Suspension specialists have many interesting examples to share, but I will have to limit myself to a brief account of why stiffer is not always grippy, and softer is not always comfortable. The work of car suspensions is not at all as simple as it seems at first glance. They perform many functions that are not entirely obvious. I will try to briefly mention the main ones.
In general, many books have been written about how pendants work, and most of them are very thick. I will only try to outline the main points "on top" in order to fit into the format of an informative article.
Why you can't do without a suspension
Even very smooth roads actually curve in many directions, and the Earth itself bears little resemblance to an infinite plane. And in order for all four wheels to touch the ground, they must be able to move up and down. At the same time, it is highly desirable that the running surface of the wheel is adjacent to the coating with its entire width in any position of the suspension. So cars with rigid and short-stroke suspensions are practically doomed to bad grip wheels with the road, because always one of the wheels will be unloaded.
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Why Suspension Must Have Compression Travel
It is not at all necessary for the suspension to be able to compress for all wheels to contact the road, it is enough that the wheels can only move down. But when the car moves in corners, lateral forces arise that tend to tilt the car. If at the same time one side of the car can rise, and the other cannot fall, the center of gravity of the car will shift strongly towards the loaded wheel, which in turn will cause many negative consequences.
First of all, even greater unloading of the internal wheel in relation to the rotation and an increase in the roll moment due to the movement of the center of gravity upward relative to the roll center of the suspension (about it below). And, of course, if the wheels don't have compression travel, then even a small bump under one of the wheels should move the body, move all the other wheels down, with all the associated lifting energy and reduced wheel traction. Which, to put it mildly, is not very comfortable. It is also destructive to the body and suspension parts. In general, a suspension needs to be balanced, with both compression and rebound travel in order to function properly.
Why does the car roll around corners?
Since we have decided that the suspension of the car should be and has the ability to move up and down, then purely geometrically a certain point is formed, the center around which the car body rotates during a roll. This point is called the roll center of the machine.
And the sum of the inertial forces acting on the car in a turn is just applied to its center of mass. If it coincided with the roll center, then there would be no roll in the turn, but it is usually located much higher, and as a result, a rolling moment is formed. And the higher the center of roll is located, the lower the center of gravity, the smaller it is. On special racing designs like Formula 1 cars, the center of gravity is placed below the roll center, and then the car can roll in the opposite direction, like a boat on water.
Actually, the location of the roll center depends on the design of the suspension. And automotive engineers have learned quite well how to “raise” it higher by changing the design of the levers, which, in theory, could save not only low sports cars from rolls, but also quite high ones. The problem is that the suspension, which is designed to provide an "unnaturally high" roll center, successfully copes with body lean, but does not cope well with the main task - damping bumps.
Why should suspension be soft?
It is quite obvious that the softer the suspension, the less the change in the position of the body when hitting a bump and when rolling, the load is less distributed between the various wheels. This means that the adhesion of the wheels to the road does not deteriorate and energy is not expended on moving the center of mass of the car up and down. Well, have we found the perfect formula? But, unfortunately, not everything is so simple.
Firstly, the suspensions have limited compression strokes, and they must be consistent with the change in axle load when the car is loaded with passengers and luggage, and with the load that occurs when cornering and bumps. Suspension that is too soft will compress so much when cornering that the wheels on the other side will lift off the ground. So the suspension must prevent exhaustion of the compression stroke on one side and hanging the wheel on the other.
It turns out that too soft suspension is also bad ... The best option there is a relatively small range of "softness", after which the suspensions become rigid, but it is more difficult to set up such a design, the higher the difference between its hard and soft parts.
With any redistribution of the load between the wheels, the overall grip of the wheels with the road deteriorates. The fact is that additional loading of some wheels does not compensate for all losses during unloading of others. And in the case of hanging unloaded wheels, an increase in grip on the loaded side does not compensate even half of the losses.
In addition to a general deterioration in grip, this also leads to a deterioration in handling. They fight this unpleasant factor by changing the inclination of the rolling plane of the wheel relative to the road - the so-called collapse. As a result of constructive measures aimed at programming the camber change during the roll of the machine, it is possible to compensate for the change in wheel adhesion under lateral loads in a reasonable range and thereby make the machine easier to control.
Why do you have to make the suspension stiffer on sports cars?
The handling of the car is extremely negatively affected by any changes in the angles of the suspension when the car rolls and delays in response to control actions due to a shift in the center of gravity. This means that you have to make the suspension stiffer so that the rolls decrease in the turn.
The ultimate solution is a powerful stabilizer roll stability- a torsion bar that prevents the wheel of one axle from moving relative to another. But it's not the best The best way. Yes, it improves the situation with changing the angles of the wheels in a turn, but it unloads the inner, in relation to the turn, wheel, and overloads the outer one. It's a little better to just make the suspension stiffer. This affects comfort more, but it does not unload the inner wheel as much.
Considerable value of shock absorbers
In addition to elastic elements, the suspension of the car also contains gas or liquid shock absorbers - elements responsible for damping the vibrations of the suspension and removing the energy that the car spends on moving the center of mass. With their help, you can correct all the suspension reactions to compression and rebound, because the shock absorber can provide much greater rigidity in dynamics than a spring. At the same time, its stiffness, unlike springs, will be very different depending on the suspension travel and the speed of its movement.
Of course, a very soft shock absorber will not be able to fulfill its main task - vibration damping, the car will simply sway after passing through the bumps. And installing a very stiff one will create an effect similar to installing a very stiff spring that does not want to compress and thereby increases the load on the wheel and unloads all the others. But fine-tuning will help reduce body roll in corners and help springs, reduce body dive during acceleration and braking, and at the same time not prevent the wheels from driving through small bumps. And of course, do not allow the "breakdown" of the suspension when driving through hard bumps. In general, they have an impact on the behavior of the machine no less than the stiffness of the springs.
A little about comfort and vibration frequencies
It is clear that a car without suspension would have zero comfort, because all the small bumps from the road would be transmitted directly to the riders. Brr. But if the suspension is made very soft, then the situation will not be much better - constant buildup also has an extremely bad effect on people. It turns out that a person does not tolerate vibrations both with a small amplitude and high frequency from a rigid suspension, and with a large amplitude and low frequency from a soft one.
To create comfortable conditions for passengers, it is necessary to coordinate the stiffness of springs, shock absorbers and tires so that on the most popular surfaces for this car, the vibration frequencies of passengers and the level of acceleration remain within comfortable limits.
The frequency and amplitude of suspension vibrations are also important in another aspect - the natural resonance frequencies of the car-suspension-road system should not coincide with the possible frequencies of control actions and disturbances from the road. So the task of the designers is also to bypass dangerous modes as far as possible, because in the event of a resonance, you can turn the car over and lose control, and simply break the suspension.
So, what should be the suspension?
Paradoxically, the softer the suspension, the better the grip on the road. But at the same time, it should not allow strong rolls and changes in the contact patch of the wheels with the road. The worse the roads, the softer the suspension needs to be to get good grip. The lower the friction coefficient of the wheels, the softer the suspension should be. It would seem that the installation of an anti-roll bar can solve the problem, but no, it also has its negative features, it makes the suspension more "dependent" and reduces the suspension travel.
So suspension tuning remains a matter for true masters and always requires a lot of time for full-scale tests. Many factors are intricately intertwined and by changing one parameter, you can worsen both handling and ride. And not always a hard suspension makes the car faster, and a soft one makes it more comfortable. Handling is also affected by a change in the rigidity of the front and rear suspensions relative to each other and even the slightest change in the characteristics of the stiffness of the shock absorbers. I hope this article will help you to be more careful about the choice of components for suspensions and prevent rash experiments.
Russian roads are always an urgent problem for our country, and when choosing a car, the issue of its reliability becomes very important. Therefore, many motorists want to buy a truly indestructible car that will be able to cope with all the troubles that await it in our weather and weather conditions for a long time. road conditions. Consider the Top 5 most indestructible cars in the middle price segment.
Rating of the most indestructible cars in Russia
A car that can be called indestructible, according to experts, must meet a number of criteria. These include the duration of operation, maintainability, quality of spare parts. All this is not so easy to get at a reasonable price, however, there are mid-range cars that meet the required parameters.
body metal Mitsubishi Lancer X thin but minimally corrodedlegendary car Japanese-made, which remains one of the most solid means of transportation. Of the advantages of the car, a stylish design, low susceptibility to breakdowns, and excellent driving characteristics are noted. Mitsubishi Lanсer X tolerates adverse climatic conditions well, has an increased safety factor, as well as the right balance of durability and technical characteristics.
Of the minuses, it is worth noting that over time, the car body begins to rust sharply. In addition, high-quality car maintenance is not cheap.
Toyota Camry concurrently is one of the most stolen cars in the Russian Federation This stylish and dynamic car also has good characteristics in terms of durability and endurance. It is able to withstand almost any strength test.
The machine is powerful power unit. Electronic sensors also have high quality and rarely fail, but their repair will cost a lot. The car is an ideal option for those who are looking for a combination of drive and gloss. Of the pluses, its good margin of safety is also noted, which ensures long-term operation.
There is an opinion that KIA Sportage, assembled in Slovakia, is slightly better in quality than Russian counterparts This car is a clear leader in terms of reliability among medium-sized city crossovers. price category. It has a lot of advantages, including its quality and reliability, which are time-tested. It looks quite stylish, has a large number of sensors that control movement. Driving performance cars remain good even after long-term operation, which cannot but rejoice, taking into account the features Russian roads. As such, the car has no shortcomings.
Ford C-Max not very popular in Russia, but in vain! This car attracts with its original design and perfection of lines, but these parameters are not important for everyone. Many motorists choose it because of other characteristics: spaciousness, efficiency and increased reliability. The spacious minivan fully meets these criteria. The car can really be called indestructible. It is perfect for those who often make country trips with the whole family and do not want to regularly visit service centers, constantly repairing the car. Ford S-Max is often recognized by experts as an ideal family car. Its stability is ensured by an independent rear suspension, as well as a wide wheelbase.
UAZ Patriot
UAZ Patriot is adored in the villages, summer residents and fishermen love For those who do not have a lot of finances and cannot afford a foreign car, a good option is domestic UAZ Patriot. It is characterized by a combination of practicality, endurance, power, good dynamics and economy. And also the car attracts with high cross-country ability. In addition, there is excellent handling, a roomy interior, and a very stylish appearance.
The characteristics of the machine are positively affected by the controller, which helps to prevent the failure of the electronics. Suspensions can withstand the highest loads in cross-country driving conditions. At the same time, the level of comfort of the car is constantly improving. So, the updated Patriot is equipped with air conditioning, heated seats, navigation, and a multimedia system.
It is possible to pick up a not too expensive and reliable car for operation on Russian roads. To do this, you need to compare and evaluate the characteristics various machines, as well as decide which criteria are key for a particular motorist.
Reading 3 min. Views 2.2k. Posted on January 10, 2015
In the conditions of bad roads in our country, and in neighboring countries as well, our motorists are always concerned about the choice of a car with a reliable suspension that will withstand all the bumps, potholes and will be able to hold out without replacing components for a long time. What is the best car suspension? We will try to find the answer to this question in this article.
The suspension of the car is designed to be a connecting element between the road and the car body. In full-fledged SUVs, the suspension is connected to the frame, and not to the body. The first suspensions appeared on carriages and wagons, so the first cars received already patented systems for damping loads when driving on roads.
Most modern cars are equipped with several types of suspensions. Front mounted MacPherson strut or double wishbone suspension. And at the rear, the suspension can be dependent, semi-dependent and independent with a different number of levers.
The front suspension of the car on double wishbones has coil springs that give elasticity, and two levers that are attached to the subframe or to the frame. A similar suspension can also be found in large-sized sedans (business and executive class), as well as in crossovers and SUVs. This type of suspension is characterized by low wear, except for aluminum components. So aluminum levers in this type of suspension are installed by brands such as Audi and BMW. On the one hand, this gives a low weight of unsprung masses and increases comfort, but the wear of such parts is too great in our bad roads.
Also, the double wishbone front suspension is often expensive cars they are equipped with pneumatic or hydropneumatic elements that make the suspension most comfortable, but such components are very expensive. On Russian roads, air springs can go no more than 50,000 kilometers.
The MacPherson type front suspension is built around a shock absorber strut and a coil spring around it. As a result, we get quite compact suspension which fits easily under the hood of small cars. Actually, this type of suspension is popular in cars of A, B and C classes.
big sedans and crossovers are equipped with an independent multi-link rear suspension. This type can guarantee excellent ride comfort and smoothness. But this suspension is easily "killed" by pits and potholes, which are many on our roads. With this type of suspension, pneumatic elements are also often installed in expensive car models.
As rear suspension on the cars most often a simple torsion-arm semi-independent suspension is used. You can find it under the bottom of most modern models of small hatchbacks and sedans. It is very simple, cheap and hardy. Among the shortcomings, one can note the high stiffness of the suspension, but on the other hand, this means that it will be difficult to “break through” it. Such a suspension is equipped, Lada Granta, Renault Logan, Peugeot 301, Volkswagen Polo Sedan and their other classmates.
As a result, we can conclude that the best car suspension for our roads is the MacPherson type at the front and a semi-independent torsion-arm suspension at the rear.
Although the quality of Russian roads has improved slightly in recent years, drivers still have to take care of the suspension of their cars quite often. But, as it turns out, the owners of models of some brands have even more reasons to worry. The British insurance campaign Warranty Direct has published a rating of brands whose models are most often forced to visit services to fix chassis breakdowns. Failures of shock absorbers, levers, silent blocks, hinges, bearings, hydraulic and pneumatic suspension elements were taken into account. Drive, differentials and locks were not left aside.
10. Volvo - 27.5%.
The Swedish brand has been famous for the high level of safety of its cars for many years. However, in terms of serviceability, not all Volvo models look better than their popular rivals. It also happened this time. According to Warranty Direct, Scandinavian vehicles are at high risk of premature wear to suspension and transmission components. It is noteworthy that most often problems are found in cars with all-wheel drive.
9. Chevrolet - 27.8%.
The brand that left the Russian market was a cheaper alternative Opel models with which it was closely associated. As it turns out, cheaper doesn't mean better. Cars with a cross on the hood are forced to invest more in the repair of the suspension and drive elements.
The German model in the segment of small city cars can be taken as a model in the field passive safety compact structures. Things are much worse with the durability of the suspension and transmission.
7. Bentley - 29.2%.
The low reliability of the suspension of the English brand, owned by the Germans, is surprising, but hardly upsets a wide range of motorists. In the end, we are talking about cars "from the very top shelf", which 99.99 percent of the inhabitants of the earth will never be able to reach. And yet, the engines of huge power, and the sporting ambitions of the owners led to the fact that the suspension of the British brand showed a high failure rate.
6. Mercedes - 29.7%.
The German marque, which has been reclaiming its shattered prestige in recent years, is seen by the British as making no progress in suspension and transmission durability. Most often, failures occur in models with an all-wheel drive system and powerful engines.
5. Alfa Romeo - 30.7%.
Models of this Italian brand are famous for their beauty and good handling. However, suspension durability has never been rated well. Thus, if the reliability of Alpha as a whole can still be argued, then no one has any doubts about the veracity of the data obtained on the endurance of the suspension and transmission.
4. Land Rover - 31,4%.
The British manufacturer offers one of the best SUVs in the world. But to the deepest regret, the suspension and mechanisms of the all-wheel drive system do not always easily endure the hardships of life. It is worth noting that Jeep, whose models also sometimes move off the pavement, took 27th place in the ranking with a result of 17.8 percent of malfunctions in the chassis.
3. Mazda - 32%.
Mazda has been delighting motorists lately modern design and great engines. And yet, fans of this brand will have to prepare for the elimination of unexpected malfunctions in the suspension.
2. Suzuki - 34.2%.
In Europe, the Suzuki brand is represented primarily by the Swift and Grand Vitara. The first is a fairly durable city dweller, the second is one of those rare modern SUVs that does not give in far from the asphalt. For a moderate price tag, the Japanese SUV offers four-wheel drive and the ability to manually lock the differential. The chassis turned out to be the only weak link in the brand's cars.
1. Subaru - 34.6%.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that Mini and Kia topped the list of brands with the strongest suspension!
For most motorists, its reliability is largely determined. The high cost of a vehicle is not always a guarantee of flawless operation without breakdowns. Break down like machines budget segment and premium cars. Only the latter are much more expensive to repair than the former.
Almost any modern car straight from the dealership can drive, for example, 300,000 kilometers, with the only difference being that the amount that will need to be invested in servicing the car during this sprint will differ. Naturally, it is much easier and more practical to purchase not only safe, but also reliable car, where investing in repairs will be minimal. It is enough to carry out the planned Maintenance, keep the car in frequency and order, and it runs for a very long time.
The situation in the car market
Thematic publications and magazines have repeatedly conducted research in this area and compiled specific tops, which included the most indestructible cars (the rating is presented below). Almost all more or less significant and large sales markets were studied - from the Celestial Empire to the European automobile industry. The picture was not the most rosy, but the researchers managed to identify a number of more or less reliable cars.
It’s worth noting right away that all representatives of this rating cannot be called budget ones, but it’s understandable: the quality of workmanship has always been distinguished by an appropriate price, and confidence in the reliability of a vehicle simply cannot be cheap.
So, we present to your attention a list of cars, which included the most indestructible cars, according to experts in this field. All models can be seen live in the vastness of our country, touched in car dealerships, and purchased if desired. That is, there will be no exotics like Jaguars and Porsches here - all cars have adequate prices for their segment and are real for purchase, and they can also easily drive 300,000 kilometers without major repairs.
The most indestructible cars according to eminent thematic publications:
- Honda Accord.
- Toyota Camry.
- Honda Odyssey.
- Honda CR-V.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is not only a well-equipped good family sedan, but also the most indestructible car, and at a very reasonable price. The car proved to be excellent on the road and is easily controlled in any, even the most difficult conditions.
The interior of the car inspires respect and looks very solid. In addition, the interior turned out to be spacious, so there should not be any discomfort if back seat there will be three people of average build at once.
On the Russian market the most indestructible car came in two variations: with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. A continuously variable gearbox consumes only 9 and 7.8 liters per 100 km, respectively, which is a very good indicator for a car of this class. As for reliability, neither the experts nor the owners have any questions here.
Toyota Camry
The Japanese have always been distinguished by attractive body features and increased convenience with comfort, and the Toyota Camry is just a prominent representative of its race. In addition, the model received an enviable stigma as the most indestructible car.
The latest Camry line has received a significant interior redesign, and dashboard with the interior became even more beautiful and ergonomic. The already reliable suspension has been further redesigned for the better: stability has been added, and the sound insulation of the undercarriage has been significantly increased.
Distinctive features of the car
The model arrived in Russia in several engine variations - from 1.8 liters to 3.5. The average fuel consumption of the Camry ranges from 9 liters per 100 km. The long and serious history of Toyota includes not only the beauty and complaisance of cars, but also reliability, which once again proves the Camry line. The model became so popular with the domestic consumer that they began to assemble it near St. Petersburg in the village of Shushary, naturally, with the knowledge and consent of the venerable concern.
Honda Odyssey
Unlike other minivans and frame cars, the Honda Odyssey is not just vehicle for a solid company, and a car with responsive and soft control, which is rare for a car of this class. Add here the high reliability of the chassis with the body and get perfect option for a big family.
The car is equipped with a six-speed and 3.5-liter V6 engine. The average fuel consumption per 100 km fluctuates within 11 liters, which is very good for such a bulky and roomy car.
Auto Features
The most indestructible car can accommodate up to 8 passengers, but for proper comfort, you should not take on board more than seven people of average build. In addition, the body has the ability to transform for some kind of cargo needs, which greatly expands the scope of the family minivan. It is also worth mentioning separately that the manufacturer has worked particularly meticulously on child seat mounts, where the problem of synergy between different models of seats is absent in principle, due to the variety of adaptive brackets.
The fly in the ointment here is not fully developed, which can only be dealt with by a savvy specialist or a person who has read an impressive manual from and to. Also, many owners complained about the quality of interior trim, because the price of a minivan requires, if not leather, then at least another material of similar quality.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V model from the venerable Honda is frame car with high reliability. In addition, the machine distinguished itself spacious interior and great functionality. In Russia, the model is available with two engine options - 2 and 2.4 liters. Both run on gasoline and have a CVT. The average fuel consumption per 100 km fluctuates within 10 liters, which is the envy of other gluttonous SUVs.
The car has practically no flaws, but many owners in their reviews complain about the stupid multimedia and entertainment system. Just like in the previous case, it is difficult to learn and sometimes behaves completely differently than we would like. Moreover, the system greatly distracts the driver while driving if it is turned on even at 50% (for passengers in the back seat).
Separately, it is worth noting the excellent handling of the car, despite the rigidity of the suspension. The car is obedient and easily controlled by the driver, even if it feels bumps in the road. Also, some owners are unhappy with the noise in the cabin, which this year's version could not get rid of. But this trouble of all frame SUVs, so this moment can be called critical only with a stretch. So, in general, the model was a success, and the CR-V series can be described as the most indestructible cars.