Front suspension supports the wheels in the front with the help of a solid axle. The
front suspension stabilizes the vehicle to the road and helps to absorb the bumps of the
road. There are two types of front suspension used in the Truck Library.
Front Solid Axle Suspension
Front solid axle suspension has a suspension system for a vehicle frame consisting of
a solid front axle, to the ends of which the steerable front wheels are mounted.
Front suspension include parts like steering subsystems, springs, dampers,
stabilizer bar, knuckles, tire rods, wheels, wheel hub and bumpers. The front solid
axle suspension built through the Assembly Wizard is displayed
in the MotionView window. Figure 1.
The main body parts included in the front solid axle suspension is explained in the
following:
Wheel
Wheel is a circular disc joined to a hub that is mounted on a shaft
about which it may revolve and bear a load.
Wheel Hub
The wheel hub assembly holds the wheel parts together. The assembly
contains the wheel bearings, which allows the wheels to turn
steadily.
Axle
An axle is a fixed bar on which a wheel or a pair of wheels
revolve.
Knuckle
It is one of the suspension components which allows the tire to turn
with ease. It is type of ball joint located at the end of each
tierod. Figure 2.
Leaf Springs
Leaf springs are used in front solid axle suspension and are mounted to
the frame at two points. The ends of the leaf spring can either tie to
the top of the rods, or to the top of the solid axle. The axle receives
its vertical support from a leaf spring (leaf springs were often used
for support in more than one direction). Figure 3.
Front Solid Axle Suspension with Trailing Arm
Front solid axle suspension with trailing arm has a suspension system
for a vehicle frame having an elongated, supported body (trailing arms),
and a steering axle positioned below the supported body to support a
portion of vehicle weight. The front solid axle suspension with trailing
arm built through the Assembly Wizard is displayed
in the MotionView window. Figure 4.
The main body parts included in the front solid axle suspension with trailing arm is
explained in the following:
Chassis
Chassis is a steel frame which is rectangular in shape is supported on
springs and is eventually attached to an axle, which holds the body of
an automotive vehicle. In the following image the highlighted parts in
the truck represents the chassis. Figure 5.
Trailing Arm
Trailing Arm is a suspension element consisting of a longitudinal member
with first, second and third arms, each rigidly connected and it pivots
from the body at its forward end and has a wheel hub attached to its
trailing end. Figure 6.
Lateral Arm
Trailing arms designs are poor at maintaining axle position laterally,
which makes the use of a lateral link to hold axle position
necessary. Figure 7.
Air Springs
Air spring used in the front solid axle suspension has the following
benefits:
It helps to maintain a constant vehicle height by adjusting the
deflection rate automatically for changing vehicle loads.
It has lower deflection rate when compared to traditional leaf
springs exerting the same force giving the system greater
capacity for absorbing shocks for a given displacement between
the axle and the frame.
