Spring Element, Basic Function - GF32.00-P-1000A

Vehicles with steel suspension 

Overview 

This document contains information on: 

• General 
• Function 

General 

Through the suspension, unsprung masses (e.g. wheels, parts of the wheel suspension) are connected with sprung masses (e.g. drive, body). The steel suspension consists of coil springs. Coil springs offer a compact design in combination with the required shock absorbers. There are two variants of coil spring.

Function 

Coil springs with linear spring rate 

Coil springs with linear spring rate have a constant diameter over the entire spring length. The spring force increases linearly with the load with which the spring is being compressed.

Coil springs with progressive spring rate

Coil springs with progressive spring rate have a diameter that changes over the entire spring length. This means that the spring force depends on the load. The spring steel wire that changes in diameter (inconstant spring steel wire) enables a softer, and so more comfortable, compression under light load. With increasing load, the larger wire diameter takes over cushioning and has a harder effect. Different spring rates are combined into one spring. This enables the combination of soft up to hard spring rates, depending on the load and the dynamic condition of the vehicle (braking, accelerating, cornering).