Suspension Systems: Types and Functions

Suspension Systems: Types and Functions

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to recognize different types of suspension systems used in cars and their functions.

This slide will give students an idea of what they will learn at the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about car suspension?

What is suspension system?

Suspension system is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two.

Introduce the topic of suspension system and explain its purpose and components.

Types of Suspension Systems

There are mainly two types of suspension systems: Dependent and Independent. Dependent systems are used in the rear wheels of trucks and SUVs while Independent systems are used in most cars.

Explain the two major types of suspension systems and their applications.

Dependent Suspension Systems

Dependent suspension systems are connected to the solid axle and usually have leaf springs, coil springs, or air bags. They are heavy-duty and can bear a lot of weight.

Describe dependent suspension systems and the types of springs they use.

Independent Suspension Systems

Independent suspension systems allow each wheel to move independently. They offer better handling and a smoother ride than dependent systems. They can be further classified into several categories based on their design.

Describe independent suspension systems and their advantages over dependent systems. Mention that there are several types of independent systems.

Interactive Exercise

Show a picture of a car and ask the students to identify the type of suspension system used in it.

This slide is an interactive exercise for students to test their understanding of the lesson.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.