Riippusilmäjousitus

Riippusilmäjousitus, also known as trailing arm suspension or semi-trailing arm suspension, is a type of independent suspension system used in vehicles. In this design, the wheels are attached to trailing arms that pivot at a single point. The trailing arms are typically mounted to the vehicle's chassis and extend rearward to the wheel hub assembly. The pivot point is usually located ahead of the wheel center.

There are two main variations: a fully trailing arm and a semi-trailing arm. In a fully trailing arm setup, the arm is nearly parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. In a semi-trailing arm suspension, the arm is angled outwards from the chassis towards the rear, creating a trailing angle. This angle influences the suspension's camber and toe characteristics during compression and rebound.

The primary advantage of riippusilmäjousitus is its simplicity and relatively low cost to manufacture. It provides good ride comfort and isolates the cabin from road imperfections. However, semi-trailing arm suspensions can exhibit undesirable toe changes, especially under heavy cornering or braking, which can affect vehicle stability. This characteristic led to its replacement by more advanced suspension designs like multi-link suspensions in many modern performance vehicles, although it remains in use in some budget-oriented cars and certain types of trucks. The compact nature of the suspension also allows for more cargo space.