Chevrolet Cruze manuals

Chevrolet Cruze Repair Manual: Front Suspension Description and Operation

Chevrolet Cruze Repair Manual / Suspension / Front Suspension / Front Suspension Description and Operation

The front suspension has 2 primary purposes:

The front suspension absorbs the impact of the tires travelling over irregular road surfaces and dissipates this energy throughout the suspension system. This process isolates the vehicle occupants from the road surface. The rate at which the suspension dissipates the energy and the amount of energy that is absorbed is how the suspension defines the vehicles ride characteristics. Ride characteristics are designed into the suspension system and are not adjustable. The ride characteristics are mentioned in this description in order to aid in the understanding of the functions of the suspension system. The suspension system must allow for the vertical movement of the tire and wheel assembly as the vehicle travels over irregular road surfaces while maintaining the tire's horizontal relationship to the road.

This requires that the steering knuckle be suspended between a lower control arm and a strut assembly. The lower control arm attaches from the steering knuckle at the outermost point of the control arm. The attachment is through a ball and socket type joint. The innermost end of the control arm attached at 2 points to the vehicle frame through semi-rigid bushings. The upper portion of the steering knuckle is attached to a strut assembly. The strut assembly then connects to the vehicle body by way of an upper bearing. The steering knuckle is allowed to travel up and down independent of the vehicle body structure and frame.

This up and down motion of the steering knuckle as the vehicle travels over bumps is absorbed predominantly by the coil spring. This spring is retained under tension over the strut assembly. A strut is used in conjunction with this system in order to dampen out the oscillations of the coil spring. A strut is a basic hydraulic cylinder. The strut is filled with oil and has a moveable shaft that connects to a piston inside the strut. Valves inside the shock absorber offer resistance to oil flow and consequently inhibit rapid movement of the piston and shaft. Each end of the shock absorber is connected in such a fashion to utilize this recoil action of a spring alone. Each end of the strut is designed as the connection point of the suspension system to the vehicle and acts as the coil spring seat. This allows the strut to utilize the dampening action to reduce the recoil of a spring alone. The lower control arm is allowed to pivot at the vehicle frame in a vertical fashion. The ball joint allows the steering knuckle to maintain the perpendicular relationship to the road surface.

Front suspensions systems utilize a stabilizer shaft. The stabilizer bar connects between the left and right lower control arm assemblies through the stabilizer link and stabilizer shaft insulators. This bar controls the amount of independent movement of the suspension when the vehicle turns. Limiting the independent movement defines the vehicles handling characteristics on turns.

Special Tools and Equipment

Rear Suspension

Strut, Strut Component, or Spring Replacement
Special Tools CH-6068 Spring Tensioner Device CH-6066 Holding Device For equivalent regional tools, refer to Special Tools. Disassembly Procedure Remove the strut assembly. Refer &n ...

Rear Suspension
Specifications Rear Suspension Components Rear Shock Absorber Upper Mount Rear Shock Absorber Upper Mount Rear Shock Absorber Upper Mount Rear Shock Absorber Upper Mount Shock Abs ...

Other materials:

Frontal SIR System Description
The frontal supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system consists of the following components: AIR BAG indicator located in the instrument cluster Inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) Inflatable restraint passenger presence detection system Inflatable restraint Pass ...

Seat Heating and Cooling
Specifications Heated/Cooled Seat Schematics Front Seat Heater Control Module Replacement Preliminary Procedure Driver or passenger seat replacement. Refer to Driver or Passenger Seat Replacement. Front Seat Heater Control Module Bolt (Qty: 2) Caution: Refer to Fastener Cauti ...

Generator Air Conditioning Compressor,Power Steering Pump Belt Replacement
Removal Procedure Raise the vehicle full height. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle. Remove the front compartment splash shield. Refer to Front Compartment Splash Shield Replacement. Rotate the drive belt tensioner bolt (2) clockwise. Remove the drive belt (1) while pullin ...

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