At present, the air suspension system is gradually becoming the mainstream, but the traditional mechanical suspension is still widely used. Today, let's discuss the difference between the air suspension system and the traditional mechanical suspension and their respective characteristics and advantages.

What is mechanical suspension?

Mechanical suspension is a type of automobile suspension system, which mainly relies on mechanical structure to achieve the support, buffer and stability functions of the vehicle. Unlike air suspension systems, mechanical suspensions do not have the ability to electronically control or actively adjust, but rely on mechanical components such as springs, shock absorbers, and suspension arms to passively respond to changes in the road surface. Its main function is to ease the impact from the uneven road surface to the frame, in order to improve the ride comfort.

The main components of mechanical suspension include:

Spring: Used to absorb and store the impact energy from the road surface. Common spring types are helical spring, plate spring and torsion bar spring.

Shock absorber: It works with the spring to reduce the vibration of the vehicle and improve the driving stability by counteracting the energy released by the spring. Common types of shock absorbers are hydraulic shock absorbers and pneumatic shock absorbers.

Suspension arm: The key component that connects the body, springs, shock absorbers and tires, and can change its geometry according to the vehicle's driving state and road conditions, ensuring that the tires maintain good contact with the ground.

Column: A support structure that connects the suspension arm to the body and usually contains shock absorbers and springs.

Depending on the structure and working principle, mechanical suspension can be further subdivided into independent suspension and non-independent suspension:

Independent suspension: Each side of the wheel is separately connected to the body through an independent suspension device, when one wheel beats, the other side of the wheel is not affected. This type of suspension provides better smoothness and comfort, but is complex and costly.

Non-independent suspension: The left and right wheels are connected by an integral axle, and when one wheel jumps, it affects the other wheel. This type of suspension has a simple structure and low cost, but is relatively poor in comfort and handling.

The advantages of mechanical suspension are simple structure, strong reliability and relatively low maintenance cost. However, it also has some shortcomings, such as not sensitive enough to the change of road surface, and the comfort may not be as good as the active suspension. In most ordinary passenger cars and commercial vehicles, mechanical suspension is widely used due to its cost effectiveness and reliability.

Advantages of mechanical suspension

Traditional mechanical suspension has a wide range of applications in the automotive industry, and its advantages mainly include:

Cost: Traditional mechanical suspension is more economical because of its simple structure and low material cost.

Easy maintenance: Traditional mechanical suspension has fewer components and relatively simple structure, so maintenance and repair work is relatively easy.

Durability: Mechanical suspensions are typically made of durable materials such as metal and rubber that can withstand rough road conditions and long-term use.

Wide adaptability: Traditional mechanical suspension can adapt to a variety of different road conditions and driving conditions, providing a stable driving experience.

Reliability: Due to the mature technology and long-term market verification, the system reliability of traditional mechanical suspension is high.

Although the traditional mechanical suspension has the above advantages, it also has some limitations. However, for most everyday driving situations, traditional mechanical suspension is still an affordable and reliable option.

Disadvantages of mechanical suspension

The mechanical suspension is composed of metal control arms and connecting rods, which can provide better load capacity and durability. However, mechanical suspensions also have some drawbacks, and the following are some potential shortcomings of mechanical suspensions:

Poor comfort: Mechanical suspensions, due to their structural characteristics, may not provide comfort compared to independent suspension systems. The independent suspension system can better absorb the vibration of the road surface, thus improving the ride comfort.

Lack of stability: When the mechanical suspension is driving at high speed or on an uneven road surface, it may cause the lack of smoothness of the vehicle, and there will be shaking or jolting.

Larger weight: Mechanical suspension may increase the weight of the vehicle, affecting fuel economy and the vehicle's power performance.

It should be noted that these shortcomings are not absolute, and different mechanical suspension designs and tuning may vary. In addition, the suspension system of the car is a complex engineering problem, which needs to consider a variety of factors, such as the use of the vehicle, cost, performance requirements, etc. Therefore, mechanical suspension may also show its unique advantages in some specific application scenarios.

The difference between mechanical suspension and air suspension

The main difference between traditional mechanical suspension and air suspension is the control mode and function. Traditional mechanical suspensions rely on physical connections and mechanical components such as springs and shock absorbers to absorb shock and maintain vehicle stability. The air suspension, also known as the electronically controlled suspension, adjusts the stiffness and damping force of the suspension through an electronic control system to adapt to different driving conditions and road conditions.

Here are the specific differences:

Control mode:

Traditional mechanical suspension: passively absorb shock and maintain vehicle stability through mechanical connection and the work of springs and shock absorbers.

Air suspension: The use of sensors to detect vehicle status, such as body height, speed, steering Angle, etc., and through the electronic control unit (ECU) to control the stiffness and damping force of the suspension, to achieve active adjustment.

Features:

Traditional mechanical suspension: relatively single function, mainly to provide basic shock absorption and support.

Air suspension: More features, can provide a variety of driving mode options, such as comfort, sports, and real-time adjustment of suspension parameters according to road conditions, improve ride comfort and control stability.

Adaptability:

Traditional mechanical suspension: poor adaptability, for different road conditions and driving styles, suspension adjustment ability is limited.

Air suspension: With good adaptability, it can quickly adjust the state of the suspension according to road conditions and driving needs, providing a better driving experience.

Maintenance cost:

Traditional mechanical suspension: The maintenance cost is relatively low, mainly the inspection and replacement of mechanical components.

Air suspension: Due to the inclusion of an electronic control system, maintenance costs can be high, and once the electronic control system fails, the cost of repair or replacement will be relatively high.

In general, electronic suspensions are superior to traditional mechanical suspensions in terms of handling and comfort, but they are also higher in cost and complexity.

Advantages of air suspension over mechanical suspension

Compared with traditional mechanical suspension, air suspension has the following advantages:

Higher comfort: The air suspension can adjust the stiffness and height of the vehicle's suspension according to different road conditions and driving needs through adjustable air bags and dampers, effectively absorbing road vibrations, reducing bumps, and providing a more stable and comfortable driving experience.

Better stability: The air suspension responds more quickly to changes in the road surface, reducing the roll and bump of the vehicle, improving the handling and safety of the vehicle, especially at high speeds or on corners.

Flexible body height adjustment: The air suspension can automatically adjust the body height as needed, such as lowering the body at high speed to reduce wind resistance and improve fuel economy; Raise the body to increase passability over uneven surfaces.

Adapted to different loads: The air suspension automatically adjusts the suspension height and stiffness according to the weight of the vehicle load, keeping the vehicle level and providing better balance and stability.

Weight reduction: Compared with leaf springs, the weight of air suspension is significantly reduced, which improves the carrying capacity of the vehicle, especially for commercial vehicles.

Intelligent and adjustable: The air suspension system can be integrated with the vehicle's electronic control system to achieve intelligent adjustment, such as automatically adjusting the soft and hard suspension according to the driving mode, to enhance the vehicle's sense of technology and driving experience.

Chassis and cargo protection: The height adjustability and ride smoothness of the air suspension are enough to better protect the vehicle chassis and cargo, reducing damage caused by road impact.

To sum up, air suspension has significant advantages over traditional mechanical suspension in terms of comfort, stability, adaptability, weight reduction and intelligence. However, the cost of air suspension is high, the structure is complex, the maintenance cost is relatively high, and the use of the environment has certain requirements, these are its main shortcomings.

How to choose between air suspension and mechanical suspension?

Mechanical suspension and air suspension are two different types of automotive suspension systems, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as different durability and comfort. How do we choose?

The comfort of the air suspension is higher because it can provide a smoother driving experience. However, an air suspension may not be as durable as a mechanical suspension because it contains more complex components and electronic control systems that can fail or require more frequent maintenance. The main components of the air suspension such as the air spring and shock absorber are not easy to damage, but the rubber material of the air suspension is easy to age and fail, the air tightness is easy to have problems, and the sensor is easy to fail, which may lead to the air suspension being unable to fully play its role. In addition, the maintenance cost of air suspension is higher because its components and systems are relatively complex.

In general, mechanical suspension may be more advantageous in terms of durability, while air suspension is more advantageous in terms of comfort and adaptability

Mechanical suspensions are commonly used in some specific types of vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, because they offer better off-road performance and load carrying capacity. However, for most passenger cars, mechanical suspension may not be the best option, as it may result in less comfort for the vehicle. While mechanical suspensions can provide good off-road performance, they generally do not perform well on the road because they do not absorb the vibration of the road surface well, resulting in decreased ride comfort. In addition, mechanical suspension may increase the weight of the vehicle, which affects the fuel efficiency and performance of the vehicle.

Air suspension can improve the comfort and stability of the vehicle. However, whether air suspension is suitable for all types of vehicles needs to be considered from the following aspects:

Cost considerations: Air suspension is more expensive and usually only available in high-end models. For mid-to-low end models, an air suspension option may not be available due to cost constraints.

Technical complexity: The air suspension system is relatively complex and requires more sensors and control units to achieve automatic regulation. This complexity can lead to an increase in failure rates, especially in some low-end models where adequate technical support may not be available to maintain and repair the air suspension system.

Driving habits and road condition adaptability: The air suspension system can automatically adjust the height and hardness of the body according to road conditions, but this adjustment is not required by all drivers. Some drivers may prefer a manually adjusted or fixed suspension system to accommodate different driving habits and road conditions.

Vehicle type and usage scenarios: Air suspensions are generally more common in SUVs and luxury sedans because they need to balance comfort and off-road performance. However, for other types of vehicles, such as sports cars or trucks, air suspension may not be suitable.

Maintenance and maintenance: Air suspension systems require regular maintenance and maintenance to ensure that they work properly. This maintenance may include checking the condition of air springs and shock absorbers, and replacing seals. These maintenance costs and complexities may limit the use of air suspension in some models.

To sum up, air suspensions are not suitable for all types of vehicles, and their application is mainly concentrated in the high-end market and specific types of vehicles. However, with the development of technology and the reduction of costs, it is likely that more vehicles will be equipped with air suspension systems in the future to provide a better driving experience and comfort.

Ultimately, which suspension system to choose can be decided according to your own needs and budget based on your driving habits, budget, and needs for vehicle performance as a reference.