Which component is critical for a vehicle's stability during cornering?

The component that is critical for a vehicle's stability during cornering is the shocks and struts. These components are part of the suspension system and play a vital role in controlling the vehicle's movement and maintaining tire contact with the road surface.

Shocks and struts are designed to absorb and dampen the impacts from road irregularities while also controlling the rate of spring motion. This helps to reduce body roll and maintain stability when the vehicle goes through turns. Good handling during cornering requires that the tires maintain maximum contact with the road, which is facilitated by the effective functioning of these components.

If shocks and struts are worn or not functioning properly, the vehicle can experience excessive body roll, poor handling characteristics, and an overall loss of stability while cornering. In contrast, axles are primarily responsible for transmitting power from the transmission to the wheels, brake pads are important for stopping the vehicle, and the fuel system is crucial for engine operation, but none of these components directly affect the stability of the vehicle during cornering.