Everything you need to know about the different types of 4×4 suspension systems.
There will come a time when you are faced with the question, “what is the best 4×4 suspension system for my car?”. This may come a lot sooner if you’re already looking for ways to jack up your rig as high as possible. Because bigger is always better right?
Well, we hate to burst your bubble, but bigger isn’t always better when it comes to 4×4 suspension systems. In fact, it’s probably going to be a really rough ride if you end up listening to your mate who’s lifted their Hilux 50mm above the legal limit.
When it comes to choosing the right 4×4 suspension system for your rig it all boils down to how well it meets demands of your lifestyle.
If you spend the entire weekend smashing through some of WA’s iconic off-road tracks such as Mundaring Powerlines.
Or, prefer throwing a line out and kicking back on the beach watching the sunset, we’ll go through the different types of 4×4 suspension systems.
So before you go out and drop your next paycheck on the biggest, worst suspension system, here’s everything you need to know.
How does 4×4 suspension work?
Similar to an on-road car, 4×4 suspension is an essential part which contributes to how well your 4WD handles, how capable it is on and off the road, and how comfortable the drive is.
4×4 suspension has been designed to greatly increase handling while driving off-road by absorbing impact while dampening vibrations felt inside after hitting a bump or driving across a rough surface.
It also helps with stability by making sure all wheels stay in contact with the ground and reducing the chances of rolling.
A good suspension system will increase your tyres contact with whatever surface you’re driving on, while increasing load-carrying capability and handling for a smoother ride.
What are the main components that make up 4WD suspension?
What are the types of springs?
The most crucial component of a 4WD suspension system is the springs. The springs are what supports the weight of your vehicle and controls the motion applied to the wheels below as you travel over uneven terrain. There are also 4 types of spring options, all with different characteristics for different applications.
What does a shock absorber do?
Let me guess, your first thought was that shock absorbers absorb the impact of bumps. In reality, they don’t. However, they do reduce the movement of the spring, which ultimately absorbs the shock.
For example, if you’re off-roading in your 4WD and encounter a large bump bump, you will notice the movement of the car go up and down — but only once.
This is because the ‘shock’ movement in the spring has been absorbed, giving you a more comfortable ride.
What are the different types of 4×4 suspension?
Solid axle suspension
These suspension systems are located on both sides of a differential and are connected together with a single axle housing, this makes it dependent. When one wheel is moving up or down, it will directly impact the wheel on the other side.
Solid axles, also known as live-axle suspension, are more durable than most independent front suspension systems and increase traction to get over big bumps or hills.
They also provide more power from the differentials as there are fewer parts.
Advantages of solid axle suspension
Disadvantages of solid axle suspension
Independent suspension (IFS)
Unlike a dependent suspension system where two sides are connected by a single axle, the main feature of this system is that the suspension is not joined together.
At the centre of this system is an axle housing which contains the ring gear and carrier live.
Rather than axle tubes running out to each wheel, constant velocity axles are used. When one wheel moves up or down, it does not affect the wheel on the other side.
This allows drivers to easily maneuver difficult tracks, offering improved handling and front end clearance and greater.
Advantages of independent suspension
Disadvantages of independent suspension
The 5 most important factors to consider when choosing a 4×4 suspension system
1. Weight capacity
Think about everything you load up onto your fourbie when going on an adventure, now think about all the modifications you’ve just slapped on.
From bull bars and rear bars, to dual fuel tanks, fridges, roof racks and more, all this added weight decreases the overall performance and safety of your vehicle.
2. 4WD flex
Once you’ve calculated your total weight capacity, the next thing to consider is 4WD flex. The best way to think about it is are you someone who enjoys the occasional bush bash Vs someone who isn’t afraid of tackling Mundaring Powerlines hardest track?
The amount of flex will determine how planted your tyres are to the ground (traction), as well as influencing vehicle tilt.
The more flex you have the easier it will be to drive through deep ruts and decrease the chances of rolling.
3. Comfort
If you spend most of your time travelling to remote areas with the occasional off-roading or finding the best beach fishing spot, you’ll definitely want to select a suspension system that improves comfort.
There’s nothing worse than spending 6 hours in the car and feeling every single bump.
4. Durability
Durability comes down to the terrain you drive on and the activities you frequently do. If you spend most of your time shredding some of WA’s most rigorous off-road tracks or travel long distances then you’ll want heavy duty shock absorbers.
5. Terrain
Terrain plays a major role in determining the type of suspension you choose. If you only plan on using your fourbie for urban driving then you probably won’t need that $4,000 suspension system you’ve been contemplating for the last month or so.
However, if you plan on pushing the limits of your vehicle through some of the roughest of tracks, then we recommend going for a heavy-duty suspension kit that suits your needs.
How long does 4×4 suspension last?
It all depends on the driving you’re doing. If you’re a weekend warrior tackling some of Perth’s craziest off-road tracks every weekend or travel to remote areas on long family road trips, your suspension will wear out much faster.
That being said, you should always have your suspension checked regularly, particularly if frequent off-road tracks.
How do lift kits work?
4×4 lift kits lift your suspension and help you get the height you need to tackle muddy rutted trails, beach tracks and water crossings, through to constructions.
Various types of lift kits can provide anywhere from 2 inches all the way to 5 inches of lift. That’s heights of 40mm, 80mm, 100mm and 125mm.
Note: The height at which you can lift your vehicle varies from state to state, and is usually linked together with the size of your tyres.
The legal road height you can lift your vehicle in Western Australia is 50mm from larger tyres and a 25mm suspension lift without any form of engineering.
More info on suspension and lift kits
We have a library of resources you can access on suspension.
Elevate your off-roading experience to all new heights with Total 4×4
The great Australian outback can be a harsh and unforgiving environment. Without the right 4WD suspension, you’re going to find it almost impossible to tackle some of the best off-road tracks WA has to offer.
When it comes to tailoring a lift kit best suited to our clients’ needs, we take into account whether or not the vehicle has been fitted with a bull bar, the rear load requirements — be it light, medium or heavy.
Rear load rating can vary dramatically, depending on what luggage, material or recovery gear is intended to be carried in the cargo area.
If you’ve got a drawer system, long-range fuel tank, twin wheel carrier or even a steel rear step type bumper is fitted, we ensure you receive a kit that suits your needs while adhering to WA standards and regulations.
If you’re in doubt, contact the professionals at Total 4×4, we more than are happy to inspect your 4WD, provide expert advice and supply/install high quality 4×4 accessories.
Here at Demon Tweeks, we carry in stock a range of suspension from the biggest brands in the business across lowering springs, shocks, suspension kits, coilovers and so much more. With all of the options available to you, it can get quite confusing, so we ran through the options and their benefits in more detail in this suspension buying guide. Consider clicking here for a ‘Beginner’s Guide To Improving Your Car’s Handling’, we have also put a short video guide together.
Hopefully, after you’ve read this guide and the others that you’re up to speed on the types of suspension and what they will do for you, all you need to do is head over to the Demon Tweeks website, select your car in the easy to use my garage feature, and you’ll see the options from all the different brands so they can be compared easily. We have got options in stock and ready to ship, collect or have fitted for popular models. We also have an extensive catalogue of products available for cars that are a little less popular or mainstream.
Our experienced teams have been busy linking products to cars so you can see all the options side by side after just entering your car details once.
Where buying lowering springs & suspension kits is concerned, one of the main determining factors of which to buy is the lowering amount that will be achieved after fitting. We have combined that information with the product at high level so you can compare, at a glance the different options available across manufacturers.
There is a little more to it though, knowing the lowering amount is great but there may be fitment notes which apply to the product that you need to take into consideration.
Where lowering springs (more detail here) are concerned, the most likely one you’ll see is axle load rating for a given axle. If this is shown to you, you will need to check on your car to make sure that the axle weight is suitable. If the axle of the car is too heavy for the kit, the amount of lowering is likely to increase, too light and it will not lower as much.
The axle weights can be found on the chassis plate and are quoted in kilograms, common locations include the driver’s door shut, slam panel or bulkhead. Typically showing the gross vehicle weight (total vehicle weight including passengers, fuel, payload), gross train weight (which is the total of the gross vehicle weight & the towing apparatus including its load) and the bits that we are interested in, the max front axle load and the max rear axle load. Most often denoted as 1 for the front and 2 for the rear.
This relates to the diameter of the strut where it fits to the hub itself, most commonly found across the Volkswagen, Audi, Seat & Skoda manufacturers, common sizes of 50mm and 55mm are noted and must be checked on the car to make sure the correct part has been ordered.
This relates to the fixing point on the hub and can refer to a clamp or bolted style, eyelet or fork, and different spacings between mounting holes or bolt hole diameter. This again is something that needs to be checked on the vehicle itself with a visual inspection.
The suspension on the rear of your vehicle can differ from model to model, independent rear suspension and torsion beam setups can be found on the same Mk6 Golf chassis for example, the torsion beam found on the base 1.4, independent suspension on the GTI or R.
Independent suspension allows the movement of one wheel without causing the opposing wheel to react, allowing for more complex systems to be used and handling to be fine-tuned and improved.
A torsion beam connects both the rear wheels, and although the is some flex engineered into the beam itself, sufficient movement on one wheel will ultimately cause the opposing side to react.
Lowering amounts quoted are, in the main, based on the standard suspension that is fitted to the car at the time it left the factory, crucially, where the “sports suspension” was not ticked in the options list.
When manufacturers such as Eibach, Vogtland or Bilstein design a kit, they measure from the centre of the wheel, up to the wheel arch on the standard car, then compare that same measurement once their product is fitted and quote the difference between the two as the lowering amount.
Take it as a given, they’re working on new or nearly new cars, the older springs get and more work they do can cause springs to sag, so the full drop may not be achieved on a car with tired suspension.
It is also worth calling out that reduced lowering amounts can be found where original “sports suspension” has been fitted, typically 15mm or so.
If you are the lucky owner of a car with swanky suspension that can change and the touch of a button, or it may even do all the work for you without you knowing, you’ll need to be aware of this and look out for where it is mentioned on our website. Magnetic Ride, electronic damping, EDC, adaptive suspension and PASM are just some of the names used for this type of suspension.
What does it mean for you? Well, if you are looking at fitting coilovers for example, it could mean removing the factory unit, and therefore the part which is controlled by the car for one that isn’t electronically controlled. In this case, some brands offer a cancellation module, which deactivates any warning lights which are not required anymore. Some offer dampers that retain the car’s control over the unit like Bilstein’s Damptronic, or KW’s Plug & Play DDC units and you’ll be swapping out for a unit that is electronically controlled, therefore retaining the OE car functionality.
There are even some kits that you can buy which come with an ECU, and control for inside the car, which allows you to install electronic suspension!
There are other things that you are likely to see which are a little more self-explanatory, like does not fit an estate model, so if you have an estate, this one is not for you. Others state they exclude models with sports suspension, so if your car has it, this option is not for you either.
We try to list all the options available, but we may be working on adding more, if you can’t see anything linked for your car, please do give us a call and we can look into this for you. If you come across something you are not sure of, or have any other questions that you need answering, drop our sales team a call, they’ll be happy to help, answering any questions you may have.
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