ride quality

Good ride quality provides comfort for the people inside the car, minimises damage to cargo and can reduce driver fatigue on long journeys in uncomfortable vehicles,{{Cite web| url=http://www.initialdave.com/cars/tech/suspensionbasics01.htm | title=Suspension Basics 1 - Why We Need It | accessdate=2015-01-29 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129123616/http://www.initialdave.com/cars/tech/suspensionbasics01.htm | archivedate=2015-01-29}}{{cite web|title=Suspension Truth #2: Sport Suspensions – The Illusion of Performance|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/09/suspension-truth-2-sport-suspensions-the-illusion-of-performance/|website=www.thetruthaboutcars.com|accessdate=12 April 2018|date=2012-09-07}} and also because road disruption can impact the driver's ability to control the vehicle.{{Cite book | chapter=Fatigue Life Assessment Approach to Ride Comfort Optimization of a Passenger Car under Random Road Execution Conditions | date=2005-04-11 | doi=10.4271/2005-01-0805 | title=SAE Technical Paper Series | volume=1 | last1=Kasaiezadeh | first1=Alireza | last2=Jahromi | first2=Mohammad Rafiee | last3=Alasty | first3=Aria }}{{cite thesis|hdl=2346/50297|type=MSc|last=Kumbhar|first=Prasad Bhagwan|date=August 2013|title=Simulation-Based Virtual Driver Fatigue Prediction and Determination of Optimal Vehicle Seat Dynamic Parameters|publisher=Texas Tech University}}{{cite web|title=Mustang Suspension 101|url=http://dazecars.com/dazed/suspension101.html|website=www.dazecars.com|accessdate=12 April 2018}}

Suspension design is often a compromise between ride quality and car handling because cars with firm suspension can result in greater control of body movements and quicker reactions. Similarly, a lower center of gravity is more ideal for handling, but low ground clearance limits suspension travel and requires stiffer springs.{{cite journal | doi=10.1016/j.jterra.2007.05.001 | volume=44 | issue=4 | title=The ride comfort vs. handling compromise for off-road vehicles | journal=Journal of Terramechanics | pages=303–317| date=October 2007 | last1=Els | first1=P.S. | last2=Theron | first2=N.J. | last3=Uys | first3=P.E. | last4=Thoresson | first4=M.J. | bibcode=2007JTerr..44..303E | hdl=2263/26302 | hdl-access=free }}

Ambulances have a special need for a high level of ride quality to avoid further injury to the already-ill passengers.{{Cite web | url=https://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-042712-134653/unrestricted/FINAL_AUCAS_MQP_Report.pdf | title=Ambulance Universal Chassis and Suspension (AUCAS) | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129062448/https://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-042712-134653/unrestricted/FINAL_AUCAS_MQP_Report.pdf | archive-date=2015-01-29 }}

Early vehicles, like the Ford Model T, with its leaf spring, live axle suspension design, were both uncomfortable and handled poorly.

Historically, weight was key to allowing cars such as the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and the Cadillac in the 1950s and the 1960s to have a more comfortable ride quality. However, there are various drawbacks to heavier cars, including poor fuel efficiency, acceleration, braking, cornering and additional stresses on components.

Over time, technology has shifted the curve outward and so it is possible to offer vehicles that are extremely comfortable and still handle very well or vehicles with excellent handling that are also reasonably comfortable. One technical solution for offering both excellent comfort and reduced or eliminating body roll is by using computer-controlled suspensions, such as hydraulic active suspension system (like Active Body Control) or active anti-roll bars, but such systems are expensive because of their complexity.

The main factor affecting ride quality is the stiffness of suspension components (e.g. springs, shock absorbers, anti-roll bars and bushings).{{cite news|title=Understanding Springs And Ride Quality – Tech|url=http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-0303-springs-ride-quality/#springs%20are%20primary|newspaper=Hot Rod|accessdate=12 April 2018|date=March 2003}}{{cite web|title=Driver Power 2012: Best for ride quality|url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/40950/best-ride-quality|website=www.autoexpress.co.uk|accessdate=12 April 2018}} Other factors include suspension geometry, vehicle mass and weight distribution.

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• {{cite journal|doi=10.1260/0263092042869829|title=Reducing Whole-Body Vibration by Geometric Repair of Pavements|journal=Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control|volume=23|issue=2|pages=103–114|year=2004|last1=Granlund|first1=N.O Johan|last2=Lindström|first2=Fredrik|bibcode=2004JLFNV..23..103G |s2cid=110127256 }}
• [http://www.roadex.org/uploads/publications/docs-RIII-EN/Health%20Issues%20-%20RIII.pdf Health issues raised by poorly maintained road networks, The EU Northern Periphery Roadex III project (co-funded by the European Union)]{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• International standard ISO 2631-1 (1997) Mechanical vibration and shock—Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration—Part 1: General requirements.

Category:Automotive suspension technologies