Independent suspension. Description

First you need to understand what an independent suspension. In this suspension, the wheels on one axis do not have a rigid connection. In the case of moving one wheel, the position of the second does not change. But the collapse of the wheels and track are deformed during retreat and compression.

Independent suspension using the swinging semi-axles has on each of them one hinge. When it is used, the camber varies greatly, as well as the track. Due to its low cost, it was used as the leading rear axle on cars with rear-wheel drive. With the growth of the requirements for controllability and speeds from such suspension began to be abandoned. Her successor ZAZ-966 acquired slanting levers, and on each axis there were 2 hinges. This transformation took place in Chevrolet Corvair.

Independent suspension was almost never used on the front axle and on low-speed cars. Some Mercedes-Benz cars in the 1960s were equipped with a rear axle with one hinge in the middle, its halves worked like swinging semi-axles. This option reduces the changes in the settings.

On some cars used non-leading bridges with rocking semi-axles, the points of their fastening were located close to the wheels of the opposite sides. In this case, the axes turned out to be unduly long, almost the size of a track. The change in track and camber was significantly reduced.

Independent suspension on longitudinal levers

In this case, each wheel of one axis is attached to the lever, which in turn is attached to the frame or body. With this work, the wheelbase changes very much, but the track remains constant. When turning, all the wheels with the body tilt much more than in other suspension systems. The levers perceive all the operating forces, therefore they are subjected to very high loads of bending and torsion. In this regard, they must be tough and rather heavy. Another drawback is the very low ground clearance of cars. In the 1970s, this invention was widely used on front-wheel drive vehicles on the rear axle. But over time it was replaced by a semi-independent suspension. As a front suspension it was used in the distant 50's, and only on low-speed and cheap cars.

Suspension on the oblique levers

In fact, it's just a kind of suspension on the longitudinal levers. It was called the "independent rear suspension", which was used on the driving axle. There are 2 types:

The first - on each axis there is one hinge, often it is taken for suspension with swinging semi-axles. The axis of the swing lever passes through the very center of the hinges of the semi-axes, i.e., is located to the transverse axis at an angle of 45 degrees. Due to this it is cheaper, but with its use, the convergence of wheels and camber vary greatly.

The second one - widely used in the 1970s, they replaced the former dependent suspension brackets, which were with a continuous bridge. Elastic elements were torsion shafts and coil springs. Over time, they were replaced by cheaper and modern models. On the front-wheel-drive cars it was practically not used, so they practically did not react to its kinematic advantages.