FRONT SUSPENSION
The TL front suspension is a double-wishbone design with a rigid stamped-steel upper arm and a steel lower arm. The system is functionally related to the systems used on Formula One and Indy Cars, and permits the best combination of road holding, ride quality and packaging for the TL. The system uses coil-over shock absorbers that, unlike strut suspensions, are not stressed members of the suspension. This design reduces suspension friction and improves responsiveness to bumps. Suspension camber gain is maximized through the use of a shorter upper arm, while steering feel is enhanced through a high placement of the lower arm.

The upper suspension arm is extremely rigid, which makes it less likely to transmit vibrations from road surface irregularities into the cabin as road noise. A special compliance bushing on the lower arm better absorbs bumps and improves ride quality. A steel bar connects the shock towers to help deter deflection. Hollow, high-strength and lightweight, it enhances chassis solidity, steering precision and feel.
While the major geometry design elements are shared between the TL and TL Type-S, the tuning of these components results in cars with significantly different steering and ride feel.

The TL's suspension has been tuned with an emphasis on ride comfort while maintaining excellent handling. Thus, the hollow front stabilizer bar is 27.2 mm. Also, the front spring rate has been reduced by 7-percent. The front compliance bushing and dampers are re-tuned for ride comfort, without increased roll and only a slight decrease in performance during instrumented handling tests.

The Type-S suspension is re-tuned for significant performance gains. The hollow front stabilizer bar is replaced with a 27 mm solid bar. Although smaller in diameter than used with the previous TL, the new stabilizer bar is significantly stiffer than the hollow 27.2 mm bar it replaces. Additionally, the front damping rate has increased significantly. The dampers on the Type-S have been tuned specifically for the vehicle's goal of more aggressive handling. The result is increased road holding and enhanced stability with a reduced roll angle-all with a minimal loss in ride comfort. Also, the damper mounts are 400-percent stiffer, improving steering response and handling without compromising road noise isolation.

REAR SUSPENSION

The TL rear suspension is a 5-link independent design with struts and coil springs. The suspension mounts to a steel subframe to improve road isolation and to provide a quiet interior. The rear suspension geometry adds "toe-in" when the suspension is compressed, improving handling stability over bumps and during hard cornering and braking.

A stabilizer bar further improves handling precision by limiting body roll, while a special "pillow joint" for the lateral links improves camber rigidity. Rubber shims on the leading and trailing arm bushings improve ride comfort.

As on the front suspension, the rear suspensions are specially tuned on both the TL and TL Type-S. The TL has unique shock valving for improved ride comfort. The rear stabilizer bar design is a hollow 18.3 mm bar that reduces weight without sacrificing roll stiffness.

TL Type-S suspension settings are tuned for performance. Although the automatic and manual transmission TL Type-S models have the same suspension settings, the rear spring rate is increased 33-percent on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, 14-percent on vehicles mated with an automatic transmission. The TL Type-S' solid rear stabilizer bar is 20 mm on cars with an automatic transmission. This results in greater roll stiffness in the rear, allowing for better handling balance and control.