Analyzing the Suspension Setup of Tesla's Cybertruck

author: FutureCar Staff    

A few days ago, a Tesla Cybertruck prototype was found abandoned on the side of the road. A passerby took some pictures of the suspension components and sent them to Electrek, who published the images. Vehicle teardown expert Sandy Munro then made a video analyzing the suspension setup of the all-electric pickup truck.

In the video, Munro explains that the front suspension features independent suspension with aluminum front lower control arms and an air suspension strut. The use of aluminum in the front is interesting because in the event of a crash, aluminum cracks and allows the wheels to detach, while steel bends and keeps the wheel in place, potentially causing impact forces to be translated into the cabin.

Another notable feature is the presence of a carbon fiber shield under the front part of the battery pack, along with a steel undercarriage. Munro and the other teardown expert speculate that this combination could be a cost-effective solution compared to a regular steel or aluminum tray, particularly if the production volume is high.

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

Munro explains that the steel suspension arm used in this setup is a perfect application as it is lightweight, cheap, and easy to manufacture. The air suspension strut has the Tesla logo on it and a metal shield to protect the airbag underneath, although it is similar to those used by other brands like Rivian.

The presenters note that this particular vehicle is a prototype, evident from certain components that are not off-the-shelf parts. They also point out some minor issues, such as a missing bolt along the high-voltage cable channel and the lack of a rugged cover to protect the cables.

Overall, Munro and the other expert conclude that the suspension setup is pretty conventional and not groundbreaking. However, they do mention that there are some clues about Tesla's gigacasting techniques visible in the video, which is a unique manufacturing process currently not used by other carmakers.

The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to debut in the next quarter, possibly in September, with release-candidate units already being built at the company's Texas Gigafactory. As always, the blog encourages readers to share their thoughts in the comments section after watching the video.

FutureCar Staff