There are three primary purposes of a suspension in a work truck. These purposes are:

Support the load — the suspension needs to be durable enough to handle the work expected of it.

Faka stabili ukuze imoto ikwazi ukuhamba ezindaweni ezingalingani futhi kwesinye isikhathi eziyingozi ngaphandle kokuvumela imoto ukuthi igobe.

Cushion the ride to protect the equipment, the cargo and provide for optimal driver comfort.

“Ukukhetha i-suspension engcono kakhulu yomsebenzi kuncike kakhulu kulokho okukhona kokusebenza kanye nesikhathi somsebenzi semoto,” kusho uSean Whitfield, umqondisi wezokumaketha we-Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems.

For instance, a vocational vehicle used in rugged off-road conditions on worksites will require a different type of suspension than an on-highway vehicle that spends most of its time on paved streets or interstates.

“Imisebenzi yemoto zidinga ukuqina, ukuzinza, kanye nokuhamba kahle kanti imoto esikhumulweni sezindiza izodinga isimo sokuhamba esifanele. Izinhlamvu zibalulekile ukufaka imishini efanele emsebenzini,” kusho uWhitfield.

Suspension Types by Truck Class

Medium-duty vehicles (Class 5-7) are, for the largest part, single drive axle (4x2 or 4x4) configurations.

“Lezi zimoto ngokuvamile zifakwe izinqumo zokuphakamisa zensimbi, ezifana nezinsimbi ze-Hendrickson HTS, kodwa uma zisetshenziswa ezinhlelweni ezithintekayo, izinqumo zomoya ezifana ne-Hendrickson HAS noma i-PRIMAAX EX nazo ziyatholakala. I-suspension yokuphakamisa yensimbi izoba yisixazululo esingabizi kakhulu futhi izohlinzeka ngokuqina okungcono kodwa, ezimweni eziningi, izoba nzima futhi izohlinzeka ngohambo oluqinile/lokuphazamiseka uma kuqhathaniswa ne-suspension yomoya,” kusho uWhitfield.

Typically, mechanical suspensions will be found in applications such as utility, dump, or box van.

NgokukaWhitfield, i-air suspension izoba lula futhi izohlinzeka ngohambo oluthambile kodwa izoba nentengo ephezulu futhi ngokuvamile izodinga ukugcinwa okuningi kune-mechanical suspension.

“Air suspensions can often be found in applications such as food and beverage, moving van or other applications where optimal ride quality is desired to protect the cargo,” Whitfield said.

Heavy-duty vehicles (Class 8) are most often tandem drive axle (6x4) configurations.“These vehicles can utilize mechanical steel spring suspensions, mechanical elastomeric (rubber) spring suspensions, or air suspensions. Again, the suspension choice is greatly dependent upon the vehicle’s application,” Whitfield noted.

Ngokujwayelekile, izimoto ezisebenza emgwaqweni ezisetshenziselwa ikakhulu ukuhambisa impahla emigwaqweni nasemgwaqweni emikhulu zisebenzisa kakhulu izinqumo zomoya, ezihlinzeka ngohambo oluthambile nokugcina okuphansi.

Vocational trucks, however, incorporate a variety based on the requirements of the application.

“Applications that are not as concerned with ride quality or weight efficiency but need to be more cost-effective would be more likely to use steel spring mechanical suspensions. This could include vocations such as construction, utility, or mining. Vehicles used in more weight and ride-sensitive applications where traction and durability are still needed, such as refuse, mixer, or dump, would be well suited for an elastomeric (rubber) spring suspension.

Whitfield noted that, in both cases, steel spring and rubber spring configurations, equalizing (walking) beam suspensions are the most common and effective for providing optimal stability, mobility, and traction.

Lastly, specific jobs lend themselves better to air suspensions in the vocational world.

“Lezi zinto zivame ukubonwa emsebenzini wokulima, emkhakheni wamafutha, ekuthwaleni imishini esindayo, njll. Kulezi zinhlelo, izimoto zingavame ukuphuma ezindleleni ezihlotshisiwe ukuze zenze umsebenzi ongenamsebenzi ngakho zidinga izinga eliphezulu lokuqina nokuzinza, kodwa nazo zizochitha isikhathi esibalulekile emgwaqweni lapho ukuhamba okuthambile kuhle. Lezi zixhumi zihlala zikhokha kancane, kodwa izinzuzo zikhokha ngempela,” kusho uWhitfield.