Suspension is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two. Suspension systems must support both road holding/handling and ride quality, which are at odds with each other. The tuning of suspensions involves finding the right compromise. It is important for the suspension to keep the road wheel in contact with the road surface as much as possible, because all the road or ground forces acting on the vehicle do so through the contact patches of the tires. The suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage from damage and wear. The design of front and rear suspension of a car may be different.
Part of car front suspension and steering mechanism: tie rod, steering arm, king pin axis (using ball joints).
Van Diemen RF01 Racing Car Suspension.
American carriage showcasing thoroughbrace suspension—note the black straps running across the side of the undercarriage
The front suspension components of a Ford Model T.
A spring is a device consisting of an elastic but largely rigid material bent or molded into a form that can return into shape after being compressed or extended. Springs can store energy when compressed. In everyday use, the term most often refers to coil springs, but there are many different spring designs. Modern springs are typically manufactured from spring steel. An example of a non-metallic spring is the bow, made traditionally of flexible yew wood, which when drawn stores energy to propel an arrow.
Helical coil springs designed for tension
A heavy-duty coil spring designed for compression and tension
A machined spring incorporates several features into one piece of bar stock
Military booby trap firing device from USSR (normally connected to a tripwire) showing spring-loaded firing pin