Abstract
The combination of various parts designed to absorb shock and vibrations in all motor vehicles constitutes the suspension system. The torque rod with the bushings at both ends, an important component of the suspension system, is the connecting element used in heavy commercial vehicles to connect the axle to the chassis. Providing defined movements and isolating noise and vibrations of the torque rod and other suspension components can be achieved by the proper combination of metal and rubber. Rubber-metal parts (bushings and joints) contribute to the damping of axial and torsional loads and increase driving comfort. In this study, the stiffness values of the bushings of the torque rods which are used in heavy commercial vehicles were provided to be in the desired range. Geometric dimensions of the metal component and amount of rubber of the bushing was modified in order to improve the axial, radial, torsional and cardanic stiffness values of the bushings. The analyses were performed with the aid of FEM and dynamic test devices.