Technical Diagrams
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System Components
The main components of today’s suspension system are the springs, shock absorbers and struts.
Springs:
The springs support the weight of the vehicle, maintain ride height and absorb road shock caused by bumps or dips in the road. The coil spring is the most common and may be used at both the front and rear of the vehicle. The leaf spring is made of several steel plates of different lengths and is commonly used at the rear of the vehicle.
Ride height measurements not within manufacturer’s specifications require the replacement of springs. It is important that you replace the springs as they can accelerate tire wear, cause handling problems and wear other suspension components.
Shocks:
Shock absorbers are usually used on cars and light trucks with standard suspension systems. Shock absorbers provide resistance by forcing hydraulic fluid through valves in the piston as it moves up and down which dampen movement of the vehicles springs as they compress and rebound during vehicle travel. The amount of resistance depends on how fast the suspension moves. Without shock absorbers your vehicle would continually bounce, making it difficult to control.
Shock absorbers not only give you a comfortable ride but they help ensure all four tires stay in contact with the road for better stability and control. You should have your shock absorbers checked, by a licensed technician, if they have been driven 80,000 kilometers or more.
Struts:
Unlike shock absorbers, struts are a major structural part of the suspension. Struts perform two main jobs. First, they act like a shock absorber to dampen the movement of the springs as they compress and rebound. Secondly struts provide structural support for the vehicles suspension, support the spring and hold the tire in an aligned position.
Struts affect riding comfort and handling as well as vehicle control, braking, steering, wheel alignment and tire wear. It is recommended that you have your struts checked by a licensed technician if they have been driven 80,000 kilometers or more.
Money Saving Tip: When having your suspension serviced it’s a good idea to have the "bearing / mounting plate", and mounting bolts inspected along with other parts that are designed to protect the strut / shock such as the "jounce bumper" and "dust boot". You'll not only be saving yourself from paying for the same labour charges again, but you will also be protecting the investment you made in new parts.