Pushrod Suspension

Advantages

How it works
The pushrod suspension is an
alternative version of the double
wishbone suspension (Figure 2). In the
double wishbone suspension the
shocks are placed in between both
wishbones. However in a pushrod
configuration, the pushrod replaces
these and the shocks are positioned
higher above as shown in figure 1.
When active the pushrod moves the
bell crank which pivots at a fixed point,
rotating into the shocks creating the
suspension system.
(Edmunds, 2012)

Shocks
Pushrod
Double
Wishbone

Triangular bell
crank

Figure 1: Lamborghini Aventador

Pushrod suspension layout (Image from
0-60Mag)

History and Development

Figure 2: Double wishbone

suspension layout (Image from
The Suspension Bible)

Double wishbone suspension was first used in the

1930s. Citroens Rosalie was one of the first cars to
implement it (Citroen, 2013). The pullrod layout was
implemented in Formula 1 with the Brabham BT44
(ScarbsF1, 2010) which then led on to the
development of the pushrod layout. The major
problem with the pushrod layout was the bending
forces applied to the pushrod itself. The rod would
flex when used and had to be made stronger to
prevent this from happening. This resulted in Formula
1 teams cladding the rod with carbon fibre which
improved the strength. (Dictionary, n.d.). The
Lamborghini Aventador shown in Figure 1 uses
Aluminium for the whole suspension.

Mohammed Arsalan Shahid

The main advantage of having a pushrod

layout is that the shocks are no longer in
the airstream. This greatly reduces the
drag as the shocks are significantly larger
than the pushrod. As the shocks are
replaced with a pushrod that weighs less,
the unsprung mass of the car is also
reduced. This is the reason why pushrod
layouts are used a lot in Formula 1.
In road going supercars such as the
Lamborghini Aventador (Figure 1) the
pushrod increases the space available for
a drive shaft. This allows the car to have 4
wheel drive, improving performance.
Another advantage of a pushrod layout is
the ease of changing the suspension
characteristics compared to conventional
suspension systems.

Disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages of a
pushrod suspension layout is the
increased weight of the wishbones
compared to conventional suspension
layouts such as the Macpherson strut. A
double wishbone also takes up more
space in the front of the car compared to
the Macpherson strut. The cost of a
double wishbone suspension is also
considerably higher than what is found
on commuter cars, therefore the
pushrod layout is most commonly found
in high speed cars. As the shocks are
located higher up in the car this
heightens the center of gravity as the
shocks have a significant weight.
(Ferlonso, 2013)

References
Bix (2013) cars 0-60 lamborghini aventador lp700-4 suspension 1, [Online], Available:
http://www.0-60mag.com/news/2011/01/cars-lamborghini-lp700-4-uses-pushrodsuspension/attachment/cars-0-60-lamborghini-aventador-lp700-4-suspension-1/ [2013].
Citroen (2013) Citroen History, [Online], Available: http://www.citroen.com.au/citroenuniverse/citroen-history/cars/rosalie [2013].
Dictionary, F. Push Rod Pull Rod, [Online], Available: http://www.formula1dictionary.net/pushrod_pullrod.html [2013].
Edmunds, D. (2012) 2012 Lamborghini Aventador: Suspension Walkaround, 21 Aug,
[Online], Available: http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/track-tests/2012-lamborghiniaventador-suspension-walkaround.html [2013].
Ferlonso (2013) Pullrod vs Pushrod suspension: Which is preferred?, 20 Jan, [Online],
Available: http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/20/pullrod-vs-pushrod-suspensionwhich-is-preferred/ [2013].
Longhurst, C. (2013) The Suspension Bible, 21 Jul, [Online], Available:
http://www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible.html [2013].
ScarbsF1 (2010) Red Bull Pull Rod suspension: What is looks like How it benefits
aerodynamics, 10 Oct, [Online], Available: http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/2010/10/10/redbull-pull-rod-suspension-what-is-looks-like-how-it-benefits-aerodynamics/ [2013].