4 Types of Suspension Springs for Your Vehicle

What are the types of suspension springs?

1. Coil Springs
2. Leaf Springs
3. Rubber Spring
4. Torsion Spring

 

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Different suspension spring types exist for different vehicles. While each may differ on the advantages and features, they&#;re all used to provide a smoother drive and comfortable ride for the driver. Aside from this, they also ensure that a vehicle&#;s wheels are properly aligned and will adjust accordingly depending on the road surface. If you&#;re planning on replacing your suspension springs, it&#;s important that you understand the differences between each one.

 

What Are the Different Types of Suspension Springs?

Common suspension springs come in the form of coil spring, leaf spring, torsion bars/spring, and rubber spring. Made out of durable materials, these suspension springs are designed to offer ample recoil as your vehicle travels on different types of road conditions. Read on to learn more.

 

Coil Springs

Coil springs are widely used in smaller-sized vehicles such as a sedan, compact car, or a mini-SUV. These components are usually fashioned out of high-grade and high carbon steel &#; although coil springs can also come with titanium, bronze, or plastic parts.

Since coil springs are designed for smaller vehicles, they won&#;t be ideal for pickup trucks, ten-wheelers, or SUVs. This is because the coil springs are limited as to the level of shock they are designed to absorb.

These springs may come in different designs, such as soft or stiff springs. They can also be used as custom parts for performance vehicles and off-road cars.

 

Leaf Springs

Previous reiterations of the leaf spring have been around as far back as the early s, used in horse-drawn carriages or coaches. In a leaf spring component, you&#;ll find several &#;leaves&#; that differ in length. Similar to the coil spring, these leaves are fabricated out of steel, which is longer-lasting and ideal for withstanding high temperatures that may be produced in the undercarriage.

Unlike coil springs, leaf springs can be used in heavier vehicles such as pickups, trailer trucks, vans, or even in heavy equipment. Leaf springs may also come in a multi-leaf or a parabolic leaf system &#; the more leaves, the less stiff the suspension will be, thereby offering better comfort.

 

Rubber Spring

As the name suggests, rubber springs are made out of rubber and coil springs. Aside from improved suspension, they also have a number of benefits, such as vibration damping, axle damping, improved insulation, and lower static friction.

The downside with rubber springs is that they don&#;t really do much when it comes to lowering the stiffness of the vehicles. For this reason, they are used in combination with the coil spring and can add corrosion protection to the rest of the components.

 

Torsion Spring

Torsion springs, also known as torsion bars, give the driver freedom to adjust the height of their vehicle, making them perfect for race-tuned cars or off-road vehicles. They are ideal for a driver who may want a more compact version for their suspension.

One disadvantage that a torsion spring has, however, is that it&#;s not suited for low-height vehicles, as they can easily get damaged by debris. This will in turn increase the wear and tear of the component and shorten the lifespan of nearby suspension parts.

 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website automotive suspension springs.

Key Takeaway

Coil springs, leaf springs, rubber springs, and torsion springs &#; are some of the most common suspension spring types used in different types of vehicles. For smaller and lighter vehicles, coil springs, torsion springs, and rubber springs are ideal. On the other hand, vehicles such as trailer trucks, vans, and SUVs require leaf springs due to the comprehensive suspension protection and comfort it provides.

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When driving, the tires on your car come in contact with different types of terrain including asphalt, pot holes, speed bumps, gravel, and even bare earth. Depending on the quality of the terrain, a car could enjoy a smooth ride or a bumpy one. Fortunately, your car comes equipped with a system that not only absorbs the jarring impact of an uneven road, but also helps keep your tires touching the surface, allowing for better control of the vehicle. This is your springing system.

Modern springing systems are based on four basic designs. Get to know these four spring classes: leaf springs, coil springs, torsion bars, and air springs.

Leaf Springs

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Leaf springs are made up of a cascading set of blades held together by a U-bolt. The different lengths of the blades allow for the steady support for the entire vehicle the next while remaining flexible. First used on horse carriages, leaf springs were widely used in the rear suspension of cars until the late '80s, but has since been abandoned for newer systems.

Pros: Leaf springs can take on the heaviest of loads, which is why they are still pretty common in heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles.

Cons: They are very noisy, a lot bulkier, and provide a more rigid ride than today&#; systems.

Coil Springs

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If you know what a Slinky is, then you know what a coil spring looks like. This is a helical type of spring, which is basically a heavy-duty torsion bar wound around an axis.

Pros: These springs can take on heavy loads just as well as leaf springs, without the accompanying noise problems.

Cons: They can be extremely bouncy especially when poor shocks are used, and that&#;s why they&#;re rarely used in smaller vehicles. Their inability to take torque reaction and side thrust is why they are often paired with shock absorbers to enhance their reliability and efficiency.

Torsion Bars

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This type of spring relies on the twisting properties of a straight steel rod to mimic the performance of coil springs. Attached to the vehicle&#;s control arm, the rod gets twisted along its length as the arm moves up and down in reaction to the road surface.

Pros: Since torsion bars are just metal rods, their biggest advantage is that they save space while allowing easy adjustment of ride height. They are also very affordable, while being easy to maintain and replace.

Cons: A torsion bar&#;s simplicity is both its biggest advantage most glaring drawback. If a suspension system lacks complexity, it won&#;t be able to handle bumps very well.

Air Springs

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This spring type relies on the compressing quality of air to absorb impact. Air springs are made up of a cylindrical air chamber strategically placed between the undercarriage and wheel.

Pros: Air springs are great for achieving extremely smooth performance, helping a vehicle glide over bumps. With these springs, a car is literally floating on air.

Cons: Air springs are very expensive. They also tend to fail more frequently than other suspension parts, but as long as you pay more attention to maintenance, problems can be avoided.

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