Assignment

Up to now, the independent front suspension has not asserted itself e.g., in almost all utility vehicles and also in city-busses. According to the plans of manufacturers of nobler suspensions, the utility sector in particular, should soon be conquered.

Function

Shown in the above picture, is a front suspension for busses with a double wishbone. The air suspension and the shock absorbers are regulated and provide incomparable comfort. As a point of fact, the concept of independant suspension, also for heavy utility vehicles, has, apart from the costs, almost only advantages. The handling becomes more motor car-like and the turning circle becomes smaller.
Thus, we come again to the advantage of all independent suspensions, the lower unsprung masses which must be controlled by the springs and particularly the shock absorbers. The shock absorbers can be laid out softer, with the result, that the driver, the load, and particularly the road-surface does not suffer as much.
Compared with the independent suspension, apparently one can not yet work here with ball-heads. The wheel still pivots around a steering knuckle. This part looks as if it has been cut off from a stub axle. Please have a look at the comparison to the motor car independent suspension in picture 3 and 4. Actually the truck is even more suited for this txpe of suspension, due to its extremely stable chassis it needs no sub-frame, and it is finally rid of the transfer link which takes up a great deal of space. The space, and certainly the weight advantage can be otherwise put to good use. All that's missing now, is the rack and pinion steering a la motor car.