if a person is overweight or morbidly obese, does it affect the suspension and braking system on a vehicle ? would they have to change shocks/struts , brakes,ball joints , tie rod ends, bushings earlier than a person of normal body weight ?
Yup. How much difference will depend on the vehicle. A larger vehicle will typically have a larger capacity so the % of the load will be smaller and then in theory cause less wear and tear on the suspension. A subcompact may have a GVR (gross vehicle weight) of say 3000 lbs. The car empty may weigh 2500 so that means that if the driver weighs say 350 that only leaves 150 pounds of weight caring capacity. If the driver also happens to be a anvil salesman and carries 2 75 pound anvils with him all the time the car is at max load at all times and will wear out faster than if say the car was only carrying a supermodel and her purse dog. If the vehicle is say a typical 1/2 ton truck with a GVR of 7000 pounds and weighs 5000 lbs empty a 350lb driver is not going to make as much of a 'dent'.
yes it does, I used to work for a Caddy dealership, had two guys that always bought a new Eldo every year. They weighed over 600 pounds a piece, We had to move the seat back 6 inches, and stiffen the left side of the brand new car up, or by the time they traded the car in a year later, it would be sagging! The Eldo had a ton of room in it already. with no drive line hump, but these were some big boys!
Not anymore than a car carrying two people.
