Silent blocks, also known as suspension bushings, play a crucial role in a vehicle’s suspension. Their main purpose is to absorb vibrations, noises and impacts while driving, preventing them from being transferred to the body and interior. Without them, you would be feeling every little impact or vibration from your driver seat.
Basically, you could divide silent blocks in 2 main categories:
- Static silent blocks have the sole purpose of absorbing vibrations, noise and impacts, providing comfort to your drive. Otherwise, they are not designed to move or pivot. Typical static silent blocks are subframe bushings, which connect the subframe to the vehicle body.
- Dynamic silent blocks have a second purpose: to act as a pivot, allowing movements of other parts. Typical examples are the silent blocks in the track control arms which are mounted to the subframe. They have the purposes of both cushioning the connection while allowing the track control arm to tilt.
A lot of forces act on silent blocks constantly: the weight of the vehicle; acceleration and deceleration; braking; impacts; … Therefore, their strength is crucial! Still, the correct balance with flexibility for your comfort is needed.
A silent block also can’t be too flexible, as they have a direct impact on your wheel alignment and driving stability! Different designs exist to allow more flexibility/comfort in one direction while maintaining the required stiffness in the other.
Correctly mounting a silent block is highly important. 2 things to pay attention to is the correct position of the silent block (so the High- and Low-side are correctly positioned, a possible eccentrical hole is in the correct position,…) and fastening it when the vehicle is back on the ground (the resting position of the suspension). This avoid incorrect alignment and pretension, which would could premature failure.
WHY SIDEM SILENT BLOCKS?
Due to the forces that are constantly acting on silent blocks, their strength is key. That’s why we provide silent blocks with excellent rubber quality and impeccable metal-to-rubber bonding properties.
To have our silent block’s spot on, we test them in every possible way. Stiffness, flexibility and Shore hardness are vital properties for your driving comfort and stability. Leave that to us!
As mounting a silent block correctly is very important for its lifespan, we’ll help you out! A QR-code on our package leads you towards our mounting instructions, clarifying things for you.
CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEM SILENT BLOCKS.
Silent blocks, or bushings, in car suspension systems can fail due to several factors that cause premature wear. One common cause is incorrect installation under preload, which places constant stress on the bushing, leading to accelerated wear and eventual failure. The Shore A hardness of the rubber material is also crucial; if it’s too hard or too soft, the bushing may not absorb vibrations effectively or could degrade quickly under load.
Additionally, cavities within the bushing are designed to accommodate flex and reduce stress. If these cavities are poorly designed or the bushing lacks them, the material can suffer from excessive compression and deformation, leading to cracking or tearing over time. Proper material selection, design, and installation are essential to ensure the longevity and performance of silent blocks in suspension systems.
Sidem specializes in designing and reengineering solutions for OE parts by solving their shortcomings. With our advanced engineering expertise, we enhance the durability, performance, and reliability of these components, ensuring they meet the specific demands of various vehicles. Our innovative approach not only addresses common issues with OE parts, providing customers with enhanced alternatives that improve the lifespan and efficiency of their steering and suspension systems, but we also prioritize ease of installation. We design Sidem parts to ensure that they meet the highest standards while being as efficient and user-friendly as possible for our clients during installation. Our commitment to quality and innovation results in improved components that offer superior performance and longevity for a wide range of vehicles.
SIDEM DOCUMENTATION & INSTALLATION VIDEOS.
Discover why Sidem is the preferred choice for automotive professionals worldwide. Our documentation provides insights into our production processes, technical specifications, and installation tips. Whether you are looking for specific product details or general information about our company, our resources are designed to support you every step of the way.
Visit the Sidem Youtube channel and find solutions about the installation of steering and suspension parts.