Most car owners and drivers don’t know much about their car’s steering and suspension system. Suspension, when talking about cars, refers to the use of front and rear springs to suspend the “sprung” weight of a vehicle. The springs used in today’s cars and trucks are built in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, speeds, and capacities. Types include leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars. These are used in sets of four for each vehicle, or can be paired in various combinations and attached using several different mounting techniques.
The suspension system also includes shock absorbers and/or struts and stabilizer bars. In the early 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 rudder that turned the entire front axle. As the engine 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 component strength and durability, and advances in tire design and construction have greatly contributed to ride comfort and safe driving.
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. Much of the system’s work is done by the springs. Under normal conditions, the springs support the car body uniformly by compressing and rebounding with each up and down movement. This up and down movement, however, causes bouncing and swaying after every bump and is very uncomfortable for the passenger. These undesirable effects are reduced by buffers.
Ford is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers. Over the years, Ford has continued to be one of the most popular and successful automakers in the industry. With its global operations and best-selling model, Ford is ahead of its competitors. Ford replacement parts are one of the best-selling auto parts on the market. Millions of Ford auto parts are sold each year to meet the needs of millions of Ford car owners around the world. Ford owners can easily find the best parts for their vehicles at many stores. However, if you are in need of high quality Ford auto parts such as Ford air conditioning condensers, Ford bumpers, Ford fuel tanks, Ford fog lights, Ford radiators and others, then you should only buy from a reputable and trustworthy store.