Air suspension is a popular suspension system in the current market, widely used in passenger cars, passenger vehicles, special vehicles, freight vehicles and other fields due to its excellent shock absorption, smoothness, lightweight and other characteristics. At present, almost all medium-sized and above passenger cars abroad use air suspension, and the usage rate of air suspension for trucks has reached over 80%.

According to relevant domestic regulations, "the rear axle of dangerous goods transport trucks with a total mass of ≥ 12000 kg, all dangerous goods transport semi trailers, as well as three axle barrier and warehouse grid semi trailers, should be equipped with air suspension." The mandatory installation regulations have also to some extent promoted the use of air suspension.

Air suspension has many advantages, but its resistance to construction is somewhat weaker than that of leaf spring suspension. If there is a malfunction in the air suspension, it may cause tire wear, uneven force on the wheel hub, and in severe cases, even cause the vehicle to lie flat and require towing. Once there is air leakage in the air suspension, it is also necessary to repair it as soon as possible, otherwise it may cause damage to the compressor and shorten the service life of the suspension system.

For car owners who are accustomed to using leaf spring suspension, air suspension is almost an unfamiliar field, and they need to be familiar with it again from use to maintenance.

So, what phenomena can we usually use to determine if there is a malfunction in the air suspension?

Generally speaking, about 80% of air suspension malfunctions are caused by airbag leakage, which can lead to an increase in airbag output. If the air output is less than or equal to the air intake, the car owner will not notice that the car is collapsing, but can hear the sound of the air pump continuously pumping air. The noise on which side is loud is generally the problem on which side;

If the air output is greater than the air intake, the airbag will collapse, and the vehicle body may experience a phenomenon of high on one side and low on the other. In addition, the amplitude of bumps will also increase, especially when encountering speed bumps or bumpy roads, the steering wheel is prone to deviation and needs to be continuously corrected.

If the vehicle has recently fallen into a pit and experiences a "thumping" noise during driving, which is different from normal driving, it may be due to the spring or other components of the air suspension being damaged.

Car owners can also directly determine whether the air suspension is damaged through the system fault light. When the air suspension malfunctions, the system fault light will light up, and an alarm will appear on the vehicle's central control computer board. At this time, it is recommended that car owners find a safe place to park for maintenance as soon as possible or directly drive to the nearest repair point for repair.

How long can a set of air suspension last? Do I have to replace all sets when replacing?

Generally speaking, a set of qualified air suspension can be used for 3-5 years, which is related to the operating conditions. If the driving conditions are poor, frequent overloading or maintenance is not qualified, the service life of the air suspension may be correspondingly shortened. Most compliant vehicles can still use the air suspension for 5 years.

It is worth mentioning that some car owners believe that after replacing the air suspension, if the vehicle is not used, the air suspension will not be damaged. This is incorrect. After installing the air suspension, it should be used normally. If the vehicle is stopped for a long time, remember to inflate and release the air suspension at intervals, otherwise the service life will also be shortened.

When replacing the air suspension, do you need to replace it as a complete set? This requires a specific analysis of the specific problem. If the service life expires, all parts must be replaced; If a single component is damaged, there is no need to replace it all. Targeted replacement can reduce maintenance costs; If multiple components are damaged at the same time, it is necessary to make a judgment based on the damage situation, as there is a possibility that the entire air suspension system needs to be replaced.

Compared to traditional leaf spring structures, the design of the air suspension system is more complex, with higher prices and higher maintenance costs. Therefore, it is recommended that car owners must find a strong and legitimate brand when choosing, and do not seek petty profits. Otherwise, even if the pre cost is saved, there will be a series of troubles in subsequent use, which is not worth the loss. Moreover, only if the quality of the air suspension system is qualified can it bring higher safety and more operational benefits to car owners.