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In conventional system modeling, some constitutive laws governing the performance of a major subsystem must be derived by testing existing hardware. However, if a system model is to be employed in the early stages of vehicle development, then separate models are required to generate the necessary subsystem constitutive laws strictly from basic design parameters and very simple component tests. This paper demonstrates how a computer model can generate the same complex kinematic data generated by a test for a vehicle suspension subsystem, and how these results can be integrated with a system-level, vehicle ride model. The suspension model presented is constructed primarily from design parameters, with some use of easier-to-obtain empirical data (such as load/deflection relationships of the jounce bumpers). This paper also discusses an improved approach to modeling the coil spring in a double A-arm suspension.