I have a strong love/hate for air suspension systems, especially on household cars. Lets take a Lincoln Navigator for instance. When working properly it provides a nice comfy, cushy ride and the fact it can automatically adjust with load preventing any squatting with weight is pretty awesome! But I've driven one where the system has failed and the whole truck was sitting on the suspension bumper stoppers. All I had to do was pull it into a shop stall for the mechanic from the parking lot, and hands down that was the most rough and uncomfortable ride I have ever experienced! And that was only about 300 ft... I could only imagine this happening to a customer on the road and having to drive it all the way to the shop. I'm sure most people would prefer to get a tow.
My Land Rover Discovery 2 has air suspension at the rear. 17 years old and i only had to replace the two rear bags after 15 years of use. Never had any other problems and the bags were £80 each. When they did fail it was just a slow leak, so in the morning the car would be sitting on its ass. Towed a 3 ton trailer and the car was completely level. Great system!!
Very cool! Land Rover has also implemented a system that will raise to its limit if the vehicle is high centered (beyond its limit for driving), giving you slightly more ground clearance than usual to attempt to let you back up off whatever obstacle you were stuck on. Once you're back to moving around, it returns to a drivable ride height.
Yeah they have certainly taken it to new heights (excuse the pun) in the later models. What i find even more impressive is the way they take an independent suspension system (LR3 onwards) and use air suspension to mimic the off road characteristics of a solid axle setup. When one wheel is pushed upwards, it sends pressure to the corresponding wheel, actively pushing it downwards for better articulation. Very clever!
I have a 2004 Disco 2, and many people convert the rear suspension to springs because these actually aren't terribly reliable. LR itself recommends replacing them every five years. If you're doing anything approaching serious offroading/overlanding, the reliability advantage argues for springs and shocks. It's one less thing that can break. If you're towing a lot, having the air suspension is worth it despite the maintenance. It all depends on what you do with the vehicle, if you ask me.
batard Yeah that's a fair point. But to be honest I think its overkill to convert to coils on these. The parts for the air suspension are not expensive. I have taken mine off-road quite frequently and its very useful to have that extra ride height, especially with a giant towbar that acts like a plough. I know people with P38s and if i were them i would convert to coils as those things are nightmares. The system on the Discos is much more simple. Have you had any issues with yours?
I work in a shop with several diesel pickups and do have aftermarket airbags installed on some of our trucks. Having the airbags makes a huge difference when towing/hauling things with a good amount of weight. If I ever purchase a truck I would definitely want airbags installed
Great video, as always!! Another con is that it adds weight. The Ram with an air suspension has a lower payload and towing capacity than one with out it.
I can't thank you enough for making these videos. You answer a lot of the questions that I ponder and now I have decided that I should get air suspension on my car. Because I will be using my car for daily driving, as well as a show car, it would be nice to switch between the two at a push of a button as opposed to spending an hour or so adjusting the coilovers
Hey guy, heavy duty diesel mechanic here, They're super boring. all it is without getting technical is a kind of air bag pressing on a slack adjuster which is pretty much just a lever, the presses on a S-cam that spins inside a drum and moves the brake shoes apart
Motorsports7 I'm apprenticing at a HD Mechanic shop, and one of the guys showed me an open brake pot that they have on display. It seems rather simple, but I wouldn't mind a video on the subject.
One of the down sides to air ride suspension is limited suspension travel unless very large bag systems are in place. Nice explanation of the system though, keep up the good work.
I have air ride on my Cuda, it is such a good system and always nice to be able to raise the ride height for those speed bumbs! Nice to see you break this down and looking forward to the other video.
Hey great videos. I watched both part 1 and 2. Two questions I do have. 1. How does it effect the camber while changing the ride hight ? 2. What about alignment ? Since there is a get in and out mode like you said what do you do for an alignment ? I appreciate your time
I second what Nevin Williams said. Keeping the headlights level, and not blinding especially with the newer HID and LED lights. Level headlights are important. Even with headlights that can adjust themselves to compensate for the angle of the body, the increased air pressure in the air bags will stiffen the ride, making the load handling safer, but also help with headlight bouncing over bumps
What I do know firsthand is the larger the bag the smoother the ride especially when well loaded. The major drawback is when off-roading which is typical in Texas the bags make the axles act like basketball being dribbled. Letting the suspension down helps if you aren't bottomed out. Small bags are a bummer. On a pickup it would seem overkill considering the quality of the ride versus what the air system would provide. But then again most modern day trucks have one to two airbags under the cab as well and under the seat. A $1000 seat is like sitting on a living room couch compared to a $500 which after a few hours your lower back will be talking to you in pain lol.
Have a look at the iconic GMC highway coach suspension. It has air beams, two "air bellows" at each wheel. The coach feels like it is floating down the highway. The leveling system compensates when cornering. It was then a pioneering technology.
You'll also likely learn that most of the buses and big trucks with an automatic transmission all run the same Allison transmission. That transmission company is kind of a monopoly lol
jfsa380 I've heard of Eaton Fuller but not Aisn. But to my understanding all of the transit busses here in Chicago run Allisons and most school busses and garbage trucks do too.
+MAN_ON_WHEELZ i have two jobs and am volunteering with a fire department. The buses (coach usa) and fire apparatuses (spartans) have allisons, the trucks (penske) generally have eaton fullers.
I like the way you explain things. You make it easy to understand. Being a liberal arts major I appreciate that. I talk up your channel whenever I can.
It's worth the extra $ to get air suspension when you get a new vehicle. On luxury cars the air suspension will lower the car 1-2 inches at highway speed for better aerodynamics. At low speeds the driver can adjust the height in a heavy rain to ride higher if needed. The ride quality is also better. When it goes out of warranty it's time to sell the car. From Lexus to Mercedes Benz one air shock/strut can cost anywhere from $500 to $1500+. You can also go insane/broke chasing down leaks in the system when the failure is not in the bag part at all.
Brilliant video as allways. My mk2 Range Rover has the roling type on a closed system, with the pros you mentiond, self levling, 4 hights acsess, motorway, road and off road, it will also detect if highcentered and lift to max to get you over, the system makes the live axels and body on frame desigen very comftorbly to ride in, not bad for a 20 year old car. :)
I checked the channel for your part 2 and couldn't find it. I was hoping you covered air helpers. It seems like a pretty obvious ideology but wanted to see a more visual video before I bought one.
Dear Engineering Explained, Thank you so much for that information. Some few questions: - 1. Can the air suspension work with traditional coil springs or magnetic suspension for better ride feel and comfort (thinking of the BMW X5 SUV suspension for leveling and ride feel), or it is a must they work as separate systems. 2. If you had a, say other SUV/truck irrespective of the manufacturer, can you add the air suspension to stock suspension or will the manufacturer oppose it? please include technical reasons. 3. Please explain how is it that the air bag can handle the sprung (vehicle's) weight, what material is it made of, can it handle road debris and other shrapnel that can puncture it (expensive to repair/replace), and does the air suspension system add too much weight costing fuel efficiency to the vehicle. (point of consideration) 4. Can one obtain the air suspension from a third party manufacturer, or do you have to get the overpriced one from the manufacturer. On a side note, if possible, please state compatibility issues with vehicle model, suspension technicalities/design (preferably double-wishbone suspension or McPherson suspension, if it will work), and manufacturer preferences. Thank you.
1. No. The air springs replace your coil springs. There are also air bags that go inside existing coil springs, such as some Air Lift systems. 2. It's your car, you can do what you want with it. 3. Standard air springs are constructed similarly to a tire, and would behave as such. The aforementioned bag inserts are probably the same thing with silicone instead of rubber. The difference in weight between air springs and standard metal springs is negligible. Rubber is of course lighter than steel, but you also need a compressor and air system, so there's no significant difference. 4. Air Lift is the main source for dedicated air suspensions. There are some kits specifically for certain cars, such as Mustangs, but otherwise you just find something that fits. No, there will not be problems. It just goes where your springs are. Who cares what the manufacturer prefers and why would the manufacturer care in the first place? You know what you need your car to do, it's none of their business. 5. Google is your friend. Don't expect anyone else to respond to a several-part essay in a UA-cam comment section. Do it yourself, it's not hard.
can you do a video about different types of gasoline, like ones with detergents vs ones that don't and if there's really a difference in fuel economy, wear, etc.
This was great, but with examples it would be much better if you would identify what we're looking at, like with the last example after the pros and cons
With the suspension air bags on my Volvo truck, the rear use to bob up and down while driving along, but now the rear seems to sit at the same level and feels like a rougher ride on highway.
not sure if air suspension is really much more expensive. initial cost yes. but i wouldn't bother replacing airbags with factory replacements since there are tons of aftermarket options. i work at a plant as an engineer and there is pretty much infinite sizes of air bags and styles available. airlines are easy to replace. pumps can be replaced by aftermarket as well as tanks. pressure sensors, solenoids, ride height sensors is all available in the aftermarket world. IMO air ride is superior for the every day truck compared to the coil or leave spring.
All I know about air ride is it is extremely comfortable and expensive to replace lol. My only question is how do they keep moisture out of the system?
I work at a dodge dealer, and these systems are filled with 99.9% pure nitrogen and are completely closed system (with a port to help maintain height during a leak)Without any oxygen in it, corrosion cannot happen. If a leak does happen, it will take in 10 litres of air at a time, then sit for a couple seconds, then dump out 5 litres. This is done to drain/spray out any moisture that may come it with the fresh air (due to pressure change). It will then display a message in the cluster to have the suspension system serviced. Where after the leak is repaired, the system will be filled with nitrogen again.
Jason Cronje, that makes sense. all air compressors end up getting the water molecules to bunch up. that is why garage air compressors are supposed to have a drain (well all air compressors are supposed to). some are automatic, some are manual. I am really thinking about doing an all around air ride suspension for my diesel truck to soften the ride but still be able to haul a lot when needed. I will leave my rear leaf springs, taking out a few because it is almost like a rock with how stiff it is at the moment
Would request you to upload a video describing drivetrain, gears, FWD, RWD etc for an electric car and why we don't need a gearbox for electric cars, just like the way you have done gas cars.
Me too. I regretfully did a spring conversion on one of mine. You definitely feel the difference and it's basically just a Crown Vic now. Handles great around turns but that's obviously not the point of the Lincoln. So glad to have a new TC with airbags again.
You took the airbags out of your TC?!?! How dare you! I love the TC every year model of it! It's probably the most comfortable riding car I've ever driven. There are some Grand Marquis' with the air-ride rear suspension option too and they ride just as smoothly as a Town Car (as expected)
MAN_ON_WHEELZ I know man I feel terrible about it. Had listened to too many people saying it wouldn't make a difference, easier, no more hassle, etc. HUGE mistake. And really most of the time all you need is new bags. Solenoids, lines, height adjustment, and compressor seem to hold up pretty well. I have 312k on the executive and everything else on it still worked.
Chimney Fish Oh man, yeah, never swap from air to coil. The air system isn't that complicated, its best to keep it as you've learned lol. You're taking some of the heart and soul out of it being a Lincoln.
Very nice video and explanation Jason. But I am wondering if there is any consideration upon damage of the rubber membrane if you drive in gravel pretty fast or even if you drive in the mud a lot like the scenes of your video at 08s. For example, the rolling cobe type suspension covered by dirt, if you lower and raise several times I think it will wear out the rubber. Is there a recommendation to wash under the car more often to avoid that wear? The steel springs don't have this concern.
Apart from raising your vehicle when you add weight in a precise place, what are the advantages of these compare to magnetic suspension? And isn't the weight of these a bit too much?
+lelegume1635 you wouldn't choose between air and magnetic. Air is for the springs, magnetic is for shocks, you can have both, as some sports cars and luxury SUVs do.
you'll want to keep watching engineering explained as well as chrisfix, eric the car guy, and scotty kilmer. theres alot more "car guys" on youtube, but those 4 will be plenty for you to learn. also, if you own a car, sign up for a forum dedicated to that make or model and you'll get a ton of valuable information too. last tip, if you own a car, buy a service manual for your specific make model and year. all invaluable tools in self teaching.
What about the ride comfort compared to spring suspensions? Do air suspension systems absorb road shock better than spring suspensions? Can they absorb shocks of higher frequencies? And how does the ride elevation from sea-level affect these suspension systems?
I have a question unrelated to this video on air suspension. I used to drive a 2015 Dodge Dart and now I drive 1999 vw Jetta. One of the features I really enjoyed on the dart was the hill start assist. Here's my question: Could you explain the hill start assist system and how one might be able to replicate the system and install it on a car?
Quick explanation, the Dart uses onboard computers to monitor vehicle angle (like sitting on an incline), sees vehicle speed is stopped and foot on brake, uses ABS to hold the brakes for about a second after brake is released. You might or might not have noticed that if you took your foot off the brake and didn't engage the clutch, the car would roll back when the brake is released.
once again i want to thank you for your videos. between you and the rest of the blown heads, I havent had to pay for a service to my Cadillac since owning it. almost everything ive always wanted to know about how and why cars work, ive found on your channel. do you have a video explaining the difference in Small block / Big block. I mostly get it, but even when i think i know something, you have a way of explaining that just ties it all together.
So far I love the air suspension in my 2013 RAM 1500. It has the best ride quality when compared to the competition. Ford's is nice but it can be rough. GM is soft but isn't stiff enough. Toyota just needs to stand in the corner since its suspension is garbage when it comes to uneven pavement. Basically, when I was test driving a 2014 Tundra SR5 TRD the sale's man stated that the Tundra had the smoothest ride in its class. Which was true until the truck started bouncing over the paved road. It was the same section that I drove a RAM 1500 Big Horn over and it didn't even noticed the road imperfections with the coil springs.
I love how these trucks are common in the US, in England if you see one it's a once in a lifetime experience "whoa no way an American truck that's huuuge" lmao
hey man i was wondering what would happen if you downshift too soon or at redline. Does the car have computer system to protect the car. Is the car going to over rev and destroy it self. I am asking this question because i am about to buy a used paddle shift car. Thanks. Really love this channel.
Cars with paddle shift (automatic gearbox) will not downshift if the revs are too high. So if your car is an auto with paddles, there is no way to over rev it. You'll be safe!
+Thomas John this only happens when you increase load on the vehicle (you increase pressure but maintain ride height). More weight means the car is pressed down. More weight means you do in fact increase volume, and pressure, but ride height returns to your target.
I think him saying constant volume was a mistake - I would think the pressure would be increased by increasing the volume of compressed air from the reservoir.
Hi! Could you clarifh one important point please, with air suspension, does compression rate change at various settings or it only adds functionality of ride height?
it is definitely much better and more expensive suspension. i wonder how durable and reliable it is - i mean if it is about twice as expensive and it lasts with the vehicle also twice more time, there should not be a problem. Does anyone know its reliability and durability vs the traditional ones?
What about the difference in weight versus standard springs and shocks? For example, if you had a car that had springs and you replaced that with an air suspension because you wanted adjustable ride height, how much additional weight would you have with the bags, compressor, and reservoirs (if needed)?
I can only comment on the RAM as I've worked on many of those, but the weight difference from air to steel springs in these trucks are nearly the same. Just a huge ride quality difference
when a car goes over a bump does the air bag stretch? how is the energy absorbed, what i mean is like how a normal coil spring will get squished, whats the equivalent to the airbag?
So it is implied that if the city buses (using the example in the video) used closed air systems, there would be no hissing noise? Then where does the air pressure go? Back to the reservoir tanks?
In think adujsting the ride height of an air suspension is more comparable to preload adjustment of a steel spring. Because to increase the ride hight, you only increase the volume by putting more air in it, the pressure in the air spring will not increase. AND additionally an increased volume of an air spring, reduces it's spring rate!
Another pro for auto-leveling air suspensions: headlight remained properly aimed, and do not blind oncoming drivers when bed is loaded.
Ahh, good call! Some trucks will have adjustable lights to compensate for this, but certainly best if no compensation is ever needed.
Hi, nice video.
Could you make a video explaing how air brake system (like the truck brake) works?
Thanks
+otávio augusto verhagem would love to watch that video..
The main problem are morons who drive during night always with hi beams on
I'm glad that you consider the blinding of other road users from headlights as opposed to many motorists.
I have a strong love/hate for air suspension systems, especially on household cars. Lets take a Lincoln Navigator for instance. When working properly it provides a nice comfy, cushy ride and the fact it can automatically adjust with load preventing any squatting with weight is pretty awesome! But I've driven one where the system has failed and the whole truck was sitting on the suspension bumper stoppers. All I had to do was pull it into a shop stall for the mechanic from the parking lot, and hands down that was the most rough and uncomfortable ride I have ever experienced! And that was only about 300 ft... I could only imagine this happening to a customer on the road and having to drive it all the way to the shop. I'm sure most people would prefer to get a tow.
My fathers 96 Lincoln Continental has air suspension . Such a comfy ride.
My Land Rover Discovery 2 has air suspension at the rear. 17 years old and i only had to replace the two rear bags after 15 years of use. Never had any other problems and the bags were £80 each. When they did fail it was just a slow leak, so in the morning the car would be sitting on its ass. Towed a 3 ton trailer and the car was completely level. Great system!!
Very cool! Land Rover has also implemented a system that will raise to its limit if the vehicle is high centered (beyond its limit for driving), giving you slightly more ground clearance than usual to attempt to let you back up off whatever obstacle you were stuck on. Once you're back to moving around, it returns to a drivable ride height.
Yeah they have certainly taken it to new heights (excuse the pun) in the later models. What i find even more impressive is the way they take an independent suspension system (LR3 onwards) and use air suspension to mimic the off road characteristics of a solid axle setup. When one wheel is pushed upwards, it sends pressure to the corresponding wheel, actively pushing it downwards for better articulation. Very clever!
I have a 2004 Disco 2, and many people convert the rear suspension to springs because these actually aren't terribly reliable. LR itself recommends replacing them every five years. If you're doing anything approaching serious offroading/overlanding, the reliability advantage argues for springs and shocks. It's one less thing that can break. If you're towing a lot, having the air suspension is worth it despite the maintenance. It all depends on what you do with the vehicle, if you ask me.
batard Yeah that's a fair point. But to be honest I think its overkill to convert to coils on these. The parts for the air suspension are not expensive. I have taken mine off-road quite frequently and its very useful to have that extra ride height, especially with a giant towbar that acts like a plough. I know people with P38s and if i were them i would convert to coils as those things are nightmares. The system on the Discos is much more simple. Have you had any issues with yours?
D Gilbert u were lucky with that land rover unit
I work in a shop with several diesel pickups and do have aftermarket airbags installed on some of our trucks. Having the airbags makes a huge difference when towing/hauling things with a good amount of weight. If I ever purchase a truck I would definitely want airbags installed
Great video, as always!! Another con is that it adds weight. The Ram with an air suspension has a lower payload and towing capacity than one with out it.
Land Rover has this system nailed. Stunning piece of engineering that accomplishes all roads
I can't thank you enough for making these videos. You answer a lot of the questions that I ponder and now I have decided that I should get air suspension on my car. Because I will be using my car for daily driving, as well as a show car, it would be nice to switch between the two at a push of a button as opposed to spending an hour or so adjusting the coilovers
Volvo xc90 air suspensjon
Volvo 2019 XC 90 Air Suspension
Well explained! material-wise how long can the rubber membrane last? Any idea?
Constant headlight aiming,not bottoming out and consistent handling are also nice
Perfect timing as I'm looking at the RAM EcoDiesel with air suspension. I'm looking forward to the next part. As usual Great video!
Additionally, on the subject of air power, I would love to see a video on heavy duty air brakes.
same
Hey guy, heavy duty diesel mechanic here, They're super boring.
all it is without getting technical is a kind of air bag pressing on a slack adjuster which is pretty much just a lever, the presses on a S-cam that spins inside a drum and moves the brake shoes apart
Motorsports7
I'm apprenticing at a HD Mechanic shop, and one of the guys showed me an open brake pot that they have on display. It seems rather simple, but I wouldn't mind a video on the subject.
One of the down sides to air ride suspension is limited suspension travel unless very large bag systems are in place. Nice explanation of the system though, keep up the good work.
I have air ride on my Cuda, it is such a good system and always nice to be able to raise the ride height for those speed bumbs! Nice to see you break this down and looking forward to the other video.
Hey great videos. I watched both part 1 and 2. Two questions I do have. 1. How does it effect the camber while changing the ride hight ? 2. What about alignment ? Since there is a get in and out mode like you said what do you do for an alignment ? I appreciate your time
I second what Nevin Williams said. Keeping the headlights level, and not blinding especially with the newer HID and LED lights. Level headlights are important. Even with headlights that can adjust themselves to compensate for the angle of the body, the increased air pressure in the air bags will stiffen the ride, making the load handling safer, but also help with headlight bouncing over bumps
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. When I have my car I will tune it with a Convulted Air Suspension.
I tell my homies how cool this channel is. :)
Thanks for sharing!
Engineering Explained
Thank you, man. Have a great day!
Am I your homie?
What I do know firsthand is the larger the bag the smoother the ride especially when well loaded. The major drawback is when off-roading which is typical in Texas the bags make the axles act like basketball being dribbled. Letting the suspension down helps if you aren't bottomed out. Small bags are a bummer. On a pickup it would seem overkill considering the quality of the ride versus what the air system would provide. But then again most modern day trucks have one to two airbags under the cab as well and under the seat. A $1000 seat is like sitting on a living room couch compared to a $500 which after a few hours your lower back will be talking to you in pain lol.
Please make a video on the Audi Air suspension. the A6 was the best ride quality i have personally experienced
I love the air suspension in my RAM 1500. Smooth ride with great handling, for a Truck.
Can you please do a video about dually trucks?
now u made me wanna learn about buses now
Have a look at the iconic GMC highway coach suspension. It has air beams, two "air bellows" at each wheel. The coach feels like it is floating down the highway. The leveling system compensates when cornering. It was then a pioneering technology.
You'll also likely learn that most of the buses and big trucks with an automatic transmission all run the same Allison transmission. That transmission company is kind of a monopoly lol
+MAN_ON_WHEELZ Allison, Aisn and Eaton Fuller
jfsa380 I've heard of Eaton Fuller but not Aisn. But to my understanding all of the transit busses here in Chicago run Allisons and most school busses and garbage trucks do too.
+MAN_ON_WHEELZ i have two jobs and am volunteering with a fire department. The buses (coach usa) and fire apparatuses (spartans) have allisons, the trucks (penske) generally have eaton fullers.
Can you explain the airbags which are placed inside of the spring please?????????? Thanks for all your work.
Thank You So Much For The Brief Explanation 💟☮️
I like the way you explain things. You make it easy to understand. Being a liberal arts major I appreciate that. I talk up your channel whenever I can.
Happy to hear it, thanks for sharing!
It's worth the extra $ to get air suspension when you get a new vehicle. On luxury cars the air suspension will lower the car 1-2 inches at highway speed for better aerodynamics. At low speeds the driver can adjust the height in a heavy rain to ride higher if needed. The ride quality is also better. When it goes out of warranty it's time to sell the car. From Lexus to Mercedes Benz one air shock/strut can cost anywhere from $500 to $1500+. You can also go insane/broke chasing down leaks in the system when the failure is not in the bag part at all.
Excellent explanation..👍
Brilliant video as allways. My mk2 Range Rover has the roling type on a closed system, with the pros you mentiond, self levling, 4 hights acsess, motorway, road and off road, it will also detect if highcentered and lift to max to get you over, the system makes the live axels and body on frame desigen very comftorbly to ride in, not bad for a 20 year old car. :)
I checked the channel for your part 2 and couldn't find it. I was hoping you covered air helpers. It seems like a pretty obvious ideology but wanted to see a more visual video before I bought one.
Your videos are just the greatest! Keep up the good work!
Jason, magnificent video and I can't wait to see what you film next. Thank you so much.
I love the video, very informative.
hydropneumatic suspension next? I'd love to understand my BX 💕💕
Dear Engineering Explained,
Thank you so much for that information. Some few questions: -
1. Can the air suspension work with traditional coil springs or magnetic suspension for better ride feel and comfort (thinking of the BMW X5 SUV suspension for leveling and ride feel), or it is a must they work as separate systems.
2. If you had a, say other SUV/truck irrespective of the manufacturer, can you add the air suspension to stock suspension or will the manufacturer oppose it? please include technical reasons.
3. Please explain how is it that the air bag can handle the sprung (vehicle's) weight, what material is it made of, can it handle road debris and other shrapnel that can puncture it (expensive to repair/replace), and does the air suspension system add too much weight costing fuel efficiency to the vehicle. (point of consideration)
4. Can one obtain the air suspension from a third party manufacturer, or do you have to get the overpriced one from the manufacturer. On a side note, if possible, please state compatibility issues with vehicle model, suspension technicalities/design (preferably double-wishbone suspension or McPherson suspension, if it will work), and manufacturer preferences.
Thank you.
1. No. The air springs replace your coil springs. There are also air bags that go inside existing coil springs, such as some Air Lift systems.
2. It's your car, you can do what you want with it.
3. Standard air springs are constructed similarly to a tire, and would behave as such. The aforementioned bag inserts are probably the same thing with silicone instead of rubber. The difference in weight between air springs and standard metal springs is negligible. Rubber is of course lighter than steel, but you also need a compressor and air system, so there's no significant difference.
4. Air Lift is the main source for dedicated air suspensions. There are some kits specifically for certain cars, such as Mustangs, but otherwise you just find something that fits. No, there will not be problems. It just goes where your springs are. Who cares what the manufacturer prefers and why would the manufacturer care in the first place? You know what you need your car to do, it's none of their business.
5. Google is your friend. Don't expect anyone else to respond to a several-part essay in a UA-cam comment section. Do it yourself, it's not hard.
thank you ootdega for the information, I will consider the price and specs if I ever decide to replace stock suspension with air suspension.
can you do a video about different types of gasoline, like ones with detergents vs ones that don't and if there's really a difference in fuel economy, wear, etc.
i love your videos. but if you use a more visual or animated explanation in the future, that will be awesome!
Always enjoy your videos please keep them up!
This was great, but with examples it would be much better if you would identify what we're looking at, like with the last example after the pros and cons
With the suspension air bags on my Volvo truck, the rear use to bob up and down while driving along, but now the rear seems to sit at the same level and feels like a rougher ride on highway.
not sure if air suspension is really much more expensive. initial cost yes. but i wouldn't bother replacing airbags with factory replacements since there are tons of aftermarket options. i work at a plant as an engineer and there is pretty much infinite sizes of air bags and styles available. airlines are easy to replace. pumps can be replaced by aftermarket as well as tanks. pressure sensors, solenoids, ride height sensors is all available in the aftermarket world. IMO air ride is superior for the every day truck compared to the coil or leave spring.
Thanks Jason for the simplified info keep it up mann.
you should do a video about air shox that hold oil. like the ones used in high level rock crawlers.
All I know about air ride is it is extremely comfortable and expensive to replace lol. My only question is how do they keep moisture out of the system?
+Bobby0345 desiccant packets ;)
Hi Bobby0345 . I work on buses that use air suspension . To keep out moisture they use a unit called an air dryer .
I was gonna say I remember learning in class about an air dryer unit but this guy beat me to it.
I work at a dodge dealer, and these systems are filled with 99.9% pure nitrogen and are completely closed system (with a port to help maintain height during a leak)Without any oxygen in it, corrosion cannot happen. If a leak does happen, it will take in 10 litres of air at a time, then sit for a couple seconds, then dump out 5 litres. This is done to drain/spray out any moisture that may come it with the fresh air (due to pressure change). It will then display a message in the cluster to have the suspension system serviced. Where after the leak is repaired, the system will be filled with nitrogen again.
Jason Cronje, that makes sense. all air compressors end up getting the water molecules to bunch up. that is why garage air compressors are supposed to have a drain (well all air compressors are supposed to). some are automatic, some are manual. I am really thinking about doing an all around air ride suspension for my diesel truck to soften the ride but still be able to haul a lot when needed. I will leave my rear leaf springs, taking out a few because it is almost like a rock with how stiff it is at the moment
Would request you to upload a video describing drivetrain, gears, FWD, RWD etc for an electric car and why we don't need a gearbox for electric cars, just like the way you have done gas cars.
So informative!
Love My 1997 Lincoln Town Car
Me too. I regretfully did a spring conversion on one of mine. You definitely feel the difference and it's basically just a Crown Vic now. Handles great around turns but that's obviously not the point of the Lincoln. So glad to have a new TC with airbags again.
You took the airbags out of your TC?!?! How dare you! I love the TC every year model of it! It's probably the most comfortable riding car I've ever driven. There are some Grand Marquis' with the air-ride rear suspension option too and they ride just as smoothly as a Town Car (as expected)
MAN_ON_WHEELZ
I know man I feel terrible about it. Had listened to too many people saying it wouldn't make a difference, easier, no more hassle, etc. HUGE mistake. And really most of the time all you need is new bags. Solenoids, lines, height adjustment, and compressor seem to hold up pretty well. I have 312k on the executive and everything else on it still worked.
Chimney Fish Oh man, yeah, never swap from air to coil. The air system isn't that complicated, its best to keep it as you've learned lol. You're taking some of the heart and soul out of it being a Lincoln.
Could you use this on a really low car so you can get over speed bumps and drive ways?
Explain magnetic ride suspension next!
Do you think you could do a video on how air brakes work sometime?
Makes perfect sense why larger trucks use this.
Well done
Very nice video and explanation Jason. But I am wondering if there is any consideration upon damage of the rubber membrane if you drive in gravel pretty fast or even if you drive in the mud a lot like the scenes of your video at 08s. For example, the rolling cobe type suspension covered by dirt, if you lower and raise several times I think it will wear out the rubber. Is there a recommendation to wash under the car more often to avoid that wear? The steel springs don't have this concern.
Im wondering if he ever explained blow trough vs. draw trough induction system in cars ? if he didnt, that would be great :) peace.
how are the rebound rates , shock absorption capacities and durability; when compared to a conventional spring damper setup?
Thanks for another great video. Will you do a video on air brakes?
Nice video!
Apart from raising your vehicle when you add weight in a precise place, what are the advantages of these compare to magnetic suspension? And isn't the weight of these a bit too much?
+lelegume1635 you wouldn't choose between air and magnetic. Air is for the springs, magnetic is for shocks, you can have both, as some sports cars and luxury SUVs do.
Engineering Explained oh okay thanks. sorry for my mistake.
+Engineering Explained I'm 14 and a car guy but I need to learn more and it's nice since I've found your channel because I can learn more every video
you'll want to keep watching engineering explained as well as chrisfix, eric the car guy, and scotty kilmer. theres alot more "car guys" on youtube, but those 4 will be plenty for you to learn. also, if you own a car, sign up for a forum dedicated to that make or model and you'll get a ton of valuable information too. last tip, if you own a car, buy a service manual for your specific make model and year. all invaluable tools in self teaching.
Other than that you can lower the truck to get out of it easier or raise it up to get over something
Nice work......I really appreciate.
Is there a difference between the kind for trucks and what people use to lower their cars
What about the ride comfort compared to spring suspensions? Do air suspension systems absorb road shock better than spring suspensions? Can they absorb shocks of higher frequencies?
And how does the ride elevation from sea-level affect these suspension systems?
Is air suspension good for track day use?
I have a question unrelated to this video on air suspension. I used to drive a 2015 Dodge Dart and now I drive 1999 vw Jetta. One of the features I really enjoyed on the dart was the hill start assist. Here's my question: Could you explain the hill start assist system and how one might be able to replicate the system and install it on a car?
Quick explanation, the Dart uses onboard computers to monitor vehicle angle (like sitting on an incline), sees vehicle speed is stopped and foot on brake, uses ABS to hold the brakes for about a second after brake is released. You might or might not have noticed that if you took your foot off the brake and didn't engage the clutch, the car would roll back when the brake is released.
Who is better cdc suspension or air suspension?
Do you have a video on why cars just randomly want to fly/ plan on making one?
once again i want to thank you for your videos. between you and the rest of the blown heads, I havent had to pay for a service to my Cadillac since owning it. almost everything ive always wanted to know about how and why cars work, ive found on your channel. do you have a video explaining the difference in Small block / Big block. I mostly get it, but even when i think i know something, you have a way of explaining that just ties it all together.
Well taught :)
Awesome video! Keep it up!
is air suspensions better than regular ones for track/sport driving ?
So far I love the air suspension in my 2013 RAM 1500. It has the best ride quality when compared to the competition. Ford's is nice but it can be rough. GM is soft but isn't stiff enough. Toyota just needs to stand in the corner since its suspension is garbage when it comes to uneven pavement.
Basically, when I was test driving a 2014 Tundra SR5 TRD the sale's man stated that the Tundra had the smoothest ride in its class. Which was true until the truck started bouncing over the paved road. It was the same section that I drove a RAM 1500 Big Horn over and it didn't even noticed the road imperfections with the coil springs.
Thanks, love your videos.
I love how these trucks are common in the US, in England if you see one it's a once in a lifetime experience "whoa no way an American truck that's huuuge" lmao
he's like 25 but acts like 45 years old
Would air suspension change cornering characteristics? Because it would seem like there would be an increase in body roll or something, right?
One question comes to mind: How much more likely is air suspension to fail (break) compared to normal suspension?
Should do one on electromagnetic suspensions.
See the link in the description. :)
hey man i was wondering what would happen if you downshift too soon or at redline. Does the car have computer system to protect the car. Is the car going to over rev and destroy it self. I am asking this question because i am about to buy a used paddle shift car. Thanks. Really love this channel.
Cars with paddle shift (automatic gearbox) will not downshift if the revs are too high.
So if your car is an auto with paddles, there is no way to over rev it.
You'll be safe!
so, did all the modern car with button that raised the ride height is using air suspension?
I am just wondering. How do they increase pressure at a constant volume? Is the air heated?
Just press air with an even higher pressure in?
+shi01 Yeah but the bag thing is expanding in order to lift the truck... Idk, I bet it just increases the volume of air
+Thomas John this only happens when you increase load on the vehicle (you increase pressure but maintain ride height). More weight means the car is pressed down. More weight means you do in fact increase volume, and pressure, but ride height returns to your target.
I think him saying constant volume was a mistake - I would think the pressure would be increased by increasing the volume of compressed air from the reservoir.
Next week; hydropneumatic suspension and self-levelling systems (with subtle hints to Range Rover systems being reliable) ;)
Does The air bags reduce the shear force comparing with a normal spring? Does it have any dangerous effect if it is to much shear like when drifting?
what about heating of the air as the suspension moves? would that affect the ride quality significantly?
Glad you asked! :) I'll be covering this in my next video on air springs.
As I recall, didn't Citreon used to have a hydro-pneumatic suspension for a long time?
could you make a video about rear electronic rack and pinion?
Search my channel for rear wheel steering.
Hi! Could you clarifh one important point please, with air suspension, does compression rate change at various settings or it only adds functionality of ride height?
Jason, for BMWs with air springs, are there any considerations needed for hydraulic lifting where the wheels are unsupported?
Is another con the air spring can be 'punctured', like a tire? This would be important off-road if driving over sharp twigs or branches.
On aftermarket systems what’s the hissing sound come from when the bags air out? Is it from the lines, bags, manifold etc?
it is definitely much better and more expensive suspension. i wonder how durable and reliable it is - i mean if it is about twice as expensive and it lasts with the vehicle also twice more time, there should not be a problem. Does anyone know its reliability and durability vs the traditional ones?
if you have a closed air system reusing that air wouldn't that air get hot and how do they cool it down as the system reuses it
Is this any good for sports cars?
What about the difference in weight versus standard springs and shocks? For example, if you had a car that had springs and you replaced that with an air suspension because you wanted adjustable ride height, how much additional weight would you have with the bags, compressor, and reservoirs (if needed)?
I can only comment on the RAM as I've worked on many of those, but the weight difference from air to steel springs in these trucks are nearly the same. Just a huge ride quality difference
What about performance and track facts as opposed to something like Bilstein's inverted monotube system? Specifically looking at cornering speed.
Bump
What if it fails? Compressor, hoses, valves, membranes, reservoir, sensors, isn't that too many failure points?
I swear this guy is real life Ryousuke Takahashi.
What's the difference between aftermarket Air Suspension systems, such as AirLift, compared to those used in the RAM?
Ram's is designed for the application? Aftermarket is kinda a catch all?
That's a good question.
when a car goes over a bump does the air bag stretch? how is the energy absorbed, what i mean is like how a normal coil spring will get squished, whats the equivalent to the airbag?
How about the mclaren suspension system?
So it is implied that if the city buses (using the example in the video) used closed air systems, there would be no hissing noise? Then where does the air pressure go? Back to the reservoir tanks?
In think adujsting the ride height of an air suspension is more comparable to preload adjustment of a steel spring.
Because to increase the ride hight, you only increase the volume by putting more air in it, the pressure in the air spring will not increase.
AND additionally an increased volume of an air spring, reduces it's spring rate!
Can you explain the hybrid system then? (Its air + Coil overs) companies like SCALE suspensions use this innovation