Feb 14, 2020
Cars may all look the same more or less, but it's in the parts and systems where the differences are at. So what are the different types of frames? You'll know some of the most common ones here in this post.
Whether you're trying to build a car with your own hands or you're just being curious as to what makes the car stand, knowing the different types of car frames - or chassis - is essential. 95% of car owners and enthusiasts know the differences, and so should you. By knowing the differences, you'd be able to differentiate its advantages and disadvantages and, hence, you can pick the type of car that's best for you with ease.
What Is A Car Frame? How Does It Work And Why Is It Important?
A car frame is the car part that provides support and structure to virtually every car component, especially the motor. To put, the car frame to the car is the skeleton to a human body. It's also called a vehicle frame or a chassis (although the chassis pertains more to the skeletal framework of the frame).
When the motor vehicle was first introduced to the world, the chassis was separated into the body. It was only until the 1930s when car makers altered the design to make the chassis a part of the vehicle - which everyone picked up. This design is now known as the body-on-frame or unibody, which means the chassis is incorporated into the body. Most car manufacturers follow the unibody construction, although pick-ups, trucks, and buses have bodies separated from their frames.
Car frames work by, as mentioned, acting as an anchor to virtually all components. By that, it means the frame support covers the engine, the wheels, suspension system, and the body. Suffice to say, the chassis plays a critical role in how the car works and moves, but not a lot of people don't know much about it. Aside from the engine, the car's complete functionality heavily relies on how the construction of the frame was done. Without the frame, nobody's going to hold the car's components and cars dragging its engine down to the ground is - let's say - a terrible idea. In short, support and structural integrity are the primary purposes of the vehicle frame.
How Do You Clean A Car Frame?
Or a better question is, how do you take care of your car frame? Car frames don't have many wires in it, if not at all. But once it got damaged, repairing it is a stressful ordeal to handle. So the number one tip in taking care of your car frame is to avoid collisions as much as possible. Another tip is, when you decide to lower your car, don't drive your car on a rough and rocky road - that's going to damage your chassis (and even the exterior) with a single trip. And although expert mechanics can repair chassis, it can get expensive and time-consuming. So, stay away from accidents, rough roads, and protect chassis from rust are three core tips in taking care of the frame.
What Are The Different Types Of Car Frames?
Ever since the unibody car frame became the most used type of chassis, different types of car frames came out of nowhere. Below are the types of chassis you should check out.
Ladder Frame
One of the most common chassis used as a supporting structure for vehicles is the ladder type. The ladder frame is also one of the oldest. Although there are newer types of car frames designed and developed with better technology, the ladder is still one of the most trusted. And why's that? Because it can still provide support better than some of the chassis types available, if not most.
Ladder frames are usually heavy and made of steel. With this material, you can rely on the ladder chassis' strength and durability. The steel structure is sturdy enough to absorb most shocks, making it a perfect frame if you always drive on rocky roads and terrains. Aside from its strength, ladder frames also provide an excellent body twist, which most off-roaders like. Needless to say, the ladder frame is perfect for vehicles that are going to endure the outdoors most of the time.
Backbone Tubular Frame
Backbone tube frame is a construction that has a similar design to that of a unibody. While it's already addressed that vehicle frames serve as the car's backbone, car makers coined the term backbone because, well, it works as such. Unlike the ladder frame that has a two-dimensional structure, backbone frames have tubular "backbones" that attach the front towards the rear suspensions. The body is then placed on the tubular support. One of the more popular vehicles that are supported by backbone chassis is the Volkswagen Beetle.
There are many advantages that the backbone frames provide. One of the advantages is that the half axles of the frame have better contact with the ground. This design makes perfect vehicles for off-road driving. However, there are a few disadvantages. And one of them is that backbone frames are slightly heavier than most frames, making the vehicle stiff to maneuver. Also, tubular supports can't give enough protection to side impacts.
Space Frame
If in space there is no weight, then this is what the frame is after. A space frame is another tubular chassis that attaches the suspension, panels, and engine to three-dimensional tube frames while the body panels have little or no structural function. But what makes the difference for the space frame is that its design uses the advantage of triangles to maximize its lightweight. Also, each triangle strut is tensile, so it makes the frame a little bit slimmer and less bulky-looking. Aluminum is the primary material in creating space frames. Aluminum is not only malleable and robust, but it is also very light. No wonder aircraft designers and makers use aluminum.
If you feel the need for speed always, then you might want to look for a vehicle with a triangular space frame chassis. Most sports cars use this kind of frame, like the 1950 Jaguar C-Type. Because of its lightweight factor, cars with space frames tend to run much faster and at no time.
X-Frame
When you own a full-size vehicle, it most likely has an x-frame. If a ladder has a straight frame design, the x-frame has a, well, an x-shaped design. The rails of the frame encompass each other from the part where the engine is located. The differential goes all the way down to the passenger compartment. The design successfully decreases the height of the car, no matter the size of the transmission and shaft humps. General Motors arguably used this design first for their American models from the late 1950s and early 1960s.
When the X-frame designed first came out to the public, people believed to have a more effective design for the chassis. However, X-frames lack side rails and, like the tubular frames, can't provide protection against side collisions and impacts.
In Conclusion
As there are any different types of car frames out there, it's already basic that each type has its own pros and cons. That's why it's important that you can tell the difference in order to determine which frame suits your style and personality, even when it's mostly hidden. If you're looking for your next used car, you can check out out used cars inventory and you may just find the perfect one for you.