Analyzing Tesla Cybertruck's Suspension Setup

author: FutureCar Staff    

A few days ago, a Tesla Cybertruck prototype was found abandoned on the side of the road. An individual passing by took the opportunity to snap some pictures of the suspension components and shared them with Electrek.

After the images were published on the blog, Sandy Munro, a well-known vehicle teardown expert, created a 13-minute video analyzing the suspension setup of the all-electric pickup truck. The video reveals an independent front suspension with aluminum front lower control arms and an air suspension strut.

The use of aluminum in the front suspension is interesting because in the event of a crash, aluminum cracks, allowing the wheels to detach. On the other hand, steel bends and keeps the wheel in place, which can lead to impact forces being transferred to the cabin.

Another intriguing feature is the presence of a carbon fiber shield underneath the front part of the battery pack, along with a steel undercarriage. The experts theorize that this combination could be a more cost-effective approach compared to a regular steel or aluminum tray, especially if the production volume is high.

At the rear, there is also an independent suspension setup with air struts, but this time the lower control arms are made of regular steel. The presence of a ball joint in the wheel hub area confirms that the Cybertruck has rear-wheel steering capabilities.

Sandy Munro comments that the use of steel suspension arms in this setup is a perfect application as it is relatively lightweight, cheap, and easy to manufacture.

The air suspension strut in the Cybertruck features the Tesla logo and a metal shield to protect the airbag underneath. However, Munro points out that it looks similar to air struts used in vehicles made by other brands, such as the Rivian R1T.

The presenters note that this particular vehicle is a prototype, as it contains some components that are not off-the-shelf parts. They observe machined bits in the front suspension that appear to be made using a lathe. Additionally, they notice a missing bolt along the high-voltage cable channel, and the cables themselves are not protected by a rugged cover.

Overall, the experts conclude that the suspension setup of the Cybertruck is relatively conventional and does not introduce any groundbreaking features. However, they do spot clues about Tesla's gigacasting techniques, which are currently unique to the company.

The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to make its debut sometime in the next quarter, possibly in September. Release-candidate units are already being manufactured at the company's Texas Gigafactory.

As always, the viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions on the video in the comments section below.

FutureCar Staff