What is suspension?

Kingy

Kingy

Kingy

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Leicester
Stupid question, but I'll ask anyway:-

I've recently had my track rod ends replaced. I'd never heard of track rod ends before, let alone considered that mine might have "minor play" in them.

It made me realise that I'm remarkably clueless about what the package of components is that I refer to as "suspension", and what I might need to consider as part of a "suspension refresh" of a car that's now ticked over 90k miles?

I gather that dampers & shock absorbers are one and the same, while springs are different, and bushes are more than just objects at the side of the road that I should try to avoid, but what else is there?

Can anybody with a spare clue, furnish me with one please?

Be gentle... :o
 
Track rod ends usually connect the steering rack to the front hubs. When they are worn it means that there is free play somewhere.

On top of springs and coils there are also suspension top mounts and suspension arm bushes which are usually rubber and wear.
 
I had my track rod ends replaced in a car that had done 40k because I hit a pot hole and had the steering out by quite a bit, they couldnt loosen them without causing damage apparently, still think I was had.
 
After 40k, then they're likely to be seized on. They need to be finely adjusted when setting up the steering and generally brake / strip the threads when trying to unstick them. I doubt you were 'had'.
 
GeX said:
After 40k, then they're likely to be seized on. They need to be finely adjusted when setting up the steering and generally brake / strip the threads when trying to unstick them. I doubt you were 'had'.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Also, they're pretty cheap on most cars.

OP: Just google some suspension images and work out how each moves. There are tons of animations on the net too. How Stuff Works (Linked above I think) is a good place to start.
 
GeX said:
After 40k, then they're likely to be seized on. They need to be finely adjusted when setting up the steering and generally brake / strip the threads when trying to unstick them.
Click to expand...

I've never seen that happen. They do seize up, and some cars are more prone to this than others. However, they can nearly always be removed with the application of heat, and it's this that usually necessitates replacement of the TRE rather than damaged threads.
 
With new thread suspension components like tres I always have the threads taped up. I got fed up with cutting tres off cars
 
I would consider a suspension refresh to be dampers, bushes, and ball joints.

In some cases the springs can break/wear (common on the E46 iirc) so in some circumstances that could be worth replacing.

Otherwise, most of the rest of it is just bits of metal that would need replacing if they have failed or are damaged (wishbones etc)

Broadly fair statement?
 
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