Special Springs for Extending Chassis Service Life

The life of the car chassis is equivalent to the car itself. Unlike other parts of the car that can be replaced for reasonable cost, the price of replacing an old chassis with a new one can reach a point where purchasing a new car is more cost-effective. This is especially true for older car models with parts like chassis having been phased out by the original manufacturers. A car owner can either scavenge for parts or have it custom-built. There are companies that manufacture custom-built parts with quality that are on par with the original manufacturer, albeit expensive.

Being able to extend the life of the chassis means extending the serviceable life of the car. One of the ways to avoid expensive chassis replacement is with the use of special springs combined with reinforcement.

The most battered sections of the chassis are those at the connection with suspension components. As the car accumulates mileage, the attachment points gradually weakens due to the stress caused by shocks and vibrations.

The special springs for car attaches to different parts of the chassis instead of the original attachment points. The area around the original attachment points are then reinforced to make up for the structural weakening caused by stress. By doing so, the life of the chassis and the car itself is extended without have to spend so much. This method is ideal for chassis that have been properly taken care of and protected against corrosion and wear.  

Suspension: Solid Axle and Double Wishbone

The suspension system is the part of the vehicle that takes the greatest abuse. This is especially true for vehicles that tasked with carrying heavy loads. The suspension system is one of the first parts that needs to be replaced. There are many types of suspension system. 

The type of system determines the mounting details required. The solid axle and the double wishbone are two such types of suspension systems.

A solid axle suspension include a solid beam or shaft that crosses from one side to the other of the vehicle. A pivoting connection connects both the left and right ends of the shaft to the wheel spindle, allowing the spindle to turn towards the left of right. 

The solid axle design may use leaf springs or coil springs connected from the vehicle structure to the lateral sides of the solid axle beam, therefore allowing upward movement when road bumps are encountered.

Double wishbone uses a pair of triangular parts or called a wishbone stacked vertical to the other. The medial long end of each triangular part is mounted to the structure of the vehicle using a pivoting connection. The lateral pointed end of each triangular part is mounted to either the upper or lower ball joint of the corresponding wheel hub. 

The upper and lower ball joints allow the wheel to turn left or right. A spring assembly is typically installed between the vehicle structure and the lateral portion of the lower wishbone, thus supporting the vehicle and damping bumps. The double wishbone has been considered the gold standard for rear wheel drive vehicles for many years. 

A typical double wishbone suspension will use a shorter upper wishbone compared to the lower, thus causing the tilting outward of the lower portion of the wheel as the suspension rises during bumps or turns. The shorter upper wishbone helps to keep the tire flat during cornering.