The best car suspension. Softness and hardness of the suspension - what is more important for comfort? Which car brand has the best suspension?

It is necessary to evaluate not only it dynamic characteristics or equipment, but also the type of chassis used. It is this that determines the comfort of the car, ease of operation, as well as cross-country ability and reliability. It is worth remembering that even best suspension The car has its own disadvantages and features. Therefore, when choosing a car, you should carefully consider the conditions in which it will be used in order to make the right decision.

Modern cars can be equipped with different suspensions

Elastic element

The main component of the suspension is its elastic part, which absorbs the energy of shocks and vibrations that occur when passing certain road obstacles. The comfort and controllability of the car largely depends on it, so when choosing specific model It is worth paying attention to the type of elastic element of the chassis. If we discard the exotic options that are found exclusively in small-scale production, there will be four main types of car suspension.

Springs

Spring suspension was used in horse-drawn carriages and was considered a luxury available only to noble people. Now she is mastering a new profession, represented by cargo transportation. The main advantage of the spring chassis is its enormous endurance, which allows it to carry any load without significant damage. In addition, the spring suspension reduces the load on the shock absorbers, partially performing their function due to friction between the individual leaves.

The disadvantage of springs is mediocre elasticity and energy intensity. Such suspension cannot make the car comfortable or give it good handling, due to which it is most often found in trucks, passenger vans and pickups. Besides, chassis based on springs, it is quite heavy, which is a big disadvantage for a modern car.

Springs

The most popular is the spring suspension, which combines low cost with optimal performance and excellent reliability. Cars in which springs act as an elastic element handle well and provide passengers with a good level of comfort. In addition, the spring suspension is easy to repair and.

The main disadvantage is the small carrying capacity. In trucks, this option is quite rare, since even a spring with a large coil diameter will very quickly lose its characteristics, wearing out under the pressure of a large mass. The spring suspension is also sensitive to shock loads - it is quite possible that after active off-road driving the car will have to wait for the chassis to be repaired.

Torsion bars

On automobile forums, debates still rage on the issue of which suspension is better - torsion bar or spring. Torsion bars are rods that twist under load. Their advantages include:

• Durability;
• Maintainability;
• Compact sizes.

The characteristics of a torsion bar suspension can be compared with a spring suspension. However, while it gains in reliability, it is inferior in comfort. Therefore, the main areas of application for torsion-bar chassis remain large SUVs, for which reliability is important, and compact budget-class cars, for which compact suspension dimensions are higher on the list of priorities than comfort.

Pneumatics

Air suspension can be found on expensive cars famous brands- passenger cars and trucks. It can be easily adjusted in height and rigidity, and can also be controlled electronically, automatically adapting the chassis to the current road conditions. Pneumatic cylinders provide ideal smoothness and can make overcoming bumps completely invisible to people in the cabin.

The only drawback of the air suspension is that it is not very suitable for Russian roads. We are talking about low reliability, which is due to the use of a large number of complex components. Therefore, if you frequently drive on bad roads, you will have to spend sums comparable to the cost of an inexpensive small car for repairs.

The easiest way to understand the purpose of shock absorbers is to translate them literally English name- “shock absorbers”, “shock absorbers”. Their main function is to restore the original position of the suspension after it has been compressed by unevenness. The stiffer the shock absorber, the shorter the duration of vibrations after passing a road obstacle, but the greater the force of the impact transmitted.

Shock absorbers return the suspension to its original position

The most common option is hydraulic shock absorbers, which provide good comfort, although they allow some swing. Gas-oil shock absorbers (suspension with gas boost) are installed on expensive cars or sold as a tuning kit. Gas (pneumatic shock absorbers) have greater rigidity and therefore are most often installed on sports cars. SUVs can be equipped with shock absorbers with a remote reservoir, which significantly increase the energy capacity of the suspension, preventing its damage during strong impacts.

Design

Most modern passenger cars are equipped with a combined chassis, in which an independent suspension is installed on the front axle, and a dependent one on the rear axle. Expensive sports cars and prestigious cars use fully independent suspension - it helps to significantly improve handling on good roads. But the dependent design on both axles is used in trucks designed to overcome serious obstacles.

To understand which suspension will be optimal in a particular case - dependent or independent, it is worth considering the advantages and features of these designs. The dependent chassis allows you to maintain a constant ground clearance, so it is ideal for off-road driving and poor road surfaces. In addition, it is much more reliable, although this advantage comes at the cost of less comfort.

The independent suspension allows each wheel to sway separately, reducing the impact of bumps on the directional stability car. However, when driving over large bumps, it can cause damage to components located under the bottom of the car. In modern budget cars A semi-independent suspension is often used, in which independent arms are connected to each other by a cross member. It is much more reliable and safer off-road than an independent design, but provides better handling than a fully dependent one.

Details

One of the first options used in the pre-war automobile industry was a double wishbone suspension, which was connected to the hub at the top and bottom points. This design is still used today - it is ideal for driving on bad roads with large uneven surfaces. A double-wishbone suspension is found on SUVs and budget cars - it provides maximum travel, but does not allow for good handling.

In the 1940s, Ford engineer Earl McPherson proposed original version, which was later named after him. MacPherson type suspension (swinging candle) is a shock absorber located inside a spring. This design is compact and energy-intensive, but has small strokes, which limits its use off-road. Due to its excellent handling, MacPherson suspension is used on almost half of modern cars.

Mercedes specialists took a different path - they did not simplify, but complicated the suspension, adding three more levers that set the position of the wheel. This scheme, called multi-link, provides ideal controllability and allows you to get rid of steering wheel wobble when driving over uneven surfaces. However, it has found application only on expensive dynamic cars intended for good roads, since the main disadvantages of the multi-link design are minimal strokes and low reliability. In addition, while driving, such a suspension can make quite loud sounds - in the absence of proper sound insulation of the bottom, they irritate people in the car.

Comfort does not come at the expense of everything else

To choose the suspension that best suits you, you need to pay attention to the conditions in which the machine will be constantly operated. For smooth, good roads, the ideal choice is an independent multi-link design, and in budget option- McPherson. But for off-road use a torsion bar or spring dependent suspension, which has maximum reliability. If comfort is a priority, you should give preference to a scheme with pneumatic cylinders, although in this case you should expect high maintenance costs.

Russian roads are not a test for the faint of heart, and daily movement on such a surface harms not only human nerves, but also a car. First of all, the suspension suffers, the repair of which costs significant money by today's standards. That is why experts recommend choosing proven models that can withstand even the harshest operating conditions. Fortunately, such cars are found in sufficient quantities on the market, and they are not too expensive.

Renault Logan

French budget sedan, probably the most popular representative of this list. This car is extremely popular among taxi drivers due to its “survivability”. The manufacturer equips the model with a very durable suspension and a high-quality engine, which, although not distinguished by modest fuel consumption, does not require systematic investments or complex repairs.

Nissan Almera

Another budget sedan that is in excellent demand on the Russian market due to its affordability and reliability, despite the fact that sales in the Russian Federation have long been stopped. The Japanese suspension deserves special attention. It has a simple design, which is extremely reliable and practically does not fail. In addition to the “indestructible” chassis, the Almera is also equipped with an excellent automatic transmission, which serves its owner for many years.

Skoda Octavia

The Czech car also features a reliable chassis. Critics praise its clever design and high-quality parts. This is not surprising, because all elements are made of aluminum, which is known for its durability. However, it is the metal used that is also a disadvantage of the suspension due to its fragility. On serious potholes, parts quickly become covered with cracks. So it is not recommended to use it on serious off-road conditions.

Hyundai Elantra XD

The Korean car was also included in this rating. It is noteworthy that the XD suspension cannot be called very reliable, since knocking noises appear quite quickly if handled carelessly, but they do not in any way affect the operation of the car in the future. You can wait a little while with repairs, which is very much appreciated by our compatriots.

Chevrolet Lacetti

The American's suspension is very practical and reliable. It is not afraid of pits and impacts even with regular use. As practice shows, 5 years is not a long time for Lacetti, so the cost of repairing the running car will be minimal.

Toyota Yaris

Owners of urban Japanese small cars may be surprised to see them in this rating, since they know first-hand how often they have to change bearings in a “driver.” But experts believe that this is the only design flaw. Otherwise, its suspension is very reliable and practical. However, when it really needs repairs, it will cost a lot of money.

Although the quality of Russian roads is last years has improved a little, drivers still have to take care of the suspension of their cars quite often. But, as it turned out, owners of models of some brands also have more reasons for concern. The British insurance company Warranty Direct has published a rating of brands whose models are most often forced to visit services to repair chassis breakdowns. Malfunctions of shock absorbers, levers, silent blocks, hinges, bearings, hydraulic and pneumatic suspension elements were taken into account. Drives, differentials and locks were not left out.

10. Volvo – 27.5%.

The Swedish brand has been famous for many years high level safety of your cars. However, when it comes to serviceability, not all Volvo models are better than their popular rivals. The same thing happened this time. According to Warranty Direct, Scandinavian cars have a high risk of premature wear of suspension and transmission components. It is noteworthy that problems most often occur in cars with all-wheel drive.

9. Chevrolet – 27.8%.

The brand that left Russian market, was a cheaper alternative Opel models with whom she was closely associated. As it turns out, cheaper doesn't mean better. Cars with a cross on the hood force more frequent investments in the repair of suspension and drive elements.

The German model in the small city car segment can be taken as a model in the field passive safety compact designs. The situation is 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 is unlikely to greatly upset a wide range of car enthusiasts. After all, we are talking about cars from the top shelf, which 99.99 percent of the world's inhabitants will never be able to reach. And, nevertheless, engines of enormous 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 brand, which in recent years has been restoring its damaged authority, according to the British, does not show progress in the field of suspension and transmission durability. Most often, failures occur in models with all-wheel drive systems and powerful engines.

5. Alfa Romeo – 30,7%.

Models of this Italian brand famous for their beauty and good handling. However, the durability of the suspension has never been well rated. Thus, if one can still argue about the reliability of the Alpha as a whole, 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 our 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 slide off the asphalt, took 27th place in the ranking with a result of 17.8 percent of malfunctions in the chassis.

3. Mazda – 32%.

Recently, Mazda has been delighting car enthusiasts with its modern design and excellent engines. And, nevertheless, fans of this brand will have to prepare to eliminate 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 up away from the asphalt. For a reasonable 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 the list of brands with the strongest suspension was topped by Mini cars and Kia!

Legends are made. In a way, they are even magical - in the spring the roads disappear and then appear again. The test is not for every car. Therefore, the question of a reliable crossover for highways arises every year. Below is the answer from 2019.

Victory Criteria

We decided to take the reliability assessment of the American Transportation Safety Agency (NHTSA) as a basis. His research shapes transportation policy and choice for motorists around the world. The testing algorithm is stricter than the domestic one, which hints at the conclusion that these same cars will be safe on domestic roads.

But NHTSA does not cover the domestic auto industry. Therefore, we will make the choice at our discretion. And unlike previous experience, there will be no division into used and new - most of the above models are still on the assembly line.

NHTSA version

• 5th place is occupied by the Swedish Volvo XC90. The car is literally crammed electronic devices. They all work properly with a minimum of errors. Any unauthorized operation of the same security system or a collision avoidance unit automatically triggers a reliability analysis and error elimination. The car easily recognizes pedestrians and animals and prevents collisions with them.
• NHTSA gives 4th place Mercedes GLE. The model is especially popular in the Russian Federation. Its assembly is carried out by the Esipovo technopark near Moscow, so the machine is partly domestic. The Germans do not skimp on safety, equipping their cars with all possible systems. The pedantry of the people and the brand policy led to a low defect rate. Increased wheelbase and height vehicle improved smoothness. Potholes on domestic roads have become less noticeable. Not a trip, but a pleasure. Especially taking into account the goodies from Mercedes in the form of a spacious interior, fuel efficiency according to the Euro 5+ standard and a wide network of quality service.
• The dream of the new Russian Lexus RX took bronze place. The crossover is truly functional. Potholes no longer affect the condition of passengers and the driver. You can pass the time with the help of a modern multimedia system. A on-board computer quickly monitors malfunctions and wear of main components, warning its owners in advance about upcoming replacements of parts.
• The Audi Q7 gets the Rain Silver. The flagship SUV has received updates not only in design, but also on the technical side. User comments have been carefully analyzed, thanks to which the rate of factory defects has been reduced to less than one car per 1000. Nothing threatens the comfort of drivers and passengers. The car still runs smoothly.
• The Accura MDX takes gold. The model is somewhat reminiscent of the R-class from Mercedes. The car is assembled according to American standards, which are among the most stringent in the world. Reliable engine lasts up to three hundred thousand kilometers without repair. The risk of motion sickness is minimal. The American love for solid and smooth cars is palpable here. Stable cornering, sporty steering, with reliable suspension This car is amazingly beautiful. In the cabin, a 16-inch entertainment system monitor helps you forget about all the hardships, allowing time on the road to pass unnoticed.

Domestic brand

Domestic-assembled crossovers can hardly be called reliable even for Russian roads. Most, if not all, SUV models are produced by Tolyatti AvtoVAZ, a regular hero of jokes and a manufacturer of buckets on wheels. And although the auto giant has done a lot to improve its own products, they have certain technical and managerial defects.

The UAZ Patriot, or the famous “Bobik”, is gradually fading into history. Until recently, this reliable crossover - the answer to the American jeep - was in service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. Will be released in 2020 new crossover, as evidenced by insider information. There is no reliable information about the configuration and characteristics yet. But the developers hope to top the reliability rating next year.

Aurus crossovers remain dark horses. But it is still unclear whether the gold of the domestic auto industry should be included in the rating. The main purpose of these machines is to serve top government officials and representative delegations. Will they be given ordinary citizens– still a question. Now the main thing is to make sure that the models are reliable so that they do not fail according to Russian tradition. The Victory Parade on May 9 will test their potential.

conclusions

Let's summarize. If your goal is to travel around the region, to the countryside or to hard-to-reach areas, you can’t do without a crossover. But preference should be given to a foreign car. Asians are in priority, followed by Germans and Swedes. There is no doubt about the quality. The car rating is confident that the best moments of the domestic automobile industry are still ahead and cannot be written off.

- Madam, why, let me ask you, didn’t you put on diamond pendants? After all, you knew that I would be pleased to see them on you.
A. Dumas “The Three Musketeers”

Let us remind you: the entire set of parts and assemblies connecting the car body or frame with the wheels is called.

We list the main elements of the suspension:

• Elements that provide elasticity to the suspension. They perceive and transmit vertical forces that arise when driving over uneven roads.
• Guide elements - they determine the nature of the movement of the wheels. Also, the guide elements transmit longitudinal and lateral forces, and the moments arising from these forces.
• Shock-absorbing elements. Designed to dampen vibrations that occur when exposed to external and internal forces

In the beginning there was a spring

The first wheeled ones did not have any suspensions - there were simply no elastic elements. And then our ancestors, probably inspired by the design of the archery bow, began to use springs. With the development of metallurgy, they learned to impart elasticity to steel strips. Such strips, collected in a package, formed the first spring suspension. At that time, the so-called elliptical suspension was most often used, when the ends of two springs were connected, and their centers were attached to the body on one side and to the wheel axle on the other.

Then springs began to be used on cars, both in the form of a semi-elliptical design for dependent suspensions, and by installing one or even two springs across. At the same time, an independent suspension was obtained. The domestic auto industry has used springs for a long time - on Moskvich cars before the advent of front-wheel drive models, on Volga cars (with the exception of Volga Cyber), and on UAZ cars springs are still used.

Springs evolved along with the car: there were fewer leaves in the spring, up to the use of single-leaf springs on modern small delivery vans.

Spring suspension

Springs began to be installed at the dawn of the automotive industry and are still used successfully today. Springs can operate in dependent and independent suspensions. They are used on passenger cars all classes. The spring, initially only cylindrical, with a constant winding pitch acquired new properties as the suspension design was improved. Nowadays, conical or barrel-shaped springs are used, wound from a rod of variable cross-section. All so that the force does not grow in direct proportion to the deformation, but more intensely. The larger diameter areas work first, and then the smaller ones are switched on. Likewise, a thinner rod is put into operation earlier than a thicker one.

Torsion bars

Did you know that almost any car with a spring suspension still has torsion bars? After all, the stabilizer lateral stability, which is now installed almost everywhere, is a torsion bar. In general, any relatively straight and long lever that exerts torsion is a torsion bar. As the main elastic suspension elements, torsion bars were used along with springs at the very beginning of the automobile era. Torsion bars were placed along and across the car, used in the most different types pendants On domestic cars The torsion bar was used in the front suspension of Zaporozhian vehicles of several generations. Then the torsion bar suspension came in handy due to its compactness. Nowadays, torsion bars are more often used in the front suspension of frame SUVs.

The elastic element of the suspension is the torsion bar - a steel rod that works in torsion. One of the ends of the torsion bar is fixed to the frame or supporting body of the car with the ability to adjust the angular position. At the other end of the torsion bar is installed lower arm front suspension. The force on the lever creates a torque that twists the torsion bar. Neither longitudinal nor lateral forces act on the torsion bar; it works on pure torsion. By tightening the torsion bars, you can adjust the height of the front part of the car, but at the same time, the full suspension travel remains the same, we only change the ratio of the compression and rebound strokes.

Shock absorbers

From the course of school physics it is known that any elastic system is characterized by oscillations with a certain natural frequency. And if a disturbing force with the same frequency acts, a resonance will occur - a sharp increase in the amplitude of oscillations. In the case of a torsion bar or spring suspension, shock absorbers are designed to combat these vibrations. In a hydraulic shock absorber, the dissipation of vibration energy occurs due to the loss of energy for pumping special liquid from one chamber to another. Nowadays, telescopic shock absorbers are ubiquitous, from small cars to heavy vehicles. Shock absorbers, called gas, are actually also liquid, but the free volume, which all shock absorbers have, contains not just air, but gas under high pressure. Therefore, “gas” shock absorbers always tend to push their rod outward. But the next type of suspension can do without shock absorbers.

Air suspension

IN air suspension The role of the elastic element is played by the air located in the closed space of the air cylinder. Sometimes nitrogen is used instead of air. A pneumatic cylinder is a sealed container with walls made of synthetic fibers vulcanized into a layer of sealing and protective rubber. The design is much like the sidewall of a tire.

The most important quality of air suspension is the ability to change the pressure of the working fluid in the cylinders. Moreover, pumping air allows the device to play the role of a shock absorber. The control system allows you to change the pressure in each individual cylinder. In this way, buses can politely lean over at a stop to make it easier for passengers to board, and trucks can maintain a constant “stay”, whether packed to capacity or completely empty. And on passenger cars, pneumatic cylinders can be installed in rear suspension to maintain a constant ground clearance depending on the load. Sometimes the design of SUVs uses air suspension on both the front and rear axles.

Air suspension allows you to adjust the vehicle's ground clearance. At high speeds the car “squats” closer to the road. Since the center of mass becomes lower, the roll in corners is reduced. And on off-road terrain, where high ground clearance is important, the body, on the contrary, rises.

Pneumatic elements combine the functions of springs and shock absorbers, although only in cases where it is a factory design. In tuning designs, when air springs are simply added to the existing suspension, it is better to leave shock absorbers.

Tuners of all stripes are very fond of installing air suspensions. And, as usual, some want lower, some higher.

Dependent and independent suspension

Everyone has heard the expression “it has independent suspension all around.” What does this mean? An independent suspension is a suspension where each wheel makes compression and rebound movements (up and down) without affecting the movements of the other wheels.

Independent MacPherson strut suspension with L or A-arms is the most common type of front suspension in the world today. The simplicity and low cost of the design are combined with good handling.

A suspension is called dependent when the wheels are united by one rigid beam. In this case, the movement of one wheel, for example upward, is accompanied by a change in the angle of inclination of the other wheel relative to the road.

Previously, such suspensions were used very widely - take our Zhiguli cars. Now only on serious SUVs with a powerful continuous beam rear axle. Dependent suspension It is good only for its simplicity and is used where strength conditions require a rigid continuous bridge. There is also a semi-independent suspension. This one is used on rear axle inexpensive cars. It is an elastic beam that connects the axles of the rear wheels.