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MacPherson strut suspension, track control arm coloured dark blue. In automotive suspension, a control arm, also known as an A-arm, is a hinged suspension link between the chassis and the suspension upright or hub that carries the wheel. In simple terms, it governs a wheel's vertical travel, allowing it to move up or down when driving over ...
The lowered pivot point and longer arm length reduce the change in camber and the effect is far less hazardous than powered swing axles for the rear wheels listed above, where the pivot point is approximately on the same side frame rail. [6] The Twin I-Beam suspension includes an additional radius arm link on each side to control caster. [7]
As such, push-rod suspension systems allow for much greater high-speed stability, much lower levels of body-roll, and a much lower centre of gravity for the vehicle. [7] For pull-rod suspension systems, the only difference is the orientation of the rocker arms. In a push-rod system, the rocker arms are placed at the highest point in the assembly.
Commonly, springs are mounted on control arms, swing arms or some other pivoting suspension member. Consider the example above, where the spring rate was calculated to be 500 lbs/inch (87.5 N/mm), if one were to move the wheel 1 in (2.5 cm) (without moving the car), the spring more than likely compresses a smaller amount.
The assembly can be further simplified, if needed, by substituting an anti-roll bar (torsion bar) for the radius arm. [14] For those reasons, it has become almost ubiquitous with low cost manufacturers. Furthermore, it offers an easy method to set suspension geometry. [15] Many modern versions replace the lower control arm with a wishbone.
A single wishbone or A-arm can also be used in various other suspension types, such as variations of the MacPherson strut. The upper arm is usually shorter to induce negative camber as the suspension jounces (rises), and often this arrangement is titled an "SLA" or "short, long arms" suspension. When the vehicle is in a turn, body roll results ...
Many currently manufactured automobiles worldwide use MacPherson strut suspension, which utilises one ball joint per side, between the lower end of the strut and the control arm, with the necessary small amount of articulation at the top of the strut being usually provided by an elastomeric bearing, within which is a ball bearing to allow free ...
A link differs from a control arm because it can only control one of the degrees of freedom by itself. In the attached photo of a 5-link live axle suspension, the different types of links can be seen. These links work in tandem with the coil springs, dampers, and sway bar to control all six degrees of freedom of the axle. The upper links ...