Suspension assembly in My Summer Car: complete instructions

Suspension assembly in the simulator My Summer Car - This is perhaps the most difficult and important stage in assembling your Satsuma AMP car. It is this process that turns a pile of rusty metal into a controllable vehicle capable of leaving the garage. Many beginners get stuck at this stage, since the number of parts is large, and their location is not always obvious without a diagram.

Unlike an engine, which can be assembled on a workbench, the chassis must be mounted directly on the body, which requires some skill and understanding of the spatial arrangement of components. Installation accuracy is critical here, because it determines whether the car will go straight or go to the side.

In this guide, we will analyze in detail each component of the front and rear suspension, point out common mistakes and help you avoid fatal breakdowns on your first ride. Satsuma — the car is simple, but requires careful attention to every nut.

Preparation of the workplace and necessary details

Before you grab the keys, make sure the car body is securely supported on the racks. Working with the suspension requires access from below, so having lift or quality jacks is a must. The garage should be clean, and all the necessary parts should be laid out in a logical order next to the car.

You will need all the suspension components that you may have sold to a junk dealer or lost at the beginning of the game. If some parts are missing, you will have to look for them in a landfill or buy them in a store Teimo's Auto Parts. Pay special attention to the condition of silent blocks and rubber elements: old ones can quickly fail.

⚠️ Attention: Never try to assemble the suspension if the body is hanging on only one jack. This could result in the vehicle falling and injuring the character, requiring an ambulance to be called and progress lost.

To get the job done, you'll need the full set of tools in your toolbox, including socket wrenches of various sizes. Make sure you have access to a workbench to pre-assemble some components, such as shock absorbers.

Front suspension assembly: arms and steering knuckles

We start assembly from the front axle, since it bears the greatest load and is responsible for steering. First, install the lower and upper suspension arms. They are attached to the subframe and require careful positioning so that the bolts fit into the holes without distortion.

After installing the levers, it’s the turn of the steering knuckles. This is the central element to which the wheel hub and brake caliper are attached. It is important to properly align the splines and ensure free movement of the ball joints. Ball joints should move easily, but without play.

Don't forget about the anti-roll bar. Although the car can drive without it, the absence of this element will make the car's behavior on the road extremely unstable, especially when cornering. Stabilizer mounts are often lost, so check their availability in advance.

It also makes sense to install the brake discs and calipers at this stage, since access to them will be limited once the wheels are finally assembled. Make sure the brake hoses are not kinked and have enough length to allow for suspension travel.

Installation of shock absorbers and springs

Installing shock absorbers in My Summer Car has its own characteristics. Unlike modern cars, this often requires preliminary assembly of the unit on a workbench or a special sequence of actions. First, the shock absorber itself is installed, then the spring is put on it.

Compressing the springs may require a special tool or trick with a jack to get the mounting bolts into the holes. Springs are under high pressure, and their uncontrolled shooting can be dangerous for the character’s virtual health.

The shock absorbers are mounted at the top by the body and require access from above, often from under the hood or through the wheel arch. Make sure the rubber seals are in place, otherwise you will hear an unpleasant knocking sound when driving.

After installing all four shock absorbers, check their operation by rocking the body. They should move smoothly, without jamming. If the shock absorber is stuck, it may need to be replaced or rebuilt.

Rear suspension and beam installation

The rear suspension of Satsuma is a dependent design on trailing arms. The main element here is the rear beam, which is attached to the body at several points. Its installation requires assistance, as the part is heavy and bulky.

It is critically important to correctly install the reaction rods (panhar rod), which keep the bridge from moving left and right. Without them, the rear axle will wander, making straight movement impossible. Jet thrusts must be symmetrical and securely tightened.

Don't forget about the rear wheel braking system. Drum brakes on Satsumas require proper pad adjustment, otherwise the wheels may jam. After assembly, be sure to bleed the brakes.

Steering and driveshaft

You can't go far without steering. Assembly begins with the installation of the steering mechanism (rack or gearbox, depending on the modification, but in the base it is a worm gear). It is attached to the side members and requires precise centering.

Next comes the installation of tie rods and ends. The length of the tie rods directly affects wheel alignment. At the initial stage, tighten them approximately to the middle so that subsequent adjustments can be made at a car service center. Steering tips should have free movement, but not dangle.

The driveshaft connects the gearbox to the rear axle. Its installation is possible only with aligned flange holes. Rotate the shaft by hand to make sure there is no vibration or interference with body parts or the exhaust system.

⚠️ Attention: If the driveshaft is installed skewed or not fully installed, at the first sharp start it can tear off the gearbox or damage the rear axle.

Check the tie rod boots. Damage to them will lead to rapid wear of the mechanism and the entry of dirt, which in Finnish off-road conditions is tantamount to a quick breakdown.

Wheels and initial launch

The final stage is installing the wheels. B My Summer Car wheels have a direction of rotation, so it is important not to confuse left and right if the tread pattern is directional. Tighten the bolts crosswise to ensure even disc fit.

Before lowering the machine to the ground, double check all connections. Pull the levers, spin the wheels. Nothing should be loose or make strange sounds. Wheel bolts must be tightened with force, but without fanaticism, so as not to break the thread.

Lower the car to the ground and try to roll it with your hands. If everything is assembled correctly, the car should move freely and the wheels should rotate without friction on the fender liners. Now you can fill the gearbox and rear axle with oil, as well as brake fluid.

Wheel alignment adjustment in a car service

After self-assembly, the suspension geometry is far from ideal. For safe driving, you need to visit a car service (a garage with a lift and a computer on the map). There the mechanic will adjust the wheel alignment angles.

In the service you can choose one of three presets: Stock (factory settings), Race (for track, harder and lower) or Off-road (for dirt, higher ground clearance). To begin with, it is recommended to choose the factory version to understand the basic behavior of the machine.

In addition to geometry, the service can ask you to strengthen the suspension, which is useful for off-road driving or installing a more powerful engine. However, this will make the ride tougher. Also be sure to have your wheels balanced if they cause wobble at speed.

⚠️ Attention: Trying to drive to a service station with an unadjusted suspension can lead to rapid wear of the tires ("eating up" the wheels) and unpredictable behavior of the car on the road, including crashing into a ditch.

After the service, your Satsuma is ready for full testing. Remember that after the first kilometers of driving it is recommended to check the tightness of the bolts again, as new parts may shrink.