What is the Difference Between Leaf Spring and Coil Spring Suspension, which one is better? As a major factor of its overall performance, a car’s comfort is one thing that you cannot turn a blind eye to.
Even the most powerful and tuned-up car won’t be enjoyable to drive if it has a bumpy ride. So, which suspension system offers a smoother ride – leaf springs or coil springs? There’s no easy answer.
Leaf springs are typically found in heavy-duty vehicles like trucks, vans, or tractors. They consist of stacked steel plates that connect the axle to the chassis. Coil springs, on the other hand, are helical (coiled) and usually mounted on top of the axle or frame.
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While lighter than leaf springs, they can’t handle as much weight. They’re commonly used in smaller vehicles and offer more adjustability for different driving conditions.
Table of Contents
Difference Between Leaf Spring and Coil Spring Suspension
1. Leaf Spring
Leaf springs, once a mainstay in car suspension (especially before the late 1970s), are made of stacked layers of metals.
They distribute a vehicle’s weight effectively, and this is one of the reasons why they’re still used in workhorses like trucks and vans today, carrying on their legacy from horse-drawn carriages to the iconic Ford Model T.
The leaf springs are made with metal leaves that are curved toward the road and flex under the pressure. And as the metal leaves are flatten as they encounter force, this will help dampen the bumps and jolts of the roads.
The leaf spring is usually built for heavy-duty vehicles, this makes the leaf springs are constructed with tougher materials like hardened steel. Also, this translates to a smarter investment for your car as their durability also saves you money down the road by minimizing maintenance and repair costs.
Pros:
- Simple Design
- Reliability
- Better Hauling Power
- More Cost-Effective
Cons:
- Reduced Approach and Departure Angles
- Prone to Axle Wrap
- Shackle Inversion
Also Read: “What is Parabolic Leaf Spring?“
2. Coil Spring
Coil springs are used in the suspension systems of the majority of modern cars. Shocks or struts are encircled by the coils, which are essentially enormous springs. To provide suspension for every tire, coil spring systems integrate with various control arms, shock absorbers, and linkages.
The majority of the damping force in most coil spring suspensions is produced by a central coil. The suspension consists of a number of arms that attach to the wheel and maintain its attachment to the car.This significantly enhances comfort of the ride, because each wheel can individually adapt to the road conditions.
And also as we mentioned before, the coil springs aren’t the best choice for big vehicles as the coil springs do not handle heavy loads very well. And, even though the coil springs are lighter than leaf springs, overloading a car with coil springs can damage them quickly, causing excessive wear and tear.
Pros:
- Better Flexibility and Comfort
- More Customizable
- More Versatile as It Can Tackles Both Performance and Off-Road Capability
Cons:
- Usually More Expensive
- Can’t Handle Heavy Loads
- Higher Maintenance Cost
There you go, the difference between leaf spring and coil spring suspensions.
Whether you go for either of them, the one thing you should consider is to choose a suspension that has already been certified by the SNI certification.
This certification ensures the durability, safety and overall quality of a product, including a vehicle suspension.
