With Evolving Technologies, Truck Suspensions Set to Touch Innovative New Heights
Published On Apr 25, 2016
Suspension set-ups in pick-up trucks have varied on a great scale over history. The evolution of the simple, double axle arrangement has occurred over many decades, and several pioneers in the industry such as Dodge and Ford have set the standard for new and more efficient formats.
In the 1960s, new models from American majors such as Chevy and GM helped to collectively define a new trend. A more accommodate independent front axle had been set in place, helping to bring better manoeuvring skills to the vehicle. Some notable vehicles that caught the public eye in that era of evolution and innovation include the rear-drive Forward Control Corvair, the eye-catching all-wheel-drive Honda Ridgeline, Volkswagen Type 2 pickups built on the groundwork of vans and military-based four-wheel-drive Hummer H1.
Over the years, although suspensions have evolved and adopted new characteristics, the basic framework remains just the same. The components of a chassis include a front and rear axle that come equipped with shock absorbers and other elements that help to fine-tune precision. The front axle helps to set the steering precision, ride quality and handling for the ride. A bar connects both the wheels, and coil springs are usually mounted as well to boost comfort.
Every truck on our roads comes along with a solid axle at the rear as well. One is likely to find a leaf-spring suspension that helps to regulate forces that transmit to the wheels during the ride. The simple design helps to bear the weight of the ride, and also control the axle rotation.
A pivotal component of most suspensions today are shock absorbers. These are latched along with the axles, and they help to shield the small commercial vehicles from jolts met when traversing over road irregularities. They come in a variety of designs, ranging from twin-tube, mono-tube and many others.
In the close future, we could expect truck suspensions systems to evolve drastically, and also gain more widespread acceptance and flexibility. More advanced arrangements are likely to penetrate the mainstream market. Air based suspensions would be more widely available, and magnetic ride systems could also be seen to be embraced by most manufacturers. As the app-based tech industry propels to new heights, computers and electronic means could also be warped into trucks to improve precision of the axles and the suspension. More advanced drive systems such as the Anti-lock braking systems are sure to be projected and taken up by the market as well.
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