Rubber chassis bushings: the guardian of automobile stability and comfort
Publish Time: 2025-03-13
Rubber chassis bushings are an indispensable and important part of the automobile chassis system, and have an important impact on the vehicle's handling, comfort and stability. This article will introduce in detail the functions, types, design, manufacturing and practical applications of chassis bushings in automobiles.1. Functions of chassis bushingsThe main function of chassis bushings is to connect the metal structural parts under the chassis of the car and play a buffering role. They can connect suspension ball heads, steering knuckle bowls, rocker arm links, main and auxiliary frames and other components to provide sufficient strength, while suppressing the displacement of the suspension system and improving the looseness when driving on rough roads. In addition, chassis bushings can also enhance the strength of the trunk, reduce the lateral distortion caused by centrifugal force at the rear of the car, and improve the performance of the vehicle when cornering.2. Types of chassis bushingsChassis bushings are divided into conventional rubber bushings and hydraulic rubber bushings. Conventional rubber bushings have excellent elastic characteristics and attenuation characteristics, can withstand loads, isolate and attenuate vibrations, reduce noise, and ensure ride comfort. The hydraulic rubber bushing further improves the shock absorption and buffering performance of the bushing through the internal hydraulic mechanism.In addition, according to the installation position and load conditions, the chassis bushing can also be divided into pure rubber bushing, single-frame bushing, double-frame bushing, three-frame bushing and multi-frame bushing. Pure rubber bushings can be used alone or assembled by pressing into the inner and outer frames.3. Design of chassis bushingsThe design of chassis bushings needs to meet a variety of performance requirements, such as dynamic and static stiffness, durability, etc. At the beginning of the design, engineers will adjust the rubber hardness value, the ratio of rubber to metal structure, and the size of the occupied volume to meet the dynamic and static stiffness values required by customers. Then, appropriate corrections are made to achieve the target values of main direction stiffness and torsion, deflection and durability.The design of rubber bushings also needs to consider the choice of its shape. Since the shape of rubber parts has a relatively free choice, the stiffness in three directions (axial, radial, torsion) can be appropriately selected. At the same time, rubber can be firmly vulcanized with metal, simplifying the fixing and supporting structure, so that the chassis bushing can be used to support the load in any direction.4. Manufacturing of chassis bushingsThe manufacturing process of chassis bushings includes multiple steps such as rubber mixing, molding, and vulcanization. Rubber mixing is the process of evenly dispersing raw rubber and various compounding agents (such as fillers, reinforcing agents, accelerators, vulcanizers, etc.) on a rubber mixer. Molding is the process of pressing the mixed rubber material into the desired shape through a mold. Vulcanization is the cross-linking reaction of the molded rubber bushing at high temperature to make it have stable elasticity and strength.5. Practical application of chassis bushings in automobilesChassis bushings play an extremely important role in automobiles. They can not only ensure the stability and comfort of the vehicle during driving, but also improve the performance of the vehicle through its unique design. For example, for models such as Audi and Skoda equipped with four-link front suspension, the original bushing has a low stiffness. After replacing the sports-oriented shock absorber, the original bushing may not be enough to cope with the higher limit of the vehicle. At this time, it is necessary to replace the harder bushing to improve the handling performance.However, with the use of the vehicle and the passage of time, the chassis bushing may age, loosen, crack, etc., resulting in loose chassis, abnormal vehicle noise, bumps, etc. These problems will not only affect the performance and life of the vehicle, but may also lead to increased fuel consumption and accelerated wear of parts. Therefore, for vehicles that exceed a certain number of years or often travel on bumpy roads, it is necessary to check and replace the chassis bushing in time.Rubber product chassis bushings are an indispensable and important part of the automobile chassis system. They improve the vehicle's handling, comfort and stability by connecting and buffering the metal structural parts under the chassis. With the continuous development of the new energy vehicle market, the market prospects of automotive vibration reduction products remain positive, and chassis bushings, as an important part of it, will continue to maintain a growth trend.Therefore, for automobile manufacturers and parts suppliers, continuously developing and optimizing the design, manufacturing and application technology of chassis bushings and improving product performance and quality will be an important direction for future development.
