The expectation of customers on ride comfort is very high and vehicle engineers also have keen interesting to improve ride vibration and road noise. As the conventional tuning parameters for the ride vibration and road noise, vibration characteristics of tire, body structure, bushing, suspension members etc. are mainly considered. But these conventional tuning parameters are sometimes not enough due to the side effects such like handling performances and durability. Therefore, instead of these conventional design and tuning parameters, suspension geometry and alignment characteristics of suspension system are selected as the alternative parameters to compromise ride vibration, road noise and vehicle dynamic performance. In this research, multi-link type rear suspension is selected for the integrated analysis of ride vibration, road impact noise and handling performance. Transfer function, transfer force analysis of rear multi link suspension system and reaction forces variations according to the modification of geometry and compliance are analyzed for the reduction of ride vibration and road noise without the loss of handling performance, steering response and driving stability.
Computer simulation and experimental approach are used to find which parameters of suspension system are so critical in the reaction forces transfer caused by road input. From these analyses, the effects of suspension geometry and compliance on ride comfort as well as on wheel alignment characteristics like Camber, Toe and lateral stiffness of suspension system are discussed.