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FRONT END AND STEERING
The front suspension system must allow the wheels to move up and down. At the same time, it must allow the wheels to pivot from side to side so that the car can be steered. One of the first front suspension systems used on cars was the conventional front axle suspension, the I beam. This system is still used on heavy-duty trucks.
Modern American cars have ball joint independent front suspension. This system consists of an upper and lower control arm allowing the up-and-down movement of the car. The inner ends of these arms are attached to pivots mounted to the frame. The outer ends are connected to the steering knuckle and the spindle support with ball joints. There are three variations of this system. One uses a coil spring mounted between the lower control arm and the frame; another uses a coil spring mounted between the upper control arm and the frame; and a third, used on Chrysler Corporation cars, Toronados, and Eldorados, has a torsion bar connected to the frame at one end and the lower control arm at the other.
The independent twin I beam suspension system is used on Ford truck F-100, F-250, and F-350 series. One end of each twin I beam is attached to the frame with a pivot, and the outer ends of the beams are attached to the spindle. Coil springs support the weight of the vehicle in this system, and a radius arm prevents the outer ends of the beams from moving forward or backward. Twin I beam suspension was designed to provide the strength needed to carry the load of trucks and the flexibility to provide a smoother ride.
In this chapter you will learn how to replace shock absorbers, tie-rod ends, stabilizer links, and the power steering pump and hoses.
The front suspension of the horse-drawn wagon was simply a straight axle. To turn the wagon, the entire axle and supporting springs had to be swiveled at the center. Although the wagon could carry heavy loads, it was very difficult to steer, and the ride was
The I Beam, one of the first front sus-pension systems used on cars, is still used today on heavy-duty trucks.
The independent twin I beam suspen-sion system was designed to carry the load of trucks and yet have the flexibility to provide a smoother ride than the single I beam.
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