What are silent blocks in a car for?
The wheels of the machine receive shocks from the unevenness of the road surface and transfer the impact energy to the elastic elements. Springs, shock absorbers and torsion bars take part in damping vibrations with a large amplitude. Vibration and small shaking are effectively absorbed by rubber-metal hinges.
In the damping device of the machine, part of the nodes is attached using rubber-metal hinges. The main role of silent blocks in the suspension of a car is to dampen small vibrations and protect the joints of parts from wear. Elastic elements differ in design depending on the installation location and load level.
What is silent block
Most car suspension parts are interconnected by rubber bushings in a metal sheath. This fastener dampens vibrations and vibrations that are transmitted from other parts of the elastic device. Silent blocks are at the ends of the levers, transverse rods and in the shock absorber supports. These rubber-metal elements are also responsible for damping vibrations of the engine and gearbox.
Silent blocks fulfill their role for a long time - up to 100 km of a car's run. But on bad roads, they break down faster.
The main signs of a silent block malfunction:
- deterioration in manageability;
- delayed response of the front suspension to the steering wheel;
- pulling the car to the side when driving in a straight line;
- collapse / convergence violation;
- play in the place of attachment of suspension parts;
- uneven tire wear;
- deformation of the rubber insert.
Replacing silent blocks is a laborious operation, as old parts stick to the contact surface. Therefore, for dismantling, it is necessary to use a pressing tool. Using an impact tool to remove the silent block can damage the vehicle's suspension parts. In the absence of the necessary tools and skills, it is better to change the elastic element in a car service.
What is responsible for
The vehicle suspension is designed to reduce the amplitude and frequency of oscillations from road irregularities. Silent blocks play an important role in this process. The rubber insert has spring properties and dampens the external energy of impact on the damping device nodes. The resilient element itself is designed to allow parts to move around an axis.
Silentblock effectively dampens forces acting in any direction. The rubber-metal hinge also plays the role of receiving the main load on the car's suspension. The elastic part of the part withstands multiple cycles of compression and stretching.
Since the silent block dampens most of the vibration energy, it wears out faster than the car's suspension parts. Therefore, after replacing the rubber-metal hinge, repair of other components of the mechanism is usually not required.
Design features
The elastic connecting element consists of steel bushings with a pressed rubber or polyurethane gasket. Sometimes external metal parts are located on one side or are completely absent.
Features of silent blocks
Features of silent block designs:
- rubber filler - with a hole or solid;
- fastening with bushings or bolts;
- medium or large amplitude of node movements;
- differences in the properties of the elastic material of the insert.
The main role of the elastic part is to absorb impact energy with the simultaneous possibility of providing a flexible connection of the suspension parts of the machine.
Polyurethane silent blocks have the best qualities:
- chemical resistance;
- small deformation under load.
At the same time, they play an important role in the suspension of the car, extending the period of trouble-free operation of the damping device.
scheme
The wheels of the machine receive shocks from the unevenness of the road surface and transfer the impact energy to the elastic elements. Springs, shock absorbers and torsion bars take part in damping vibrations with a large amplitude. Vibration and small shaking are effectively absorbed by rubber-metal hinges.
Shock Mounts
Scheme of installation locations of silent blocks in a car:
- shock absorber supports;
- the ends of the rear and front suspension arms;
- engine and gearbox subframes;
- knots of connection of jet drafts and stabilizers;
- fastening suspension parts to the car body.
The composition of the scheme of the silent block installed at the place of attachment of the vehicle suspension parts:
- outer and inner metal bushings;
- rubber or polypropylene pressed insert;
- nut with snap ring;
- restrictive washer.
The design of the rubber-metal hinge does not interfere with the operation of other parts of the damping device. Depending on the installation location, the silent block can be located in a horizontal or vertical plane. The elastic elements in the front suspension usually perform their role on the control arms and anti-roll bars. And on the back - additionally on the mounting of the shock absorber supports.
