suspension
suh-SPEN-shun
/səˈspɛnʃən/
The system of springs and shock absorbers by which a vehicle is supported on its wheels.
It serves two purposes: keeping the tires in contact with the road (handling) and protecting the cabin from bumps (comfort).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sub-' (under) + 'pendere' (to hang). It literally means to hang the body of the car 'under' or 'from' the frame via springs, so it doesn't sit directly on the axles.
Word relationships
- springing: Springing is an older, more literal term for the springs themselves.
Commonly confused with
- dampening: Dampening is the act of reducing the energy of the springs; suspension is the whole system.
Word family
- suspend (verb): To hang or support from above.
Collocations
- independent suspension
- air suspension
- suspension tuning
Example sentences
- "The suspension of the car was so soft that it felt like floating on a cloud." Reviewing a luxury vehicle.
- "A long-travel suspension is essential for vehicles designed to traverse rocky terrain." Off-road engineering.
Memory hook
The car is 'suspended' above the road by springs. Suspension = Hanging the car.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'suspension' in a legal sense (losing a license) or a chemical sense (particles in a liquid).
Fun facts
- Early cars often used 'leaf springs,' which were just layers of flexible metal used on horse-drawn carriages.
- Magnetic suspension uses fluids that change thickness when a current is applied to react to bumps instantly.
Related words
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