Why are changes in automotive markets having an impact on suspension ball joint manufacturers?

Suspension ball joint manufacturers are affected by changes in automotive markets that have an impact on engineering specifications and design tolerances of automotive ball joints. Two significant market changes that affect suspension ball joint manufacturing are the trend towards increased vehicle size and the adoption of EVs, which may have different weight distribution and handling characteristics.

Why do suspension ball joint manufacturers need to respond to automotive market trends?

Suspension ball joint manufacturers need to ensure that their automotive ball joints are engineered to meet the demands of new automotive market trends because ball joints have a critical role in automotive safety. Suspension ball joint failures can lead to loss of steering control and have a serious effect on vehicle stability. Any changes to vehicle designs caused by automotive market trends will have an impact on ball joint wear and performance, and this needs to be factored into suspension ball joint manufacturing.

How do electric vehicles impact ball joint manufacturing?

Automotive suspension ball joints are a very old technology, and the function of ball joints in enabling the articulation of suspension components is very well established and understood for internal combustion vehicles (ICE), but research indicates that electric vehicles (EVs) make different demands on automotive suspension, which has a direct effect on ball joint manufacturing.

What are 3 features of EVs that increase stress and fatigue effects on suspension ball joints?

• Increased weight due to the weight of EV battery packs
• EVs have higher torque potentials than the majority of ICE vehicles
• In-wheel motors change suspension dynamics by increasing wheel mass

Higher mass vehicles, like EVs and SUVs, are becoming more dominant in automotive markets, and suspension systems for modern EVs are having to cope with rapid torque transfers from electric motors. For EVs in particular, the use of in-wheel motors has a significant impact on suspension fatigue that needs to be accounted for by upgrading and improving the quality of suspension ball joints, which can otherwise generate weak points for suspension wear.

Why do ball joint manufacturers need to update their engineering?

As components within a suspension system, ball joints can be overlooked when market trends introduce new variants of existing vehicles, like SUVs with increased mass, and EVs that create different inertia and handling demands on suspension geometry. This is why it is very important to ensure that when new types and designs of vehicles are introduced to the market the engineering of all suspension components, including ball joints, is reviewed and updated to reflect different vehicle characteristics.

Ball joint manufacturers need to allow for different stresses on EV vehicles

EVs put different stresses on suspension systems to ICE vehicles, and there are good reasons for paying close attention to ball joint manufacturing in EV suspensions systems. Ball joints are usually encapsulated within suspension control arms, tie rods and other components, so it is essential that they are engineered to safely withstand the forces that are applied to them in both normal and extreme driving conditions.

How do you identify the best suspension ball joint manufacturers?

Ball joints need to be expertly matched to suspension components to guarantee the correct performance and to maintain safety standards, especially considering the needs of new EV technologies and heavier vehicles. The best suspension ball joint manufacturers are going to be companies that build suspension components and that integrate suspension ball joints into the design and engineering from first principles, rather than outsourcing ball joint supply and installation to a third party.

SH Auto Parts has fully integrated manufacturing, assembly and quality control on a single site at our Smart Factory in Taiwan. We build both CNC machined and high tensile steel control arms with integrated ball joints that are built in our robotic suspension ball joint assembly line. Our IATF 16949 certified systems ensure total quality control for safety and peace of mind. Contact us to find out more about our suspension component and ball joint manufacturing services.