ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Automotive suspension design

Have you ever ridden on a bumpy road and felt like you were bouncing all over the place? That's where suspension comes in! Suspensions are what cars use to ride smoothly over bumps and rough roads.

Think of it like a bed with springs. When you jump on the bed, the springs push back and absorb some of the force. A car's suspension does the same thing, but instead of springs, it uses things like shocks, struts, and springs to absorb the force of bumps and potholes.

Without suspension, cars would be really uncomfortable to ride in and everything inside the car would get jostled around. But with suspension, it makes the ride more comfortable and also helps the car handle better when turning and stopping.

There are different types of suspension designs, but they all have the same goal: to absorb the force of the road so that you have a smooth ride. Some cars have a "double wishbone" suspension, which uses A-shaped arms to help the wheels move up and down. Other cars have a "strut" suspension, which uses a combination of shocks and springs to absorb the force.

It's important for car manufacturers to design the suspension properly, because it affects how the car handles and how comfortable it is to ride in. So, the next time you're driving over a bumpy road, you can thank the suspension for making your ride smoother!