bushings help to reduce friction and vibrations while the control arm ball joint forms the pivot at the steering knuckle or wheel assembly. The main body is the control arm link that connects the component to either end. It can be stamped steel, cast iron, or aluminum.
How to remove control arm from a frame?
Using a wrench, unfasten and remove the bolts that hold the control arm to the frame. Once the bolts are out, you can easily remove the control arm by pulling it out.
How to tell if a control arm is bad?
While signs may not be apparent at first, carrying out tests can help find out faults. A bad control arm will be bent, cracked, or broken. Severe bends, cracks, and breakages are easy to spot through a visual inspection. Tiny bends would be hard to detect, the same for worn control arm bushings or ball joints.
What is the name of the arm in a vehicle?
In a vehicle suspension system, there is one part that serves more than one purpose- the control arm. You may have heard people call it different names, such as “A” arm or wishbone. Control arms are one of the most common vehicle parts, and you will find it in almost every automobile on the road.
Why use steel control arms?
Steel control arms are inexpensive, a reason for a car owner to prefer them when replacing a bad one. Steel flexes under stress, which is an advantage when used for a suspension part. It means fewer cases of breakage or cracking of the control arm when off-roading or driving with heavy loads.
How to install lower control arm?
Slide the new lower control arm into its mounting place on the frame of the vehicle. Insert and fasten the bolts partially, using your hands.

Suspension System
Types of Suspension System
- Following are the types of the suspension systemused in vehicles: 1. Front End Suspension System 1.1. Rigid axle front suspension. 1.2. Independent front suspension 1.2.1. Twin I-Beam Suspension System 1.2.2. Single I-Beam Front Suspension System 1.2.3. Independent Front End Suspension Using Torsion Bar 1.2.4. Parallelogram Type Independent Front S...
Functions of Suspension System
- To prevent the stability of the vehicle in pitching or rolling while in motion.
- To safeguard the occupants from road shocks.
- Suspension system prevents the road shocks from being transferred to the vehicle frame.
- To provide good road holding while driving, cornering and braking.
Requirements of A Suspension System
- Minimum deflection is consistent with required stability.
- Comparability with other vehicle components-type, frame wheelbase, steering linkage.
- Minimum wheel hop.
- Low maintenance and operating costs.