We have received quite a few questions about what is covered in the book, so here is a list of the most popular questions and their answers:
The fundamental goal of the book is to provide the information necessary for someone to design their own suspension based on the specific needs of the vehicle. The only way to accomplish this is to cover how suspensions work and what effects the individual components have on the final design.
The book does this by first defining terms used in suspension development (for example: bump, droop, roll-steer, articulation, etc.), then by describing how the suspension reacts to different types of terrain at low vs. high speeds. Followed by covering fundamental suspension theories like Instant Center, shock/airbag theory, and driveshaft/u-joint theory (yes, 2-piece driveshafts are covered as well). From there, the book defines different types of link designs and lateral locators as well as the pros/cons associated with each system.
After the fundamentals have been covered, the book gives a crash course on how to design a suspension on your shop floor; you do not need a computer to design a suspension!
Finishing off the book, there is a section on bad habits to avoid and a section of suspensions that were designed using the concepts outlined in the book.
Since everyone learns in different ways, there are links to videos that cover the more fundamental subjects using animations as well as links to dedicated calculators that were developed specifically for the book.
This is the Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Defining Terms
- The Road/Suspension/Chassis Relationship
- Types of Joints
- Instant Center
- Different Types of Link Systems
- Lateral Locators
- Drive Shafts and U-joints
- Shock Theory
- Shock Installation
- Airbag Theory
- Airbag Install
- How to Choose an Airbag
- Putting it All Together
- Bad Habits
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Featured Vehicles
- Glossary
Yes – absolutely! We even added a dedicated chapter just for coilovers.
If you are wanting to design a suspension for a lowered daily driver, every suspension theory/concept addressed in the book will crossover directly. However, if you aren’t lowering your vehicle, the suspension geometry targets will change; how much they change is going to be dependent on how not-lowered your vehicle is. Regardless of what you are building, there are plenty of suspension theory subjects discussed in the book which are universally true.
It does not. Volume 1 focuses solely on rear link-type suspension design and theory. The next book will focus on front suspension and independent rear suspension. Unfortunately, we do not have a projected finish date at the moment. However, Carroll Smith’s book ‘Tune to Win’ does cover front suspension design and is available in our store. It should be mentioned that the multiple Bag and Shock chapters will directly cross over to front suspension design.
It does not, but as stated above, there are plenty of suspension theory subjects discussed which will crossover directly. However, the geometry targets will be distinctly different. Also, understand that “off-road” covers a very wide range of vehicles. Is the vehicle meant to be fast over the rough stuff like a Trophy Truck? Is it a 4WD trail rig? Is it a mud truck? Is it simply meant to be a “pavement-princess” with good street manners? Every one of those will have a totally different geometry target and could use an entire book dedicated to each.
That is not how the book is written. If you read the first question in the list, it will explain more about how the book is laid out.
Maybe a little bit?
A good rule-of-thumb to determine if the book will help on your project is to ask yourself: does my vehicle use a rear axle that is driven by a driveshaft that is attached to a transmission? If not, the book is probably not going to be much help… Aside from the airbag and shock chapters.