Components are elements that distinguish the various types of suspensions, depending on their geometric characteristics tied to the type of suspension on which they are employed.
Axles (both front and rear) feature the presence of mainly structural type of components, which have to guarantee a certain stiffness at the entry points of the load (such as, for example, the mechanical frame or cross-member, the control arms and the knuckles), components that are basically elastic (springs, anti-roll bars, rubber blocks and bushings, end-of-travel buffers), and finally other components that guarantee the dampening (shock absorbers).
Front frame
The mechanical FRAME of the front suspensions guarantees connection of the control arms, the anti-roll bar, the steering box and the engine suspension.
It is usually made with parts in steel metal or hydroformed tubes welded to each other.
These components are not simple to design because they have to guarantee, at the same time, high stiffness for good vehicle handling and excellent energy absorption for the crash performances of the same vehicle.
Front cross-members
The mechanical FRAME of the front suspensions guarantees connection of the control arms, of the anti-roll bar, of the steering box and of the engine suspension.
It is usually made with parts of steel metal welded to each other, or with an integral fusion in aluminium.
The design of these components has to guarantee high stiffness for good vehicle handling, but unlike the frames, contributes to a lesser extent to vehicle crash performances.
Rigid axles / Twist Beams
The Rear Suspension with Rigid axle is traditionally employed in commercial vehicles, where the high load of the vehicle itself and the cost aspect, which has to be limited, are fundamental.
The Twist Beam Suspension, on the other hand, is used in medium-low range vehicles where the cost aspect is favoured, since they offer lower performances compared to the other types.
Cross-members/ Rear Frames
The CROSS-MEMBER of rear suspensions guarantees connection of the control arms and the anti-roll bar and, in case the vehicle features a rear-wheel drive, it guarantees support for the differential (in this case called FRAMES).
It is usually made with metal sheet parts or steel tube welded to each other, or with an integral fusion in aluminium.
The design of these components has to guarantee high stiffness for a good vehicle handling.
Front Control Arms
The CONTROL ARMS of front suspensions guarantee the connection between Wheel Group and the Frames/Cross-members of the suspension, which in turn are secured to the body shell.
They can have multiple attachment points (3,4), or only to, and in this case they are also called Bars.
The most commonly used technologies employed in Magneti Marelli’s control arms are:
The design of these components is peculiar due to the high energy absorption that the components must have in case of collisions involving the wheel.
