Why can’t you hear the sound of metal scraping against metal when a car is driving on a bumpy road?

Why do we often say that a car feels ‘soft’ or ‘stiff’? How is this achieved through suspension tuning?

That’s right—it’s all down to the car’s bushings! Bushings serve to absorb shocks, reduce friction, extend the life of components and enhance comfort. Who would have thought such a small component could have such a powerful impact!

In a car’s chassis, the various components and articulation points are not mechanically linked; instead, they are connected by rubber bushings made primarily from rubber. These bushings are positioned at the endpoints of the suspension geometry—in other words, at the points where forces are concentrated. Lateral, longitudinal and vertical forces from the chassis all act upon the surface of the rubber bushings, subjecting these rubber components to heavy loads over extended periods.

The quality of the bushing design directly reflects the performance of the vehicle, so high-quality bushing design is of paramount importance!

The bushings used in cars are mainly divided into rubber bushings and hydraulic bushings. Why are hydraulic bushings considered ‘superior’?

Hydraulic bushings provide a better stiffness curve

Hydraulic bushings feature a complex structure and are among the most technically sophisticated and high-value-added products in the bushing category.
The internal cavity of the bushing is filled with hydraulic fluid; when subjected to external pressure, this allows for varying degrees of stiffness, providing an improved stiffness curve that helps enhance the vehicle’s overall driving performance.

Hydraulic bushings provide excellent shock absorption

Compared to standard automotive rubber bushings, the most significant improvement offered by hydraulic bushings is that they break the direct correlation between the softness of the rubber and the damping characteristics of the bushing.

As shown in the diagram above, the outer layer of the hydraulic bushing is still made of the familiar rubber material, but inside the rubber, numerous chambers and channels have been designed and filled with hydraulic fluid.
Consequently, when the suspension moves and compresses the hydraulic bushing, the hydraulic fluid flows to the opposite side, where it generates damping through hydraulic pressure. In this way, the hydraulic bushing ensures shock absorption in the initial stage using soft rubber, whilst simultaneously providing damping force in the final stage to prevent unnecessary vibrations, delivering a suspension effect that is soft at the front and resilient at the rear.
If, at this point, the vehicle’s suspension tuning is also of a high standard, the chassis will be able to handle road bumps with ease, delivering a superior ride quality to the occupants.

The hydraulic suspension system on the Nafurancar is designed in accordance with the original factory specifications, ensuring the same high standards as the original equipment. This enhances not only the driving performance of the entire vehicle, but also the driving experience for passengers.