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Realizing that most people will likely be confused by the content of this article, what's real and what's not are two completely different things. First, I'll make an attempt to define the words "vehicle suspension", then I'll go through some of the particulars associated with how to diagnose suspension problems.

There are many different designs or versions of a particular design relating to suspensions that require more specific discussion and I (and I hope readers will) realize that fact. The following is a more or less generalized summary.

Vehicular suspensions are generally the components that your vehicle weight sets on, excluding wheel bearings, hubs and wheels (they are sort of in a class or classes by themselves). Such things as springs and spring hangers, struts, A-frames, kingpins and steering knuckles (or spindles & kingpins on straight front axles) and axles (where applicable) make up a vehicle's suspension.

Components such as ball joints, steering knuckles (or spindles & kingpins)and straight front axles play a dual role in that they are one of the links between the steering and the suspension. They pivot or allow pivoting making them part of the steering and support the vehicles weight making them part of the suspension.

Steering knuckles or spindles with kingpins and straight axles play a different part in steering in that wheel alignment angles are manufactured into these components along with the fact previously noted that they pivot or allow pivoting to turn the front wheels. Plus the wheel bearings, hubs and wheels are attached to these components making yet another link (or links). The additional unadjustable wheel alignment angles provided by these components, enhance steering quality and performance.

Rear axles on rear driven vehicles sort of fall into the category of suspensions but their role is unique in the scheme of things. Rear axles on front wheel drive vehicles can be considered suspension components but they also provide the link between wheel bearings, hubs and wheels.

When you really want to define the term "suspension", axles of all sorts really do not fit but are in a class by themselves and generally shops and literature recognizes them that way.

Items like tie rods and tie rod ends, idler arms, pitman arms, control arms and other components all the way up to the steering wheel, fall under the classification of steering components exclusively and should not be confused with suspension components.

Slack in these steering

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