Soft and hard suspension: what is the difference and which is better

Content

What is the difference between soft and hard suspension
- What affects the stiffness of the suspension
Which suspension is more comfortable: soft or hard
Making suspension softer
Making the suspension stiffer
Choosing a suspension for driving on Russian roads
The best cars with soft and hard suspension

It is rare to find tracks with really good coverage (weather conditions negatively affect the condition of Russian roads), which means it is better to buy a car with a rigid suspension. The car will confidently enter turns at high speed and will not stall on ice.

The suspension is chosen depending on the driving style, the quality of the roads and the desired level of comfort. Let's figure out how the hard suspension of a car differs from the soft one, and which one is better.

What is the difference between soft and hard suspension

Suspensions of different levels of rigidity are distinguished by comfort, maneuverability and safety while riding.

What affects the stiffness of the suspension

The indicator affects the handling of the car. The stiffer the suspension, the easier it is for the driver to control the car at any speed.

Soft and hard suspension: what is the difference and which is better

Renault MX adaptable suspension

The traction coefficient of the tire with the track and the angle of inclination of the car body when cornering depend on the stiffness coefficient. Thanks to this mechanism, the machine does not roll over during sharp maneuvers.

But too stiff springs also negatively affect the ride quality on rough roads. Handling deteriorates, the risk of flying into a ditch at a turn increases.

Which suspension is more comfortable: soft or hard

Driving with a soft suspension is easy and comfortable when driving on a perfectly smooth, straight road. The device has an impressive list of advantages:

driving a car becomes more comfortable, less shaking is felt;
axle vibrations are better extinguished when driving over bumps;
soft ride on rough terrain, tires adhere well to asphalt;
in a sharp turn, the load is evenly distributed on all wheels;
the driver's spine is not loaded.

But the list of cons is no less:

the vehicle may roll over when cornering at high speed;
it is difficult to perform extreme maneuvers - accelerate quickly, brake sharply;
will not be able to participate in drag racing;
difficult to drive on rough roads;
passengers in the rear seats are quickly motion sick.

Now about the list of advantages of a car with a rigid suspension:

there is practically no roll during a sharp turn and entering a turn at high speed;
be able to quickly develop maximum speed or slow down;
it is more comfortable to drive in winter on the road with ice and snow.

Fiat 500 suspension (softest)

Hard suspension is safer than soft suspension because the car does not roll over when entering corners at high speed and brakes quickly even on ice. You will feel as confident as possible during the trip and will be able to overtake other cars.

But consider the following list of cons:

long driving negatively affects the condition of the spine;
all potholes and stones are felt;
quick wear - shock absorbers need to be changed at least after 70 thousand km.

An exceptionally rigid suspension is installed on sports cars so that they are as maneuverable as possible and the driver manages to overtake rivals on the track.

Making suspension softer

The suspension can be made softer to both maintain the car's agility and improve ride comfort. There are the following options:

Install alloy wheels for improved handling. But in this case, the wheel bearings will work under increased load, so they will fail faster.
Install new gas-oil double-acting shock absorbers.
Install good variable pitch springs.
Buy tires with soft sidewalls so you don't bounce over bumps. But they can break if, when driving at high speed, the wheel falls into a deep hole.

Shock absorbers, springs, discs and tires need to be changed at the same time, because if you install only one new part, the difference will not be noticeable.

Front suspension VAZ 2101

Riding comfort is affected by the setting of the shock absorber springs. If you partially cut them off, then the rigidity will decrease slightly. However, the vehicle's load capacity will be reduced, and the engine and chassis may fail if the wheel hits a deep rut.

Another option is to reduce tire pressure. But there is an impressive list of cons:

the car will be harder to control;
even good rubber will wear out faster;
fuel consumption will increase;
braking distance will increase.

Also, stiffness can be reduced by installing an air suspension, with which driving will become as comfortable as possible. But a good mechanism is not cheap, and it will have to be changed at least once every 2 years.

Entrust all the manipulations to the employees of the auto repair shop if you do not have experience. The safety of the car depends on the quality of the work done, because any change in the setting affects the driving.

Making the suspension stiffer

The soft suspension is made stiffer to make the car more manageable. There are two proven methods:

Disassemble the rack and install the gasket between the spring and the cup. The car will become a little higher, but the rigidity will also increase.
Put a more powerful stabilizer bar. It will be easier to enter turns, but the smooth ride will remain.

You can also replace the rubber with the widest and largest possible. It improves traction, which means the car will brake well and turn easily at high speed.

Choosing a suspension for driving on Russian roads

Increasing the softness of the suspension

A car with a soft suspension can also be used to drive on domestic roads, but in winter it will be difficult to control the car.

If you often travel around the country, drive off-road, like high speed and aggressive driving style, choose cars with hard suspension and make it softer in the auto repair shop.