Types of suspension: adaptive suspension explained

A dependent suspension system acts on the left and right wheels of the car at the same time, while an independent suspension system controls the forces on all four wheels independently.

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Springs 

Most modern car suspension systems have a spring above each wheel, which absorbs energy when the wheel hits a bump. 

Shock absorbers

Again, there&#;s one of these for each wheel, and they either sit close to the coil spring or inside it &#; in which case they&#;re known as struts. The most common strut suspension is the MacPherson strut, which is widely used on the front ends of many different cars. It&#;s named after its inventor, Earl MacPherson. 

Shock absorbers contain a piston and hydraulic fluid that help the car recover from hitting a pothole by releasing the energy that goes into the spring in a controlled way. When the car hits a pothole the piston is pushed into the fluid, forcing it in one direction, then, when the fluid changes direction it slowly goes back to its original position while the piston releases gently. 

Anti-roll bar

This is usually a metal bar that connects the right and left wheels of your car in the lower part of the suspension. It enhances the car&#;s overall stability and reduces body roll during cornering. 

When your car turns, the weight shifts to one side, causing the body to roll or lean towards that side; the anti-roll bar works against this by transferring some of the suspension movement from one side of your car to the other. It helps the car maintain contact with the road and improves grip and handling.

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SteveinArizona

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I would like to see if I preferred the car to essentially run in sport mode (or variants thereof) but with the variable dampers instead of fixed damper settings.

We go back quite a few years to get a 'fixed' mode with adaptive suspensions.

For example, the E92 M3 had the option of EDC-K, which had two controlled (adaptive) settings, Comfort and Normal and one uncontrolled, 'fixed' damping mode, Sport.

The difference in Adaptive Mode, to the other chosen modes, the damping has a wider working 'map'. Can go from Comfort to Sport damping in real time, 'reading' sensor inputs as you drive. Drive harder, the suspension will firm up, back off, returns to a Comfort bias.

The result should be a more comfortable and controlled drive. It may challenge some users senses, as expectations are to feel the Sport settings. But look at it this way. If the suspension didn't firm up on demand, the chassis will be less controlled and possibly bouncy, as the damping will be too soft, without the wider damping map.

Even with Comfort and Sport damping, if I'm driving my car in Comfort and then drive harder, you know the damping is being challenged, flick to Sport and the chassis is more controlled. But you don't necessarily want the firmer control when you back off, or the drive is not so challenging. Enter...Adaptive Mode.

There are no fixed damper settings. If you have adaptive suspension it is, adapting all the time, according to the characteristic map of the mode chosen, (say Comfort or Sport).We go back quite a few years to get a 'fixed' mode with adaptive suspensions.For example, the E92 M3 had the option of EDC-K, which had two controlled (adaptive) settings, Comfort and Normal and one uncontrolled, 'fixed' damping mode, Sport.The difference in Adaptive Mode, to the other chosen modes, the damping has a wider working 'map'. Can go from Comfort to Sport damping in real time, 'reading' sensor inputs as you drive. Drive harder, the suspension will firm up, back off, returns to a Comfort bias.The result should be a more comfortable and controlled drive. It may challenge some users senses, as expectations are to feel the Sport settings. But look at it this way. If the suspension didn't firm up on demand, the chassis will be less controlled and possibly bouncy, as the damping will be too soft, without the wider damping map.Even with Comfort and Sport damping, if I'm driving my car in Comfort and then drive harder, you know the damping is being challenged, flick to Sport and the chassis is more controlled. But you don't necessarily want the firmer control when you back off, or the drive is not so challenging. Enter...Adaptive Mode.

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