Suspension and Steering Flashcards
What is the purpose of the suspension system
To maintain contact with the road, support vehicle weight, absorb and dampen and maintain wheel alignment
What does Hookes Law state
That it takes twice the force to move a spring twice as far.
What does Newtons First Law of Inertia state
That an object will stay at rest of in unified motion until acted upon by an external force
What is the main function of a frame
To provide support for all chassis components
What are the three main types of frames
Body over frame, Unibody and Subframe
What is the purpose of springs
Support weight of vehicle and absorb road shocks
What are four examples of springs
Coil, Air, Leaf, Torsion bar
What are the three types of coil springs
Full open wire, Tapered wire closed and Pigtail
What are the types of spring rates
Variable and linear
What is Jounce
The upward motion when a vehicle hits a bump in the road
What is Rebound
The downward motion of the suspension when it falls into a dip or hole
What is added to the suspension to dampen and stop the up and down motion while on a bumpy road
Shock Absorber
What is sprung weight
All of the vehicles weight that is supported by the springs
What is unsprung weight
The weight of components not supported by the springs
What are some examples of sprung weight
Body, Frame, Engine, Trans
What are some examples of unsprung weight
Steering Knuckle, rear solid axles
What are some types of shock absorbers
Double tube, Direct and indirect, Single and double, Air , Gas
What is the most common shock absorber ratio used on passenger cars
50/50
Describe the difference between tension and compression ball joints
Tension ball joints will release once loosened, compression will stay in place
What is a load carrying ball joint
Supports the cars weight and is generally on the control arm that holds or seats the spring
On a lower control arm carrying the spring rate is the ball joint a follower or load carrying, tension or compression?
Load carrying, tension
What are the three stages of a variable rate spring
Inactive, Transitional, Active
What gas can be found in some shock absorbers
Nitrogen
Why is Nitrogen gas used in gas charged shock absorbers
To help reduce aeration
What is the job of control arms
Used to locate wheel and allow up and down travel of suspension
What does SLA stand for
Short and Long Arm
What are the four types of independent suspension
SLA, McPherson Strut, Modified Strut, Twin I Beam
What is a Live Axle
An axle that drives the wheels
What is a Dead Axle
An axle that does not drive
What component of the suspension can twist and help transfer movement from side to side during cornering
Anti - Sway Bar
What are the two types of steering linkages found in automotive
Rack and Pinion , Parallelogram
What safety feature was introduced in 1968 to the steering system
A collapsible steering column
What steering linkage is found on larger vehicles
Parallelogram Type
What are to main components of a Rack and Pinion
Toothed Rack, Pinion gear and worm gear
What does worm gear preload do
Eliminates worm shaft endplay, prevents steering free play and vehicle wander
Name the three steering systems
Manual, Hydraulic, Electric
What type of ball joint allows free play
Load Carrying
What are the two common SLA systems in use today
Coil Spring and Strut
What vehicles commonly use leafsprings in the rear
Pickup Trucks
What suspension can change ride height during operations
Automatic load- leveling air suspension
Name the components of a steering gear or parallelogram linkage
Pitman arm, Idler arm, Centre Link, Inner and outer tie rods, adjuster sleeve
When is hydraulic fluid pressure in the Power steering system the greatest
During steering assist when the wheels are held against the steering stops
