McPherson is the designer of the new front suspension. Advantages of the McPherson column

Over the years, a car's suspension has become an increasingly complex system. All this to ensure safety and driving comfort for the driver and passengers. A very popular solution that has been used for decades is the McPherson column. It became so iconic that it is still installed on many front-wheel drive vehicles today. 

What is the origin of MacPherson front suspension? 

Earl S. McPherson - new suspension designer

The story begins in Illinois in 1891. It was here that the designer of the described suspension was born. While working at General Motors, he applied for a patent that was the prototype of the MacPherson column. He used a fully developed design after moving to Ford in the Ford Vedette. There he worked until the end of his career as chief engineer.

Suspension in the car - what is it for? How does it work on wheels?

The main task of the suspension system is to hold the wheel in such a way as to optimize its contact with the road. In addition, the elements placed in it are responsible for combining the wheel with the body structure and damping any vibrations and shocks that occur during movement. If you understand how the suspension works, you will understand why the McPherson strut is such a valuable and still used solution in the front suspension system.

McPherson type column - construction

At some point, Earl S. McPherson noticed that it was possible to create a cheap, reliable and compact wheel mounting solution that also provided:

• fixation;
• leading;
• direction;
• damping while driving. 

The whole design of the car allows you to install the wheel in two places - using a shock absorber bearing.

McPherson column - construction scheme 

Each MacPherson speaker has the following layout. The main element here is the shock absorber, which, together with the spring and the steering knuckle, forms a single whole. The lower wishbone is responsible for its direction, which most often has the shape of a solid or triangular body. The suspension consists in the work of a shock absorber assembly with a spring, which is fixed on a special cup. The top bearing allows the column to rotate. The MacPherson strut itself is connected to a crossover that allows you to change direction.

What Makes MacPherson Suspension Different? What is a single rocker used for?

To qualify as a MacPherson strut suspension, it must meet the following criteria:

• turn on the front suspension;
• the shock absorber has a swivel shape and moves in accordance with the movements of the steering wheel;
• when combined, the shock absorber, spring and steering knuckle can be considered as one structural element;
• the lower wishbone allows the wheel to be steered by connecting to the steering knuckle.

From the above description, it can be concluded that many of the solutions currently installed in vehicles are not MacPherson suspensions. First of all, this term cannot be applied to the rear suspension. Also, solutions in which non-torsion shock absorbers have been introduced cannot be considered a solution that fits into the McPherson concept. However, the use of more than one suspension arm per wheel excludes the above nomenclature.

Advantages of the MacPherson column

Why is the solution described so often used today? First of all, because it is cheap and proven. Manufacturers can effectively adjust the price of a structure to meet customer expectations. At the same time, the MacPherson suspension provides satisfactory handling, damping and suspension performance. That is why they can be found in cars built 30 years ago and today.

Otherwise, the MacPherson suspension is durable. Designers who wanted to implement an in-line engine transversely to the body could do this without abandoning this suspension element and transferring the drive to the rear axle. This also influenced the popularization of the solution, especially since most of the cars currently produced are front-wheel drive.

Where is a MacPherson speaker best suited? 

MacPherson struts are particularly suitable for small vehicles due to their simplicity, strength and good driving performance. This is influenced by the weight of the car, which guarantees stability when cornering and braking. The MacPherson handles g-forces well and provides good suspension.

MacPherson column - solution flaws

Of course, like any solution, the presented design has some drawbacks. First, it is a rather thin design. The MacPherson strut can be damaged after driving through a step or gap in the road at high speed. It also affects the use in different types of vehicles. MacPherson struts are mainly installed on cars of small size and not equipped with powerful engines. Therefore, the designers of sports cars and cars of higher segments had to either remake an existing solution or develop a new one.

Tires that are too wide should not be fitted to a vehicle with MacPherson suspension. felg. They require a large offset or centering ring. When cornering and as a result of a large deflection of the wheels, their angle of inclination changes, which can significantly affect traction. In addition, this is not a very convenient solution, because it transfers vibrations from the road to the steering wheel. To reduce them, rubber pads are used in the shock absorber sockets.

MacPherson suspension - replacement

Each of the elements that make up the entire structure is subject to wear. Therefore, over time, it is necessary to replace components that are out of order or faulty. As you have already understood, MacPherson struts are not the most durable solution, so fast acceleration with squealing tires, fast driving on bumpy surfaces and sporty use of the car can destroy individual components faster.

If ON RIGHTS the workshop includes the replacement of the MacPherson strut or its individual parts, check the geometry of the car later. This is very important to maintain proper camber and grip. This is important when driving straight, cornering and braking. Therefore, even if everything seems fine at first glance, it's good that you visited a workshop that performs such measurements and adjustments. You can also replace individual elements yourself, as long as you have the space, tools, and a bit of knowledge.

It's not often that a solution invented decades ago still serves humanity. The MacPherson suspension, of course, has undergone some modifications over the years, but it is still based strictly on solutions invented by the designer. Of course, this is not a perfect part and is not suitable for all automotive applications. If you want this structure installed in your car to last as long as possible, drive calmly and install tires recommended by the car manufacturer.