What is a Car Chassis? Here are the Components and Their Functions
Cars have become a vehicle that is now widely owned by the Indonesian people. However, do drivers know the components inside? Very few are familiar with one of the car components, namely the car chassis. There are various types of car chassis components and their functions that must be known.
Getting to Know Car Chassis
Before getting to know the components of the car chassis system, it is good to get acquainted with the chassis first. What is the definition of a car chassis? The chassis is also often referred to as the frame. The chassis is a component located within the car that has a very important existence.
This is because the chassis serves as the basic framework for uniting the engine components and various other car engine components. Thus, every component in the car can be well connected.
Not only that, the chassis is also used to maintain the shape of the car so that it does not change when used. The chassis has various aspects ranging from safety, durability, and the ability to maintain conditions while driving.
Types of Car Chassis Systems
Here are various types of car chassis systems, including:
1. Ladder Frame
The first type is the ladder frame. The ladder frame has a shape like a ladder and serves as a support for the car body, engine, and transmission. Generally, the ladder frame is made of steel that has a beam shape with crossmembers and joints.
Thus, when damage occurs in the ladder frame section, technicians can easily repair it.
2. Aluminium Space Frame
The second type is the aluminium space frame. The aluminium space frame is a chassis made from a monocoque but uses aluminium as the material.
The aluminium space frame has a much lighter weight compared to other chassis with a percentage of 40%.
Read Also: Signs of a Used Car Chassis from a Collision
3. Monocoque Chassis
The monocoque chassis is essentially designed to be integrated with the car body and serves as a framework that can protect the car's interior.
Thus, when the car passes over bumpy roads, the impact generated is absorbed by the car body.
4. Backbone Chassis
The next type is the backbone chassis. The backbone chassis functions as the skeletal frame in the middle and connects from the front to the back of the car. The backbone chassis is also often referred to as a single frame.
However, this backbone chassis is rarely used. This is due to high production costs and having negative impacts.
Car Chassis Components and Their Functions
The car chassis has a structure consisting of the powertrain and suspension. The powertrain functions to transfer the engine power to the wheels. Meanwhile, the suspension serves as a support for safety and stability inside the car.
Here are several components in the car chassis along with their functions, including:
1. Clutch
The first component is the clutch. The clutch is used to connect and disconnect the engine rotation to the transmission, making the gear shifting process smoother. The clutch itself consists of 2 rotating metals.
2. Transmission
The next is the transmission. The transmission is used to manipulate the rotation at the engine output. This can be felt when the car being driven requires high torque and conditions that allow the owner to accelerate at high speeds. When adjusting the gear shift, this is where the transmission plays its role.
Read Also: 13 Components of Manual Car Transmission and Their Functions
3. Springs
Functioning as a vibration dampener while driving, springs are also a component of the car chassis. This component will also provide a light yet soft feel when the wheels pass over bumps or potholes.
4. Universal Joint
The universal joint component is usually located at the rear of the transmission and in front of the garden.
5. Wheels and Tires
In this component, the wheels serve as converters of rotation in the powertrain to drive the car and the tires.
The car chassis components indeed play an important role, therefore make sure you perform the best maintenance. If there are complaints related to the car chassis, immediately take the vehicle to a workshop or the nearest official Daihatsu dealer.