Saturday, Nov 19, 2016 at 11:29
I think the guys view is over simplistic.
First of all are we talking about cars or trailers?
It matters little the issues are pretty much the same, except there are two particular issues that differ in trailers.
1/ the
suspension on trailer does not need to be as sofisticated or as
well designed on trailers, because the trailer does not corner, handle and brake on its own.
2/ suspensions on trailers are all pretty much without exception crude in comparison to similar
suspension that would be found on stand alone motor vehicles.
Issue 2, is pretty much THE overwhelming problem with trailers ....... regardless of the type of
suspension, the majority of
suspension systems fitted to trailers are utter rubbish.
Even the very best trailer suspensions commercially offerd are piss $#@!% poor compared to the best systems available on stand alone motor vehicles.
All
suspension systems have their advantages and disadvantages.
Leaf springs and beam axles.
The biggest advantage of leaf springs and beam axles is that it is very easy to engineer an adequate
suspension system ...... what I mean is a
suspension system that will perform tolerably
well.
Pretty much the entire worldwide heavy transport fleet rode on leaf springs and a beam axle until the advent of airbags ..... pretty much all light commercials have a beam axle at least in the rear.
All engineering requirements for a pretty decent leaf spring and beam axle
suspension are very
well known, easily dealt with and all the parts are redily available.
The problem with leaf springs on trailers is that ..... even though all the information required to make leaf springs and a beam axle perform
well is readily available ....... most trailers with leaf springs have fundamental flaws that can not but ensure they perform poorly.
they are
Failure to mount
the springs in a proper attitude
The almost indemic use of spring rates that are far too hard.
the use of short springs
the failure to fit shockabsorbers
the failure to fit bump stops and properly deal with the
suspension running out of travel both at the upper and lower end of
suspension travel.
Coil sprung independent
suspension
Should in theory be THE best available
suspension for pretty much any purpose other than carrying heavy loads.
This is why it will be found on pretty much all high performance cars, both on & off road and in both general use & competition.
The basic engineering of independent suspensions had also has been very
well known and documented. While computer design and simulation has allowed some significant improvements in function and comfort ..... the basics of independent
suspension is not rocket science ....... most of it can be
well understood with year 12 maths and geometry.
The problem with independent
suspension on trailers comes from exactly the same source as beam axle suspensions ........ the inherant crappiness of trailer suspensions in general.
those problems are
Failure to mount
the springs in a proper attitude.
Failure to select propper spring rates
Realy crude and most disadvantageous swing arm geometry
Frequent failures in the designs of the swing arms and their attachment points.
Short swing arms
A failuure to actually build and attach the
suspension securely and squarely to the trailer
Poor shock absorber design ... not matched to the spring rate and the load
Frequent failure to mount shockabsorbers in their designed attitude
Failure to properly deal with the
suspension reaching the end of travel at both ends.
I know there are some independednt suspensions for trailers that some think are wonderfull ........ but put beside the
suspension found in stand alone vehicles they all look piss poor.
Oh and we do not see the wide variety of
suspension systems we see on stand alone motor vehicles ....... beam axles and coil springs, leaves and independent, dual training links, double wishbones, semi-independents and so on
pretty much all of this is due to trailer builders failing to get past the idea of attaching whatever cheap
suspension direct to the bottom of a flat trailer box. rather than designing the trailer chassis and the
suspension as a whole
As it stands it's not the type of
suspension that is the issue it is the adequacy of its design
cheers
AnswerID:
606009
Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Saturday, Nov 19, 2016 at 18:36
Saturday, Nov 19, 2016 at 18:36
Agree...But the worlds best
suspension is useless if you do not air your tyres to suit conditions. Tyers also are part of the
suspension system.
FollowupID:
875769
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Nov 20, 2016 at 17:43
Sunday, Nov 20, 2016 at 17:43
especially if your springs are over stiff
FollowupID:
875790