Home > Independent suspension

Most modern vehicles have independent suspensions on the front wheels at least. An Independent Rear Suspension (IRS), as the name implies, has the rear wheels independently sprung. A fully-independent suspension has an independent suspension on all wheels.

Early independent systems used swing axles, but modern systems have use Chapman or MacPherson struts, trailing arms, multiple links, or wishbones.

Another key difference which sets an independent layout from the conventional live axle, is that, for driven wheels, the differential unit does not form part of the unsprung elements of the suspension system. Instead it is either bolted directly to the vehicle's chassis, or more commonly to a subframe .

The relative movement between the wheels and the differential is achieved through the use of swinging driveshafts connected via universal (U) jointsA universal joint U joint or Cardan joint is a joint in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction. It consists of a pair of ordinary hinges located close together, but oriented at 90° relative to each other. Universal joints are common wh, analogous to the Constant Velocity (CV) joints used in front wheel driveFront wheel drive is the most common form of engine/ transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. Rear wheel drive was the traditional standard while four wheel drive is also sometimes used. The history of fron vehicles.

Independent suspension characteristics: No camberCamber has slightly different meanings in different technical fields. See camber angle for the use of the term in automobile technology In aeronautical engineering camber is the assymetry between the top and the bottom curves of an aerofoil. Cambered aero changes on compression or rebound, low unsprung weight