Durability Testing of Leaf Spring and Shock Absorber

Leaf spring and shock absorber are the main component of automotive suspension system which influence both safety and ride comfort. Spring rate as well as damping force characteristic play an important role in obtaining a better suspension characteristic.

This paper will describe durability test on leaf spring and shock absorber used in the automobile. Both characteristic such as spring rate and damping force were evaluated and the result will be correlated to the durability test result.

These durability test were carried out using closed loop servohydraulic testing machine, and were conducted at constant amplitude.

Fractography investigation was carried out to explain the durability test results. This would be used to interprete the cause and location of the propagating fatigue crack.