An independent suspension allows the wheels on either side of an axle to move independently from each other. The fact that the left front wheel didn't move up in response to the right front wheel moving down is evidence of this.

Brakes utlize friction to slow vehicle tires. Drum brakes employ a cast iron drum that roates with the vehicle axle. When hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake assemblies at the wheels, internal pistons expand and push brake shoes outward into contact with the brake drum slowing the rotation of the axle. More powerful disc brakes operate by pinching a rotating disc betweeen two brake pads and allow for a larger surface area to contact the disc, provide more force, and are more easily cooled.

Sensors provide the data necessary for the vehicle's computer to make decisions and monitor everything from simple vehicle information like tire pressure to complexities like the chemical content of an engine's exhaust.

The ignition coil steps up the 12 volts available from the battery or alternator to a voltage of 30,000 or more volts at the spark plug. Converting a lower voltage input into a higher voltage output makes the ignition coil a step-up transformer.

A head gasket is a gasket that sits between the engine block and cylinder heads to seal the cylinders to ensure maximum compression and avoid leakage of coolant or engine oil into the cylinders.