How to accurately diagnose air suspension failure and its replacement cycle
Publish Time: 2024-11-22
The air suspension system, with its excellent shock absorption performance, smooth ride and lightweight design, has become the preferred configuration in passenger cars, passenger vehicles, special vehicles and freight vehicles. Globally, air suspension is almost universally used in medium-sized and larger passenger vehicles, and its usage rate has reached more than 80% in the field of trucks. In China, according to relevant regulations, the rear axle of dangerous goods transport trucks with a total mass ≥12,000kg, all dangerous goods transport semi-trailers, and three-axle plate-type and warehouse-type semi-trailers are required to be equipped with air suspension. This mandatory regulation has further promoted the popularity of air suspension.Although the air suspension system has many advantages, its durability is still inferior to that of traditional leaf spring suspension. Once the air suspension fails, it may cause abnormal tire wear and uneven force on the wheel hub. In severe cases, it may even cause the vehicle to break down and rely on trailer rescue. Therefore, it is crucial to diagnose air suspension failures in a timely manner and take corresponding maintenance measures.
1. Accurate diagnosis of air suspension failuresAmong the main types of failures in air suspension systems, airbag leakage accounts for as much as 80%. When the airbag leaks, its air output will increase significantly. If the air output is less than or equal to the air intake, the owner may not be able to detect the collapse of the car body, but will hear the abnormal noise of the frequent operation of the air pump. At this time, the fault location can be preliminarily determined based on the source of the abnormal noise. If the air output is greater than the air intake, the airbag will collapse, causing the car body to tilt and the bumpy feeling to intensify. Especially when passing through speed bumps or potholes, the steering wheel is prone to deviation and needs to be corrected frequently.In addition, if the vehicle has been hit or fallen into a pit recently, and there are abnormal noises different from normal driving during driving, such as "thump thump thump", it may be that the spring or other key components of the air suspension are damaged.A more intuitive diagnostic method is to observe the system fault light. When the air suspension system fails, the system fault light will light up and an alarm will be displayed on the vehicle's central control computer board. At this time, the owner should stop the car immediately for inspection or go to the nearest repair point for professional repair.2. Replacement cycle and replacement strategy of air suspension systemA qualified air suspension system can usually be used for 3-5 years. The specific life span is affected by multiple factors such as operating conditions, driving conditions, load conditions and maintenance conditions. Driving under bad road conditions, frequent overloading or improper maintenance may shorten the service life of the air suspension system. However, for vehicles that drive in compliance, the air suspension system can generally maintain a service life of 5 years.
It is worth noting that some car owners mistakenly believe that after replacing the air suspension system, if the vehicle is not used for a long time, the air suspension will not be damaged. This view is wrong. The air suspension system should be used normally after installation. If it is stopped for a long time, the air suspension should be inflated and deflated regularly to extend its service life.When replacing the air suspension system, a replacement strategy should be formulated according to the specific situation. If the service life expires, it is recommended to replace the whole set to ensure system performance; if a single component is damaged, it can be replaced according to the actual situation to reduce the maintenance cost; if multiple components are damaged at the same time, a comprehensive assessment should be made according to the degree of damage to determine whether the entire air suspension system needs to be replaced.Compared with the traditional leaf spring structure, the air suspension system is more complex in design, more expensive, and the maintenance cost is also increased accordingly. Therefore, when choosing an air suspension system, car owners should give priority to regular brands with strong strength and good reputation to ensure its quality and safety and benefits of subsequent use. By accurately diagnosing faults, rationally formulating replacement strategies, and choosing high-quality brands, car owners can ensure the long-term stable operation of the air suspension system and improve the safety and operational benefits of the vehicle.About TND
TND Axle is a national high-tech group company specializing in the research and development, design and manufacturing of heavy-duty vehicle parts such as trailers and semi-trailers. It has obtained multiple international quality standard certifications such as IATF 16949:2016. The main products are: American axles, German axles, air suspensions, bogie suspensions, mechanical suspensions and other trailer parts, with an annual output of about 100,000 sets of axle series and 20,000 sets of suspension series. TND has innovated and improved on the basis of military technology, creating a new era of seamless steel pipe hot extrusion one-piece thickened axles. This advanced technology can greatly improve the strength, rigidity and fatigue life of the axle beam and reduce the risk of fatigue fracture of the axle. We have our own patented thermoforming machine and other advanced equipment, including: fatigue testing machine, ultrasonic flaw detector, Brinell hardness tester, thickness gauge, spectrometer, metallographic analyzer, coordinate measuring machine, etc., and are supported by professional engineers in our R&D department and a strict quality control team.TND Axle's industry experience has won the trust and welcome of the majority of users. We will continue to provide high-quality trailers, semi-trailers and other heavy-duty vehicle parts and good after-sales service to new and old customers, and develop together! TND looks forward to working with you to create a brilliant and win-win future.
