AIR SPRING
Another type of spring is used in an air-operated
microprocessor-controlled system that replaces the
conventional coil springs with air springs. This system,
fully described later in this chapter, uses four air
springs to carry the vehicle's weight. Each spring
consists of a rein-forced rubber bag pressurized with air.
A rear-suspension setup with air
springs.
A vehicle equipped with an electronic air
suspension system is able to provide a
comfortable street ride, about a third softer
than conventional coil springs. At the same
time, its variable spring rate helps absorb
bumps and protect against bottoming. reduces
the interior volume of the air bag during jounce
(Figure 46-10).
Torsion Bar Suspension System
Torsion bars are similar to coil springs, but twist and
straighten out instead of compressing like them. They
are made of heat-treated alloy spring steel and are
attached to the vehicle frame. When the wheel moves
up and down, the lower control arm raises and lowers.
This twists the torsion bar, which causes it to absorb
road shocks.
Shock Absorber
If unrestrained, springs continue expanding and
contracting after a blow until all the energy is
absorbed. Shock absorbers dampen spring
movement instead of absorb- ing shock. Angle
mounting of shock absorbers improves vehicle
stability and dampens accelerating and braking
torque. A typical car shock has more resistance
during its extension cycle than its compression
cycle.
Figure 46-12 A cross section of a
conventional shock absorber
As pressure in a hydraulic shock.
increases or decreases, the second
piston moves up and down,
compressing the reservoir. There are no
other valves in a single-tube shock
besides those in the main piston. The
second piston prevents the oil around
too much and getting air bub- bles in it
Gas-Charged Shock Absorber
Foaming is simply the mixing of fluid with
any available air. Engineers have sought
ways to eliminate aeration, which can
cause a skip in the shock's action. One is
the spiral groove reservoir, the shape of
which breaks up bubbles. Another is a
gas-filled cell or bag that seals air out of
the reser- voir
Figure 46 -13 Gas-pressure damped
shocks
A gas-charged shock absorber operates on
the same hydraulic fluid principle as
conventional shocks. It uses a piston and
oil chamber similar to other shock
absorbers. Instead of a double-tube with a
reserve chamber, it has a dividing piston
that separates the oil chamber from the
gas chamber.
Air Shock System
There are two basic adjustable air shock systems:
manual fill and automatic load-leveling. The manual fill
system can be installed on almost any vehi cle
manufactured without it. A common manual fill air
shock system uses a high-speed, direct current (DC)
motor to trans- fer a command signal.
Shock Absorber Ratio
Most shock absorbers are valve with roughly equal
resistance to suspension movement upward (jounce)
and downward (rebound). The proportion of a shock
absorber's ability to resist these movements is
indicated by a numerical formula. It is important to
keep in mind that the ratio only describes what
percentage of the shock absorb er's total control is
compression and what percentage is extension.
Stabilizer Bars
Swing bar provides directional stability by reducing
body roll. It is a metal rod running between the
opposite lower or upper control arms. Depending on its
thickness, the sway bar can reduce vehicle roll or sway
by up to 15 percent. Sway or lean during cornering is
also reduced.
Bushings
Bushings are used at the stabilizer bars, control arms,
radius arms, and strut rods. They absorb some of the
road shock before the force is transferred to the
vehicle's frame, or body. Bushings are typically made of
a rubber material, commonly an elastomer.
MACPHERSON STRUT SUSPENSION
COMPONENTS
The MacPherson strut suspension is dramatically differ
ent in appearance from the traditional independent fret
suspension (Figure 46-17), but similar components oper
ate in the same way to meet suspension demands.
