Handling Basics

When the independent suspension for automobiles was invented, it gave the ability for each wheel on the same axis to travel separately, making the spring a mandatory part of the system. There are 3 types of springs used on the contemporary automobiles, Leaf Springs, Torsion Bars, and Coil Springs. Leaf springs – have been widely used on most cars until 1985, now are only used on heavy and light duty truck because of their ability to support heavy loads. Torsion bars – solid bar of steel with one end attached to the lower control arm of a suspension and the other to the frame of the car, mostly used in pick-up truck suspensions because of its ability to resist heavy loads. I will not go into detail about these types of springs because they are a whole different topic altogether.