Here are some free PDF courses in the chassis area. The content of the courses will be revised and increased over time, so don't forget to visit this page at a later date.

The chassis consists of these components:

• Tires and wheels
• Brakes
• Suspension
• Steering

Tires and wheels have the basic function of supporting the weight of the vehicle and moving it safely across any road. Tires are what provide the lateral force needed to follow a curve on a road.

The brakes have the basic function of deceleration. However, a very important part also enters here as the modulation that is transferred by means of the ABS module. Many basic functions such as TCS, ESP, ABS, EBD and then also ADAS functions such as ACC, FAPA, RTCA, etc. are supported here.

The suspension keeps the vehicle at the desired height and compensates the impacts of the road, offering unmatched comfort. At the same time, its behavior in curves, acceleration and braking is very important.

The steering is responsible for directing the vehicle where the driver takes it. In steering, the issues of comfort and safety are extremely important.

The chassis is responsible for the DNA of a vehicle, i.e., the performance and perception by a customer is largely affected and/or benefited by the chassis. With an adjustment or tuning during vehicle dynamics evaluations, the pinnacle of performance can be achieved by balancing the required attributes.

The Suspension has a great effect on the comfort and performance of a vehicle. Making poor suspension settings can cause discomfort (nausea) to passengers due to the frequency of vibration.

This PDF course explains the dynamic behavior of a spring, shock absorber and the types of differential equations that can be generated from the selection of components.

Damped system-mass and spring

The damped system with a mass and a spring is a well-studied phenomenon that is even taught in engineering courses as didactic methods. However, what is missing is the application of these models in a real vehicle.

No academic, at least in Mexico, has the necessary experience to explain the dynamic effect of an under-, over- or critically-damped system. This is probably a very high requirement, since the academic staff that normally teach these lessons are mathematicians who naturally have no contact with the automotive industry and even less with the development of technologies.

Spring and damper suspension PDF course

Here you can download the course in PDF.

Tires are the only components that have contact between the ground and your vehicle. Therefore, they are of utmost importance for both safety and performance.

For the same reason, Pirelli made their campaign in the late 90s very appealing saying: "Power is nothing without control". And they are right about that. Tires play a crucial part in overall vehicle performance.

How much technology do tires have?

Many people underestimate the real value of a tire. However, it is a high-tech part including the most modern chemical compounds in the world, where tire companies use simulation methods to be able to predict dynamic behavior and make improvements.

The following course provides an overview of its nomenclature, speed index, load index, manufacturing, ideal pressure and the representation of the decal used in the European Union.

PDF course on tires

Here you can download the PDF course.

Brakes not only provide adequate deceleration but are also responsible for stability. The type of brakes to be used and the configuration is varied and depends a lot on the assembler since the gain equation is the one that defines the technical attributes.

The most common brakes in the automotive industry are drum and disc brakes. Drum brakes are commonly used in small

and economical vehicles while disc brakes are used in high performance vehicles.

To define the size and type of brakes it is necessary to know the characteristics of the vehicle, for example weight and

maximum speed. Based on these data you can start to make some calculations to know the braking force needed.

Knowing the braking force, you can define materials (friction coefficient), size and start working on the brake pedal tuning. At the same time, information can be obtained about the booster and the necessary dimensions for the force amplification.

Nowadays all vehicles have a brake distribution. Generally the rear end requires less braking force due to weight and inertia. However, the better the braking force can be distributed, the better the performance of the vehicle.

The following course provides an introduction to brakes. ABS is not covered in this course but below is a link to a video where ABS and ESP are covered.