2004 Mitsubishi Galant - Suspension

The 2004 Mitsubishi Galant's suspension design endows it with refined driving characteristics common among luxury sedans. A wide track (61.8 inches, front and rear) and long wheelbase (108.3 inches) help the Galant provide a comfortable, stable ride, regardless the number of tax dollars provided to the pavement below. The Galant's all-new chassis and four-wheel-independent suspension are engineered for both performance and comfort.

Front Suspension

The Galant's front wheels utilize the proven MacPherson front suspension design to provide the precise control and superior handling capability that sedan buyers demand. Large-diameter strut cylinders (V6 models) and springs are matched according to the mass of the wheels, tires, and vehicle weight in order to deliver the best combination of ride and agility.

Each strut uses a gas-charged insert to dampen the road's imperfections, and a large urethane bump stopper helps to absorb road shock and keeps the suspension from bottoming out. The front coil spring pressures are optimized to strike the ideal balance between ride compliance and responsive, sporty handling. The Galant's front strut assemblies ride on large, reinforced steel lower control arms. These control arms are supported by a rigid crossmember that spans between the control arm mounting points, eliminating lateral movement of the control arms and helping to maintain a consistent suspension geometry, which results in improved handling. This large, low-profile crossmember was designed without a "kick-up" in its main section and increases rigidity at the suspension mounting points while helping to reduce weight.

The design of this flat suspension crossmember also allows for an optimized, lower steering box mounting position which realizes more linear toe changes and improves the vehicle's straight-line handling on uneven surfaces. The lower control arms swing from the chassis using dual-density rubber bushings made of more compliant material in the top half of the bushing shell to reduce the harshness of road input. A harder rubber material maintains the shape of the lower half of the bushing shell to help improve cornering performance. The movement of the long control arms was engineered to help generate ample wheel stroke to Galant's suspension track surfaces. This enables more effective and predictable toe and camber changes across its range of movement for superior traction and control on uneven surfaces. All Galant models are equipped with a front stabilizer bar that is attached to the struts using ball joints; the bar's friction surfaces are Teflon(TM) coated on GTS, which helps the stabilizer respond quickly to suspension changes with smoother movement. In addition, the Galant's hub unit is designed to use angular contact wheel bearings that help lower friction and improve ride while also reducing noise and drag.

Rear Suspension

The Galant's rear suspension is a sophisticated low-mount, multi-link arrangement. This design helps the Galant achieve excellent ride quality and handling stability while offering a low cargo floor in the trunk. The low-profile positioning of the entire rear suspension-with its strategic location of coil springs, shock absorbers and links, and reduced mounting point height-helps to utilize trunk space.

At the rear, gas-charged shocks and coil springs absorb and help the Galant negotiate the road's imperfections as long, lower control arms track over the road. Strong rear trailing arms mounted with large, vibration-absorbing rear bushings and rigid upper suspension links help provide increased stability. The reduced height of the insulation system used atop the shock and coil spring has also helped reduce the suspension's intrusion into the trunk area. A large lattice structure made of steel helps increase suspension rigidity-especially at the control link mounting points-and provides a dramatic reduction in the ability of vibration and road noise to penetrate the passenger cabin.

In an effort to provide superior handling, Galant's suspension designers made the rear suspension control arms as long as possible to maximize the movement of the independent suspension and allow for optimal toe and camber changes over uneven surfaces. Large-diameter rubber suspension bushings located at the friction points of the lower control arms and upper links also help reduce the vibration and road noise that are transmitted by the suspension's steel links and control arms. In addition, an eccentric cam in the lower rear control arm mounting points can allow for the slight tuning of toe and camber.

As with the front suspension, the Galant incorporates stabilizer bars that attach to the rear lower control arm and uses ball joints for improved, less-restricted movement. In addition, the suspension bump stopper is made of a more resilient urethane material to offer superior shock absorption properties and to prevent the suspension from exceeding its travel.

Power Steering

The 2004 Mitsubishi Galant relies on a hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering system to offer the direct, responsive steering feel and control that drivers expect from a passenger car. The low positioning of the steering assembly on the front crossmember helps improve steering feel and response with a more linear path for the control links to the knuckle arms and front hubs. The power steering gearbox is attached to the crossmember using rubber bushings engineered with multi-directional hardness that offer support for front to rear movement and increased compliance for lateral movement. The Galant's speed-sensitive hydraulic power steering pump reduces its fluid flow at higher speeds to increase the steering effort at highway speeds. This system maximizes power multiplication in slow-speed situations such as parking, and helps provide a safer, more enjoyable driving experience.

The 2004 Galant is equipped with a stylish four-spoke steering wheel crafted for a modern appearance. Depending on the vehicle's trim level or selected options package, the steering wheel is made of supple urethane or covered in rich leather. Galant ES, LS and GTS trim levels are equipped with an easily accessible cruise control switch that is mounted behind the steering wheel. The leather GTS steering wheel is designed with a triple diamond logo and is equipped with convenient audio controls (available as an option on ES and LS). The steering wheel is attached to a tilt-column that allows drivers to adjust their driving position and make for an easier entry and exit from the vehicle. In the interest of driver safety, the steering column shaft is designed to collapse during a collision to avoid penetrating the cabin. The Galant's steering column shaft is secured by a fall-away bracket and a slide plates mounting system with ripping plates that allows the column to better absorb impact energy in the event of a collision.

Braking System

All Galants are equipped with a vacuum-assisted four-wheel-disc braking system that includes vented front discs and solid rear discs. The front rotors measure 10.9 inches in diameter (11.6 inches for V6-equipped LS and GTS trim lines) and the solid rear discs measure 10.3 inches in diameter. The Galant utilizes a powerful single-piston caliper design up front with dual 60 mm pistons and a single 35 mm caliper piston at the rear. Anti-lock braking with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) is standard equipment on every V6 Galant, though ABS is also offered as optional equipment on the Galant ES.

Wheels and Tires

The Galant DE, ES and LS trim lines ride on 16-inch wheels and all-season 215/60R16 tires. The sportier GTS trim features five-spoke, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and 215/55R17 tires that help provide the Galant with undeniable curb appeal. The sporty cast aluminum wheels add a sense of athleticism to this midsize sedan. The optional Diamond Package on the ES and LS offers a sporty ten-spoke design. The Galant's wheels are wrapped in tires that help deliver an ideal balance between handling stability, ride comfort, and reduced road noise on tarmac.

Galant DE, ES LS come equipped with 16-inch wheels, though the ES and LS trim lines offer optional 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. The fully loaded Galant GTS rides on standard 17-inch 5-spoke cast aluminum wheels.

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