KHAIRUL AMILIN BIN IBRAHIM Prepared by:

amilin@icam.edu.my

AIR SUSPENSION

AIR SUSPENSION

Air

suspension powered by an engine driven or electric

air pump or compressor.
Pump - pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a
spring.
If th
the engine
i is
i left
l ft off
ff for
f an extended
t d d period,
i d the
th car will
ill
settle to the ground.

Purpose of Air Suspension

Provide

a smooth ride quality

Self-leveling.

Example of vehicle - Maybach,

Maybach Rolls-Royce,
Rolls Royce Lexus,
Lexus
Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover/Range Rover, SsangYong, Audi,
Subaru, Volkswagen, Lincoln and Ford and etc.

AIR SUSPENSION OPERATION

Compressor

compress the atmosphere air and supplying

air to air tank.
Air tank will stored the compressed air before send to air
bags.
Air bags at each wheel replaced conventional coil spring
As load applied , air bags compressed actuating the
leveling valve .
Air from the tank fills the compressed air bag & hence
raise the level of the frame.
Air from air bag gets released as load on chassis decreases

AIR SUSPENSION FEATURED

Driver

could choose how sporty or comfortable they

wanted the suspension to feel.
These settings also linked to the memory seat system,
means the car would automatically adjust the suspension
to the individual driver - Lincoln Continental & Mark VIII
The
Th controll system for
f Mark
M k VIII also
l llowered
d the
h
suspension by about 25 mm (1 inch) at speeds exceeding
about 100 km/h for improved aerodynamic performance.

AIR SUSPENSION LAYOUT

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

 Air

dryer

attached to the pump to condition the air before it enters the

shocks.

Height

sensor

connected to the frame and axle housing for vehicle height

input.
T
Turn
on the
th compressor or bleed
bl d air
i to
t correctt changes
h
in
i
height.

Electronically

Controlled systems

a computer reacts to signals from sensor at all four wheels to

change the amount of an air springs at each wheel.

SENSOR IN AIR SUSPENSION

Height

Measure the distance between control arm or axle and the

frame.

Brake

and door sensor

Automatic height adjustment when the car stopping or

passenger getting in or out.

Speed
S d

Sensor

sensor

Lower the vehicle in the front or both front and rear for high
speed aerodynamic.
Increase spring rate in respond to higher speed.

 Photo

diode and shutter

Locate in steering columns.

columns
Cause the spring rate to change when the vehicle in turn.

G-sensor

Accommodate severe maneuvers with a change in spring

rate.

Acceleration

sensor

Sense the rate of acceleration uses the throttle position sensor

AIR SUSPENSION LOCATION

ADVANTAGES OF AIR SUSPENSION

Maintain

a constant frequency
q
y of vibration whether the
vehicle is laden or unladen.
Constant frame height is maintained.
Helps reduce the load while the vehicle in motion i.e. the
dynamic loading as the spring rate variation between laden
and unladen weight is much less.
less
It gives smooth and comfort ride of the vehicle.
The stiffness of the system increases with the increase of
the deflection.

COMMON PROBLEMS
Air

bag or air strut failure

- due
d to
t old
ld age, or moisture
it
within
ithi the
th air
i system
t that
th t
damages them from the inside.
Compressor failure

- Primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts

- Compressor
p
burnout mayy also be caused byy moisture from
within the air system coming into contact with its electronic
parts.

D
Dryer
ffailure
il
- which functions to remove moisture from the air system
eventually becomes saturated and unable to perform that
function

KHAIRUL AMILIN BIN IBRAHIM

amilin@icam.edu.my