What is an air suspension system

Air suspension is an advanced automobile suspension system, which realizes the adjustment of vehicle height and the control of suspension soft and hard by air spring, shock absorber, guide device and body height control system. The automotive industry belongs to the modified market. People install it to improve the comfort and stability of driving cars. Today, we will answer what is air suspension, what are its benefits, and what are the components of an air suspension system.

The composition of air suspension

Air suspension system is an advanced automobile suspension system, which realizes the adjustment of body height and stiffness through air spring to provide better driving experience and ride comfort. The air suspension system mainly consists of the following parts:

Air spring: Air spring is an important part of the air suspension system, the air spring is responsible for cushioning, damping and load bearing. It consists of rubber airbags and compressed air enclosed in them, which can adjust the height of the body according to changes in air pressure. The types of air spring include sac, membrane and compound, of which membrane air spring is usually used on cars because of its ideal elastic curve and small stiffness.

Air suspension compressor：Building a high quality air suspension system will largely depend on the product you choose, especially the air suspension compressor. Compressors are essential to every air suspension unit. The air compressor in an air suspension system is like the lungs of your system, as it pumps air into your air tank, which is then distributed to the air spring. Most air suspension systems will come with one or two compressors, depending on your specific setup and how fast you want the tank to fill, and will need to be connected to a power source and grounded. When your air system is turned on, your compressor will start filling your air tank with air. Once your air tank drops to a specific pressure, they will come back to add air to your air tank.

Air tank：In an air suspension system, the air tank will be the component that holds and stores compressed air. The air compressor pumps air into the reservoir, which stores the air in the reservoir until you inflate it. These air tanks come in many different shapes and sizes, most in the 2 or 5 gallon size. Of course, for ease of installation, these tanks are usually equipped with mounting brackets and valves that make it easy to hook your air suspension system to the air line.

Shock absorber: Used in conjunction with the air spring to reduce the vibration of the body during operation and improve the smoothness of driving the car. Different road surfaces and different driving modes will bring different vehicle vibrations, and the damping force of the shock absorber can be adjusted according to the road conditions and driving modes to balance the stability and passability of the vehicle.

Controller ECU: acts as the command center of the air suspension system, adjusting the work of various parts through complex algorithms. It receives data from sensors, controls the air compressor and exhaust valves, and achieves precise lifting and lowering control of the body height. At the same time, the ECU can also adjust the softness and hardness of the air spring according to the road conditions to improve the driving texture of the vehicle.

Sensors: including height sensors, body acceleration sensors, etc., for real-time monitoring of vehicle status to ensure accurate control of suspension height. The sensor transmits the vehicle status information to the ECU in time, and then the ECU analyzes and issues the corresponding instructions.

Others: including air lines, these components ensure that the various parts of the air suspension system can work together to achieve body height and stiffness adjustment.

How the air suspension system works

Air suspension system is an advanced technology that uses compressed air to adjust the height and attitude of the vehicle. We can understand its working principle through the working function of each part, mainly based on the following aspects:

Air compressor: As the power source of the air suspension system, the air compressor is responsible for compressing the air and storing it in a high-pressure storage tank for subsequent use.

Air tank：A container for storing compressed air, usually located at the rear or front of the vehicle, to provide enough air to adjust the suspension when needed.

Air spring: This is the core component of the air suspension system, providing spring action through the compressed air inside, supporting the weight of the vehicle and absorbing the impact of the road surface. The stiffness and height of the air spring can be adjusted through an electronic control system to adapt to different road conditions and driving needs.

Shock absorber: Used in conjunction with the air spring, the shock absorber is responsible for damping the vibration of the vehicle to provide stable driving performance. The damping force of the shock absorber can be adjusted by an electronic control system to adapt to different driving modes and road conditions.

Sensors: including height sensors, acceleration sensors, etc., they are responsible for monitoring the state of the vehicle and road conditions, transmitting the signal to the electronic control unit (ECU) for corresponding suspension adjustment.

Electronic control unit (ECU) : As the "brain" of the system, the ECU is responsible for receiving sensor signals, and according to the current state of the vehicle and the driver's instructions, issuing corresponding instructions to the actuator, such as the inflation solenoid valve and the exhaust solenoid valve, to adjust the height of the air spring and the damping force of the shock absorber.

Actuators: including an inflating solenoid valve and a deflating solenoid valve, they control the charging and deflating of the air spring according to the instructions of the ECU, thereby adjusting the height and stiffness of the suspension.

The air suspension system works by controlling the mass of gas in the air spring to adjust the height of the body. When it is necessary to raise the body, the system will increase the air pressure in the air spring to push the body up; When it is necessary to lower the body, the air in the air spring is released to lower the body. This adjustment allows the air suspension to provide stable body height and good ride comfort in different road conditions.

The role of air suspension

Air suspension is an advanced automotive suspension system whose core role is to significantly improve the driving quality and driving experience of the vehicle. Here are the main functions of air suspension:

Improve comfort: Air suspension through the combination of air spring and shock absorber, effectively alleviate the vibration and shock of the vehicle, reduce the discomfort of passengers, thereby improving the driving comfort.

Enhanced handling: The system can automatically adjust the height and stiffness of the suspension according to the driving state of the vehicle, so that the vehicle can maintain good stability and handling in cornering, braking and acceleration.

Lift passability: The air suspension can automatically adjust the height and stiffness according to the road conditions, so that the vehicle can maintain good passability and driving status under different road conditions.

Noise reduction: Air suspension improves driving tranquillity by reducing wind and tire noise while driving.

Extended tire life: Air suspension helps the vehicle stay in good driving condition in different road conditions, thus extending the service life of the tires.

Adaptive adjustment: The air suspension can automatically adjust the height and stiffness of the vehicle according to the load and driving state, ensuring that the vehicle can maintain the best performance under different loads and road conditions.

Intelligent management: Modern air suspension systems are usually equipped with electronic control units (ECUs), which can be optimized and adjusted in real time based on factors such as speed, steering Angle, road conditions, and improve vehicle handling and stability.

The advantage of the air suspension system is that it can provide good comfort and handling, while adapting to different road conditions and driving needs. Through electronic control, the air suspension system can automatically adjust the height of the body and improve the stability and passability of the vehicle.

Because of its excellent performance and intelligent characteristics, air suspension system is increasingly applied to luxury models, high-end SUVs and new energy vehicles, and has become an important trend in the development of modern automotive suspension system. However, the structure of such systems is complex and the cost of maintenance and repair is high.

Recommendations for purchasing an air suspension system

Identify your needs: Start by identifying your specific requirements for vehicle comfort and handling. Air suspension systems can significantly improve these aspects, but the price is higher and the maintenance cost is relatively high.

Compatibility: Make sure the selected air suspension system matches your vehicle model, year, chassis structure, etc. It is important to consider not only size and mounting position, but also compatibility with other suspension components.

Performance and functions: Consider the intelligent adjustment functions of the air suspension system, such as chassis lifting, suspension damping adjustment, etc., which can improve the handling and comfort of the vehicle.

Price and after-sales service: Choose the right product according to your budget, and consider the quality and guarantee of after-sales service. Choose regular channels to purchase and install to ensure safety and reliability.

Consult professional advice: If you have concerns about your choice of air suspension system, consult a professional automotive service center or RV equipment supplier for more specific advice and solutions.

What size tank do I need?

One of the most common questions about air suspension tanks is: "What size tank do I need for my air suspension kit?" The size you need will depend on how often you plan to use the air suspension and the type/number of air compressors you are using. If you use a lot, then you need to choose a larger capacity to store more air. On the other hand, if you use very little frequency, then a small capacity is actually enough.

How do I know if I need 1 or 2 compressors?

When buying air suspension compressors, it is best to buy according to their own vehicle needs, not all vehicles need 2 compressors, not all vehicles one compressor is enough.

Usually we can judge according to the car you use, small cars usually a compressor can meet the needs of use. But if the vehicle you are using is a large vehicle, then this time one compressor may not be enough, you may need two compressors to meet the needs of use.

So before you buy a compressor, please judge what quantity you need and then buy.

By following these steps, you can make an informed purchasing decision and ensure that the air suspension system you choose meets your needs while maintaining quality and performance.