How To Get the Most Out of Your Truck Suspension

Most people may claim that they know something about truck suspension, but it is one of those things about which everything is not known. On the surface level it is easy to decipher whether or not your vehicle goes up and down properly, but to understand the mechanism of your truck suspension, you need to consult an expert always.

Basically, both the suspensions of a truck, the front and rear, must work in tandem. The front and the rear are programmed in such a way that the action in the front suspension will get transferred instantly to the rear suspension, and vise versa. It is dangerous to do just the front, and neglect the back while replacing existing worn out components.

The two major functions of truck suspensions are:

1. To support the weight of the truck, and

2. To absorb the inconsistent terrain conditions while you safely enjoy a smooth ride.

What are the components of a truck suspension and how to get the most out of it? The 4- robust strong S - springs, shocks, stabilizer bars, strut tower brace - constitute a truck suspension.

Springs

Springs are the central part of a truck suspension. They are engineered to absorb and store road shock caused by bumps. When a car's wheel goes over a bump, the spring absorbs the tension, keeps the road shock from transmitting to the chassis, and makes sure the tire remains intact.

There are four types of spring systems: coil springs, leaf springs, air springs, and torsion bars. They are used either in single or in combination depending upon the application.

Coil springs are commonly used in passenger vehicles.

Springs also hold the other suspension components like tires, shock absorbers, ball joints, and control arms. Naturally, if a spring wears out it will eventually affect the performance of all the other components.

Shock Absorbers

A shock absorber is a little less involved than springs; they play a minimal role in absorbing impacts taken by the suspension.

A shock absorber is designed to do two functions: prevent excessive car body roll and eliminate spring oscillation. If not for a shock absorber, the transmitted energy will be released by an oscillating motion at an uncontrollable rate. It dampens road impacts by converting the up and down movement of the spring into thermal energy; for which it is nick-named as dampers by experts.

The spring continues to bounce at its natural frequency until all the energy originally put into the spring is used up by friction. This effect can be quite detrimental to the stability of a vehicle. Shocks and struts help control the speed at which the suspension is allowed to move, which is important for keeping the tires in contact with the road.

Stabilizer Bar

Stabilizer Bar or anti-roll or sway bar works by equally distributing the weight of a cornering vehicle to its opposite side. Its function is mainly to reduce swaying.

A stabilizer bar runs from one side of the vehicle to the other, attaching to the frame and control arms via a simple bushing arrangement. When the car goes through a turn, the bar begins to twist, but resists motion. This resistance distributes vehicle weight more evenly from side to side, lending the vehicle more stability.

Strut Tower Brace

A strut tower brace is a simple metal bar that stretches across the front strut towers, thus increasing rigidity.

Conclusion

Always make a conscious effort to keep your eyes on the road, and keep away from potholes for a long lasting suspension. Replace the springs and shocks after 60,000 miles of average use or 5 years whichever comes first.