1.3.2 Body Springs
Those elements of wheel suspension systems, which produce a restoring force under elastic deformation, are described as body springs in this chapter. Besides conventional coil, leaf and torsion bar springs, gas springs can also be mentioned.
1.3.2.1 Leaf Springs
Leaf springs represent the classical design of springs, which were used in carriages.
The substantial advantage of leaf springs in relation to other spring design concepts consists of the fact that they can not only be used as spring elements, but also as constructional elements for the coupling of body and axle (particularly for axle guidance) as well. Multilayer leaf springs inherently possess damping characteristics due to frictional forces between the leaves.
Conventional leaf springs are used nowadays in combination with rigid axles only in few car designs (station wagons and off-road vehicles). Front and rear suspension systems of trucks are also commonly designed likewise.