This document discusses vehicle suspension systems. It introduces suspensions and their main components like springs and dampers. It describes common spring types like coil springs and leaf springs. It also explains dampers and how they dissipate energy. A key part of the document focuses on struts, particularly the MacPherson strut, detailing its assembly, advantages like being cheaper and lighter, and disadvantages such as added height. Examples are given of some of the first cars to use MacPherson struts as well as modern cars that employ them.

1. Suspensions

2. Index
 Introduction to Suspensions
 Struts
 Camber
 Steering Axis Inclination
 What is a MacPherson Strut?
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 References

3. Introduction to Suspensions
Goal of a Suspension : 1. Comfort
2. Contact
3. Control
Components of a Suspension
1. Springs
2. Dampers (Shock Absorber)

4. SPRINGS
COIL SPRING
- Consists of a spiral
spring
- Usually mounted on
independent
suspensions
LEAF SPRING
- Consists of metal
plates enclosed
together
- Usually mounted on
solid axles

5. DAMPER (SHOCK
ABSORBER)
- Basically, damper is a
device used to dissipate
energy.
-Reacts to Velocity
-Turning, Braking &
Acceleration

6. STRUTS
- Spring & Damper
combined together in
a single unit results in
the formation of a
Strut.
- Strut is a structural
component
- Eliminates need of
upper control arm
- MacPherson Strut is
the most commonly
used Strut

7. CAMBER
Angle of tyre with vertical axis of car
POSITIVE CAMBER
- Bottom of tyre inside,
Top of tyre outside
- Most vehicles use positive
camber
- Helps in Steering axis
inclination
NEGATIVE CAMBER
- Bottom of tyre outside,
Top of tyre inside
- Used in racing / off road
vehicles
- Wider stance
- Greater Stability

8. STEERING AXIS INCLINATION
- Positive camber helps to get a smaller scrub
radius
- Reduced effort at lower speeds
- Minimized tyre wear
- Wheel goes straight when steering is released

9. MACPHERSON STRUT
- MacPherson strut was developed by Earle .S.
MacPherson of General Motors in the year 1949
- It is a combination of a shock absorber
(Damper) & a coil spring as a single unit
- It is a type of car suspension that uses the axis
of the damper as the upper steering pivot

10. ASSEMBLY OF A MACPHERSON STRUT

11. ADVANTAGES
- Cheaper & lighter than a double A or a
double wishbone Suspension
- Great for Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
cars as it provides space for the
driveshaft
- Low in Maintainance
- Narrower than a double wishbone
suspension

12. DISADVANTAGES
- Taller than a double wishbone suspension
- As it mounts directly to the body, unibody
structure is necessary to handle the stress
- It transmits sound and vibrations straight to the
body of the car
- Smaller camber changes during body roll
- No camber gain during Cornering as strut is
mounted directly to the body

13. 3-D ANIMATION OF
MACPHERSON STRUT

14. CARS USING
MACPHERSON STRUT
Ford Vedette was the first car in which
MacPherson Strut was introduced

15. Mitsubishi Starion was the first car to employ
an independent MacPherson Strut assembly
for all four wheels

16. MORDERN CARS EMPLOYING
MACPHERSON STRUT SUSPENSION
SYSTEMS
PORSCHE PANAMERA
CADILLAC XTS

17. REFERENCES
Wikipedia ...!!!