"Suspension," when discussing cars, refers to the use of front and rear springs to
suspend a vehicle's "sprung" weight. The springs used on today's cars and trucks are
constructed in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, rates, and capacities. Types include
leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars. These are used in sets of four
for each vehicle, or they may be paired off in various combinations and are attached by
several different mounting techniques. The suspension system also includes shocks and/or
struts, and sway bars.

Back in the earliest days of automobile development, when most of the car's weight
(including the engine) was on the rear axle, steering was a simple matter of turning a
tiller that pivoted the entire front axle. When the engine was moved to the front of the
car, complex steering systems had to evolve. The modern automobile has come a long way
since the days when "being self-propelled" was enough to satisfy the car owner.
Improvements in suspension and steering, increased strength and durability of components,
and advances in tire design and construction have made large contributions to riding
comfort and to safe driving.

Cadillac allegedly produced the first American car to use a steering wheel instead of
a tiller.

Two of the most common steering mechanisms are the "rack and pinion" and the standard
(or recirculating-ball) systems that can be either manual or assisted by power. The rack
and pinion was designed for sports cars and requires too much driver muscle at low speeds
to be very useful in larger, heavier cars. However, power steering makes a heavy car
respond easily to the steering wheel, whether at highway speeds or inching into a narrow
parking place, and it is normal equipment for large automobiles.

The suspension system has two basic functions, to keep the car's wheels in firm
contact with the road and to provide a comfortable ride for the passengers. A lot of the
system's work is done by the springs. Under normal conditions, the springs support the
body of the car evenly by compressing and rebounding with every up-and-down movement.
This up-and-down movement, however, causes bouncing and swaying after each bump and is
very uncomfortable to the passenger. These undesirable effects are reduced by the shock
absorbers.

The above information is directly from the Auto Insight program, which you can buy
online from AutoEducation.com.

Common Problems:

• Shocks and struts can wear out and affect handling. If you car bounces excessively
  over bumps and leans hard in corners, your shocks could be warn. Look behind the wheel
  for the shock or strut and look for leaking oil. This is a sure sign of a worn shock or
  strut.



• Ball joints. Ball joints wear and can cause your car to wander while driving down
  the road. This is dangerous as they can separate and cause you to lose control.

Preventive maintenance:

• Check your shocks or struts for leakage frequently. Also pay attention to how your
  car handles. If you notice the ride deteriorating take your car in to have the struts
  checked.



• Ball joints should be checked when your car is inspected, if not, have your
  mechanic check them at least twice a year.



• At each oil change make sure you or your mechanic lubricates the ball joints and
  any other suspension components. Some components cannot be lubricated as they are
  sealed from the factory.