MacPherson vs Double Wishbone Suspension (Pros and Cons)
In terms of keeping tires on the road, not all suspensions are created equal. In one corner, we’ve got the tried-and-true MacPherson strut – the Toyota Corolla of suspension systems. In the other, the sophisticated double wishbone setup, the choice of performance junkies worldwide.
But how does a MacPherson strut setup compare to a double wishbone suspension? Time to see why some engineers swear by one and others won’t touch anything but the other.
MacPherson Strut Suspension
If you’ve ever delved into automotive suspension components, you’ve heard the term MacPherson strut. It’s a very common method of keeping your car’s wheels aligned and in contact with the road you’re running down.
The design comes from Earle S. MacPherson, who was the chief engineer of Chevrolet’s light car project in 1944. The goal was to create a lightweight, affordable automobile to help kickstart the American Postwar economy.
This effort led to a concept car called the Chevrolet Cadet. It was the first car to feature the new MacPherson strut design, but the project was halted because—guessed it—the profit margins weren’t high enough!
Imagine that. Not enough money for good ‘ol Chevy.
Frustrated with how the project ended up, MacPherson took his talents elsewhere across town to a small, boutique automaker we now know as ‘Ford’. The project culminated in the 1950 british-built Ford Consul.
Now, the design wasn’t imagined in a vacuum as there were some similar designs being used in aircraft and other designs being used in French cars. And also, interestingly enough, MacPherson actually designed this suspension system for all four wheels. But, as with all products, profit needs to come into play so these struts where 9/10 times just used for the front wheels.
But why? Why engineer an entirely new suspension system?
Simplicity
MacPherson struts use fewer components than earlier suspension systems, making them smaller, therefore easier to package in smaller vehicles.
This design freed up way more space in the engine compartment, which was beneficial for smaller cars and those with their engines mounted width-wise (transversely).
Cost-effectiveness
These struts were simple and had fewer parts, thus making MacPherson struts cheaper to manufacture and easier to maintain compared to more complex suspension systems.
Lightness
Less components meant a lighter suspension system, which improved fuel efficiency and handling.
Worked With Unibody Cars
MacPherson struts benefited from the new trend in automotive engineering: unibody construction. This design provides the strong top mount and vertical space required for the strut.
Crash Performance
The packaging of MacPherson struts in the front crash structure of cars makes it easier to engineer vehicles that pass more stringent small overlap crash tests. Basically, MacPherson struts made way for safer automobiles for all.
Double Wishbone Suspension
As always, there’s a new innovation in town that will flip the old tech on its head. Introducing, the double wishbone suspension.
Overall, this type of suspension offers superior handling and performance compared to simpler designs like MacPherson struts. But as always, let’s dig in a bit more.
A double wishbone suspension consists of two wishbone-shaped control arms (upper and lower) connecting the wheel hub to the vehicle’s chassis. Each arm has two mounting points on the chassis and one on the wheel hub, forming an A-shape (hence also called A-arms). The shock absorber and spring are typically mounted between the lower wishbone and the chassis.
But why develop an entirely new suspension system?
Get That Camber
As the suspension compresses during cornering, it introduces negative camber, keeping more of the tire in contact with the road surface.
Ever seen a Tokyo Drift-style car meet? All the cars slammed down on their bellies with their tires tilted have extreme negative camber.
Better Handling
The more camber you can dial into your ride, the better your steering inputs will translate to real cornering prowess. Direct input leads to direct output.
Less Torque Steer
In front-wheel-drive cars, a double wishbone suspension helps minimize torque steer. Remember the 2004 Mazdaspeed 3? It had Macpherson strut suspension in the front, leading it to squirrel around like a squirrel when launched hard.
Design Flexibility
Engineers can fine-tune double wishbone suspension features like camber, caster, and roll center by adjusting the geometry of the wishbones. It’s genius.
Space Efficiency
While requiring more horizontal space, it uses less vertical space, allowing for lower ride heights without compromising suspension travel. Want to slam your car? You’ll get a lot lower with a double wishbone suspension.
Design and Construction
MacPherson
MacPherson struts are simple and compact. These struts combine the shock absorber and spring into a single unit. They are cost-effective to manufacture and take up less horizontal space, making them ideal for smaller vehicles and those with transverse engines.
However, MacPherson struts offer less ideal camber control during suspension travel compared to some other designs.
Double Wishbone
The double wishbone suspension system is a bit more involved, and therefore more expensive to create. Subjectively, it’s a lot more elegant with curved upper and lower control arms—known as the “wishbones”.
They’re more complicated because they have more jobs to do. They need to maintain the suspension geometry at more varied angles as the car completes its job. That could be a race car, drift car, luxury car on the autobahn—you name it.
Performance and Handling
MacPherson
This system is simpler, more compact, and cost-effective. It’s going to be good enough for most vehicle uses—we’re talking 99.9% of uses. Remember… Tuk tuks exist and will get you around town just fine.
The allows great steering angles and fits a variety of applications, but can result in increased body roll and may not deliver the same level of precision as the higher-end alternative.
Double Wishbone
The double wishbone suspension, on the other hand, provides more refined handling and better control over camber angles. You’ll notice improved cornering and less body roll.
But on the flipside, it’s much more expensive to produce so you’ll only see it in more performance-oriented or luxury cars.
Ride Quality
MacPherson
The MacPherson strut suspension is the sweatpants of the car world. It’s simple, does the job well, and won’t break the bank. For your everyday cruising, it’s smooth enough and soaks up bumps nicely. Plus, it’s compact, so you get more legroom in the front – tall folks likey.
Double Wishbone
On the flip side, the double wishbone suspension is the fancy suit of suspensions. It’s a bit more complex and pricier, but man, does it deliver when it comes to handling. It keeps your tires hugging the road like a sucker fish, which is awesome for cornering.
The downside is it might not be as comfy for your daily commute.
Cost
MacPherson
We’ve pretty much beaten this question into oblivion by this stage in the article. Macpherson struts are easier to produce and much less expensive. All four strut replacements might set you back $1000, but then you’ll be back on the road.
Double Wishbone
On the other hand, a double wishbone suspension could set you back 2 or three times that amount. And while most car enthusiasts will say “You really get what you pay for” and “you can totally feel the difference”, truth will tell once you get your wallet out and have to pay for it.
Maybe that tuk tuk doesn’t sound so bad after all.
Maintenance and Durability
MacPherson
MacPherson struts are generally easier to maintain and more durable in everyday use. They have fewer moving parts, which means there’s less that can wear out or break over time.
Plus, when something does need fixing, it’s usually simpler and cheaper to replace individual components rather than the whole system.
Double Wishbone
Double wishbone suspensions, while offering better performance, tend to be a bit more high-maintenance. They have more components and joints that can wear out, which might mean more frequent inspections and potentially higher repair costs down the line.
The downside is that they are NECESSARY for performance cars. That’s because they are handling higher forces in more directions, so they need the fancier suspension components to keep up. Once you buy into the performance car world, you’re going to continue paying for that thrill—which is worth it.
Applications
MacPherson
These struts are widely used in compact and mid-sized cars, front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicles, economy cars, and some SUVs and crossovers.
Double Wishbone
These suspensions are often found in sports cars, luxury vehicles, racing cars, and off road vehicles. This is because specialized cars require specialized equipment, most often to change how the card handles over terrain.
And whether it’s your Bentley or trophy truck, you’ll want longer travel suspension with external reservoirs or air bags—which need more space.
Comparison Chart
Characteristic | MacPherson | Double Wishbone |
---|---|---|
Initial Cost | X | |
Maintenance Cost | X | |
Durability | X | |
Space Efficiency (Horiz) | X | |
Space Efficiency (Vert) | X | |
Performance Handling | X | |
Camber Control | X | |
Daily Driving Comfort | X | |
Design Simplicity | X | |
Cornering Ability | X | |
Tuning Flexibility | X | |
Tire Contact In Corners | X | |
Weight | X | |
Parts Replacement Simplicity |
Advantages and Disadvantages
MacPherson Strut Pros
- Simpler design with fewer components
- More cost-effective to manufacture and maintain (~$1000 for full replacement)
- Takes up less horizontal space, ideal for smaller vehicles
- Better packaging in engine compartment
- More durable with easier maintenance
MacPherson Strut Cons
- Less ideal camber control
- More body roll
- Less precise handling
- Limited performance capabilities
- Not suitable for high-performance applications
Double Wishbone Pros
- Superior handling and performance
- Better camber control during cornering
- More tuning flexibility for engineers
- Minimizes torque steer in FWD cars
- Better tire contact with road during aggressive driving
Double Wishbone Cons
- More complex design
- Significantly higher costs (2-3x more than MacPherson)
- More components that can wear out
- Requires more frequent inspections and maintenance
- Less comfortable for daily driving
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Thanks am attached to this
Simply and understandable explanations. However, is it possible for double wishbone suspension to rise its ground clearance?
Ground clearance is set by the distance between the spring perch and the top hat of the strut or coilover in your suspension. Some coilovers are adjustable, but this adjustability usually comes on expensive, high end sports cars and on aftermarket coilovers. Sometimes you can use spacers to raise the ride height, or lowering springs to lower the ride height. Do a bit of searching on google with your make and model to see if there are any aftermarket solutions out there to meet your needs.
You said: “The double wishbone suspension has vertical upper and lower control arms which boosts the negative camber”.
No, it does not. It has horizontal control arms. I have never seen a vertical control arm, but then, we build race cars here 😉
Haha, good catch. If you end up with vertical control arms I hope you have some spare parts on hand; sounds expensive!
The new 2021 Acura TLX has the Front Wishbone suspension and the handling is by far better than the out going 2020. Acura / Honda tried this on the 2011 Accord and it had such a hard ride they discontinued it but now the new version has both soft ride and handling. I was very impressed and feel so much more in control in higher speed cornering.
Almost all Hondas and Acuras of late ’80’s and ’90’s had wishbone front and the rear.
I have a 6th gen 1996/2000 civic. Which has the double wishbone at rhe front. The 5th gen also has it.
I can’t believe my 2003 1.8T 20V Vw Passat got the double wishbone front suspension. I was expecting the MacPherson setup.
Nice explanation.
Thanks
That surprises me too. Nice.
negative chamber? or negative camber?
Thanks. Typo fixed.
The double wishbone has been on the market before the McPherson came on the market.Many well known brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz etc. Still uses the double wishbone for a front and rear suspension. It is far superior than the McPherson strut.
Absolutely, no comparison. McPherson suffers badly in stiffness, and cannot as effectively manage negative camber, especially important in wide tire performance cars.
Does this mean that the Fortuner & Montero sport are better than a Nissan Terra?
Not necessarily. A lot of engineering goes into suspension design, and the “better” car for you will depend on your use case and your budget.
Thanks so much for the good explanation.
Thanks much for the education, I had a good concept of the two types, but you have explained it very clearly.