Suspension
Active Suspension
Active suspension uses powered actuators to apply suspension forces beyond passive damping and spring response.
EV Dictionary: Suspension
Browse electric vehicle terms and definitions related to Suspension. 33 terms
Suspension
Adaptive Dampers (CDC/CCD)
Adaptive dampers vary their force characteristic using electronic control, sensor data, and selected vehicle modes.
Suspension
Adaptive Suspension
Adaptive suspension changes one or more chassis characteristics according to conditions, sensors, or drive mode.
Suspension
Anti-Roll Bar
An anti-roll bar is a torsion spring linking the left and right suspension to resist differential motion.
Suspension
Body Motions: Heave, Pitch, and Roll
Heave, pitch, and roll describe vertical translation and rotation of the vehicle body.
Suspension
Bump Steer
Bump steer is a change in wheel steer or toe caused by suspension travel without driver steering input.
Suspension
Bump Stop and Rebound Stop
Travel stops protect suspension components and can add a tuned secondary rate near each limit.
Suspension
Camber
Camber settings and their movement affect tire contact, forces, wear, and alignment.
Suspension
Damper Force–Velocity Curve
A force–velocity curve shows how damper force changes with shaft speed and direction.
Suspension
Double-Wishbone Suspension
A double-wishbone layout locates the wheel with separate upper and lower control arms.
Suspension
Five-Link Suspension
A five-link suspension uses five locating links at each wheel carrier as a form of multi-link axle.
Suspension
Frequency-Selective Damping (FSD)
Frequency-selective damping passively changes damper response for different patterns of suspension motion.
Suspension
Ground Clearance and Ride Height
Ground clearance and ride height use different reference points to describe a vehicle's vertical position.
Suspension
Independent Suspension
Independent suspension lets one wheel move vertically without a rigid axle forcing the opposite wheel.
Suspension
Linear, Digressive, and Progressive Damping
These terms describe how damper force changes as shaft velocity rises.
Suspension
Low-Speed and High-Speed Damping
These damping regions refer to damper-shaft velocity, not the vehicle's road speed.
Suspension
MacPherson Strut Suspension
A MacPherson strut combines damping, spring support, and structural wheel location.
Suspension
Magnetorheological Dampers
Magnetorheological dampers use a magnetic field to vary fluid resistance and damping force in real time.
Suspension
Monotube and Twin-Tube Dampers
These damper layouts use different working, gas, and compensation-chamber arrangements.
Suspension
Multi-Link Suspension
A multi-link suspension locates each wheel with several separate links for flexible geometry tuning.
Suspension
Passive Suspension
A passive suspension has no controller changing its mechanical behavior in real time.
Suspension
Road-Preview Suspension
Preview data lets a suspension prepare for road disturbances before a wheel reaches them.
Suspension
Scrub Radius
Scrub radius is the lateral road-plane distance between the steering axis and tire-contact reference.
Suspension
Self-Leveling and Ride-Height Control
These systems adjust static body height for load, clearance, access, or aerodynamics.
Suspension
Semi-Active Suspension
Semi-active suspension varies resistance to motion but does not generate arbitrary powered suspension force.
Suspension
Semi-Independent Suspension
Semi-independent suspension allows relative wheel movement while retaining a structural coupling.
Suspension
Solid Axle
A solid axle rigidly connects the left and right wheel carriers so their motion is mechanically linked.
Suspension
Sprung Mass
Body, battery, occupants, and cargo form most of the mass carried by the suspension.
Suspension
Suspension Motion Ratio
Suspension motion ratio relates wheel movement to spring, damper, or linkage movement.
Suspension
Suspension Travel: Bump and Rebound
Suspension travel spans compression and extension, with wheel and component strokes separated by geometry.
Suspension
Toe
Toe describes each wheel's direction relative to the vehicle's longitudinal reference in plan view.
Suspension
Torsion-Beam Suspension
A torsion-beam suspension couples two trailing arms through a cross member that twists in roll.
Suspension
Unsprung Mass
Unsprung mass is the effective mass that moves mainly with the road side of the suspension.